Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
by Ina May Gaskin
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Book Reviews of Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
Book Review: A paradigm shift in American birth expectations
Summary: 5 Stars
Anyone, anywhere who is expecting a child can benefit from this excellent book. But Americans, who generally have a warped view of childbirth as a horrifying, drug-induced bloody trauma that requires women to submit as patients, are in for a real surprise as they are introduced to a gentler, more empowering way of birthing.
I sought out this book midway in my pregnancy, dissatisfied with the care I had been receiving from my OB, whose rushed, impersonal methods limited my involvement in what was happening to me. Likewise, family, friends and the media had done much over the years to shape my preconceptions of birth as "something to get through."
The first half of Ina May's Guide to Childbirth consists of positive, first-person stories from women who gave birth at The Farm in Tennessee. These stories alone helped to reshape my belief that birth can not only be an enriching experience, but one in which the woman and her partner are active participants in a natural process. Hospital gowns, internal fetal monitors, epidurals and forceps are replaced by an experienced team of midwives who skillfully, intuitively and naturally help a woman's body do what it was born to do.
In the second half of this book, Ina May draws upon more than 30 years' experience as a midwife to gently educate the reader about a woman's awesome ability to give birth without exessive medical intervention. It is an invitation to trust one's body, to rethink destructive stereotypes and ultimately, to shed the fear and anxiety so often associated with childbirth. It helped to change both my husband's mind and my own regarding our course of prenatal care. Though the book is revolutionary from a societal standpoint, it seemed oddly familiar as I realized its content helped strenghthen what I and many other women intuitively know about our innate capabilities to bear children. Highly recommended.
Book Review: Some good sections.
Summary: 3 Stars
I have read this book all the way through and am planning on attempting a natural birth in an NYC hospital in a very short time now. The OB has mentioned epidurals more than once as he believes that it is one of the great breakthroughs of modern medicine and for some situations it may be very beneficial. However, the hospital I will be going to will also allow a lot of leeway to have a less hospital driven birth. I will be working with a doula to make sure that my preferences are acknowledged and accommodated when possible (and a lot of them can be).
That said, there were many things about this book that greatly annoyed me. The most prominent being the intimation that all modern medicine used in childbirth has horrible side effects. While I do get the impression that many of these drugs and procedures are overused I believe they were developed originally to help not control childbirth. Perhaps they have been abused over the past few decades and don't get the credit they deserve.
Things I liked about the book:
- The chapter 3 on pleasure/pain. The perception of pain influences how we deal with the sensations.
- The chapter 4 on Sphincter Law.
- The practical information in Chapters 6,7,8,and 9 dealing with labor and birth.
Things I didn't like about the book:
- The quantity and quality of birth stories. There are to many and they are a little too granola for me and I'm pretty granola. Plus, they alienate husbands who aren't going to be as much a part of labor process.
- The intimation that modern childbirth medicine is somehow bad. That sentiment is prevalent throughout the book and was a little offensive. It's not that the author didn't admit that it was had it's place but it was admitted only very reluctantly.
Book Review: Ina May's Guide to Childbirth By: Ina May Gaskin
Summary: 5 Stars
I have worked as a Labor & Delivery Nurse for the past 10 plus years. I have taught childbirth education for the past 5 years to couples who want research based factual information on the birth process. I have witnessed the truly miraculous journey many women have embarked upon in giving birth. To my dismay though or should I say disillusionment, many women were introduced to the routine medicalization of birth to help facilitate and expediate the birth process. These routine medical interventions many times were performed for the convenience of the Obstetrician not with the best interests of the laboring woman and baby at heart and left many emotional scars as well as insults to both the mother and to the baby. Ina May's book explores the options available to women and their families in the childbirth arena. Birth can occur without routine medical interventions! True and factual accounts of births by women are narrated in the first half of this book along with researched, fact based information regarding birth and how it can and should occur. There are options for birth for everyone it can be individualized and completely different for each and everyone.
This is an informative and inspiring book that gets to the heart and soul of what transpires during the birth of a family. I agree as many others have stated that this book is a must read for every childbearing woman out there. I recommend this book to women in my own childbirth education classes. I have been transpired and mainly inspired by the birth stories presented along with Ina May's account of childbirth in the past, present and what lies ahead for the future. I now teach my childbirth classes with more heart, inspiration and fevere since reading this great book.
Book Review: No More Fear Of Labor & Delivery
Summary: 5 Stars
Being pregnant with my first child was exciting but terrifying. I read everything I could about pregnancy and childbirth and found that so much of what is written is very negative, focusing on the discomforts of pregnancy and the pain of childbirth. Everything I read made me more and more unsure that I had made a wise choice.
Then I read Ina May's book and my whole outlook changed. The way she presents the information in this book is very empowering. Much of the book is about trusting that your body is capable of giving birth. Before, I had so much fear and anxiety and really felt like I wasn't sure if I could do it. After reading her book I didn't spend any more of my pregnancy fretting about the big day so I had more time to think about the joy that was entering my life. One major thing I realized is that our culture seems to send the message that childbirth is something so painful that women are not equipped to cope with it. After reading this book I became very aware of this... these messages pop up everywhere - on tv, advice from other women, and even all those pregnancy books I'd been reading!
This should be one of the first books you read about childbirth. You must take some of it, particularly the first hand stories, in context because sometimes it seems kind of like strange hippy stuff. Please don't let that deter you. We are all women, no matter how, when, or where we live, and our bodies were made for giving birth. This book will help you realize that and make the rest of your 9 months much easier. You really must read this book to fully understand how much it will impact the way you think about childbirth. I strongly urge you to give this book a chance!
Book Review: Inspiring and Empowering
Summary: 5 Stars
We're expecting our first child and are planning on a natural birth, despite some people criticizing our decision. Our society (and some friends and family) like to tell us that we're crazy, good luck with that one, and an epidural is the way to go. Educating yourself and making decisions that are right for you and your body are the only way to push past the criticism.
This book was huge for me in that process. I couldn't put it down. I felt as though with each page, my confidence soared and the desire to give birth to our daughter naturally was reaffirmed. The first half of testimonies and stories was great; you can read through various women's birthing experiences and none of them are the frightening horror stories women seem to want to tell you. Real? Yes. Intense? Yes. Painful and exhausting at times? Yes. Exhilarating and powerful and a beautiful way to discover your own resources as a fierce and strong woman? Absolutely. They're not sugar-coated, but they are inspiring.
The second half of the book covers the details of the labor process and continually supports the philosophy of natural birth. I underlined and dog-eared and read so much to my husband, and again, with each chapter, was excited and inspired and affirmed that I CAN do this!
I highly, highly recommend this book to any woman who is either investigating natural childbirth or is sure that is the path she wants to take. If you're opting for a modern traditional route, you may not appreciate this book as much. It was the first thing I read in my pregnancy, and I'm sure I'll pick it up to refresh again as our due date approaches.