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Most helpful natural birth resources?

magulladurasmagulladuras
in Natural Birth

I am wondering from moms who have had a natural birth or who are planning on having a natural birth what books or resources were most helpful to you.

DH and I are both in the Army, and I don't get to pick just one provider or midwife to be there for my delivery. It's basically a "whoever is on shift" is who I get kind of deal. Aside from that, DH and I have encountered some unexpected financial hardships in the past month (my mother passed and we had to fly from HI to FL to handle her affairs which have all come out of our savings) so hiring a doula is not in our budget anymore. There is only one childbirth class available in my area at the hospital I'll deliver at, and while I haven't attended it yet, I don't want to prepare and plan for my delivery based on just one class.

Basically I am curious about the most helpful but cheapest options for preparing myself and DH for natural birth. 

 TIA. 

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Re: Most helpful natural birth resources?

  • phq2011phq2011

    Not sure about classes in your area, but maybe Bradley could work for you. The courses are great and instructors are able to work payment arrangements with you usually. The other advantage of Bradley is that he works natural birth into a hospital setting more than any other method, IMO. His book is listed below with a few others I really like:

     The Husband-Coached Childbirth Dr. Robert A. Bradley

    Natural Birth: the Bradley Way Susan McCutcheon-Rosegg

    Birthing from Within Pam England

    Ina May's Guide to Childbirth Ina May Gaskin 

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  • pdilly2bpdilly2b member

    In my Brio classes we read Ina May's book plus "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer.  I especially loved Goer's book because it talked about all of the different interventions and their uses and why you should avoid them or in what cases you might allow them.  Good for your DH to know all of these things too since he will likely need to ask questions and advocate for you when you're in labor.

    Ina May's book was good too as far as mentally and emotionally preparing (plus good actual info, but more touchy feely).

    Also recommend watching the Business of Being Born (Netflix).  I found that especially useful in considering how to avoid the pitocin-epidural-c-section cycle.

    Good idea to do as much as you can yourself - hospital classes are notorious at being mostly useless aside from the tour part.

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  • beachhippiemamabeachhippiemama member
    We have actually taken classes with a Doula on natural childbirth. We are not going to be using her services and are using an OBGYN not midwife, but have been told that Doulas can give you the best information. Try to look for one in your area.
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  • erb82erb82 member
    Since it sounds like you will be having a hospital birth, I recommend Natural Hospital Birth by Cynthia Gabriel.  I didn't use a specific method (Bradley, Hypnobabies, etc.), have a doula, or take a birth class, but that book helped me think through my options ahead of time.  It talks about the cascade of interventions that being in the hospital can often bring on and how to avoid them, and addresses a lot of the "what ifs" like water breaking and labor not starting, or being GBS+.  I found it very helpful.
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