Recommendations

Nicolejb781 · May 2012

I was hoping that some of you could recommend some books or something about giving birth naturally. I am considering doing it naturally this time and would like to get informed well before my due date!

Thanks ladies!

EmmyPumpkin · May 2012

"Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" by Ina May Gaskin; "Birthing from Within" by Pam England, 'The Birth Partner" (for your husband/partner) by Penny Simkin are all great resources in my opinion. Also, hire a doula and/or midwife, or make sure your delivery doctor is on board with your plans.

This board itself is also a great resource for information and inspiring birth stories!

Hope that helps, I'm sure there are many more out there!

katcarls · May 2012

I liked Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn, and Active Birth. I really liked Natural Hospital Birth too and I would recommend it if you're planning to deliver in a hospital.

Ziegeficker · May 2012

Ina May for sure! Read and re-read the birth stories throughout your pregnancy to keep a positive and empowered outlook. In addition to the suggestions above, my doulas recommended Birthing from Within, which I've checked out from the library but haven't started yet. I've also heard good things about 'Hypnobirthing' and 'The Thinking Woman's Guide to Childbirth.'

Nicolejb781 · May 2012

Thank you all for your great suggestions, I plan on picking up a couple of these books weekend! I still not sure if I'd like to go natural or not but after a very difficult delivery with a epidural I may want another experience this time! Has anyone chosen to have an epidural with the first and not with the second? If so, can you tell me which you prefer and why? And if you'd do natural again?

Thanks!

RockyMtnMama · May 2012

Nicolejb781:

Thank you all for your great suggestions, I plan on picking up a couple of these books weekend! I still not sure if I'd like to go natural or not but after a very difficult delivery with a epidural I may want another experience this time! Has anyone chosen to have an epidural with the first and not with the second? If so, can you tell me which you prefer and why? And if you'd do natural again?

Thanks!

All the pps have hit on most of my fav natural birth books.

As for the epi the first time and then natural after, I can't speak personally, but I've been at 3 second-kid births of friends who all had epis the first time and then went natural the second time, plus my sister did that same thing, but I wasn't at her second birth.

We talked a lot about why they did it, but to sum it up, all were trying for a natural/no-med first birth and all had sunny-side up babies, typical long first births (20+ hours), and two felt pressure from the hospital staff to get epis. One also felt that her kid ended up with a NICU consult and blood draws due to the interventions spiraling effects. All expressed that they wanted to have a positive, second natural birth and all felt better prepared and surrounded themselves with supportive doulas/friends/midwives the second time. All succeeded the second time (and honestly all of them, except my sister, had much shorter labors also). It might sound a little selfish, but they not only wanted the best experience of a drug-free labor/delivery for their child, but also for themselves.

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