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: All I can do is echo the other reviews!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm currently 29 weeks pregnant with my first child, and I've read a lot of the "bestselling" pregnancy and labor books on the market (i.e. "What to Expect", the Dr. Sears books, etc) but this one blew the rest out of the water when it comes to labor and delivery! Ina May's book explains the importance of psychological readiness for labor and delivery, as well as awesome techniques to overcome the "obstacles" of labor naturally. The first half of the book consists of very inspirational natural birth stories which made me feel prepared and even EXCITED about natural childbirth before I even read the second half of the book. After reading this book, I decided to switch from using my OBGYN to a midwife instead. My OBGYN is supportive of my decision to try a "natural" childbirth, but her definition of the concept doesn't go beyond "patient doesn't want an epidural". She is totally untrained and unprepared to help me naturally deal with stalled labor, avoiding an episiotomy, delivering a "stuck" baby, etc. I know she would give me drugs or wheel me in for a C-section long before a midwife despite her "supportiveness".
You CAN try the ideas in Ina May's book on your own during labor, without the doctor knowing a thing about natural childbirth, as long as the OB isn't going to argue with what you want to try in the middle of delivery! For example, if baby's shoulders are stuck, most OB's will want to do an immediate C-section; Ina May's book tells you that if you simply turn over on your hands and knees, the baby will most likely slide right out!
Book Review: The Best of the Best
Summary: 5 Stars
I was cautiously optimistic in reading this book as so many I have read (and I have read hundreds of perinatal books) fall short of my expectations. Ina May's Guide not only is superb, it is exactly what I have been looking for for years. A book not about the basics of modern technological birth, but of its essence - a normal, life affirming process. The birth process that has been repeated since the beginning of humanity with rarely a mishap... unless interfered with. Sadly todays birth is mired in interference as proven by the dismal morbidity (and I include cesarean section as morbidity, Ina May has proven in her own statistics the true rarity that major abdominal surgery should be used for birth) and mortality statistics in North America. I have been a birth professional since 1997 and recently gave birth to my fourth child a VBA3C (vaginal birth after three cesareans) and it was because of women like Ina May that I support women and have regained my own trust in my body which had been taken from me by modern obstetrics in their bid for efficiency.This is not a homebirth book, but rather a book for all women, regardless of birth place or attendant, to learn about how our bodies work and in making informed decisions based on well documented evidence without the often one-sided advice of medical oriented authors.
This is one of the true gems that ranks at the top along with the Canadian hallmark Pregnancy and Birth: The Best Evidence by Barrett and Pitman and Henci Goer's book The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth. Learn from the most amazing midwife this century has to offer.
Book Review: I was afraid of giving birth until I read this book
Summary: 5 Stars
When my husband and I found out we were expecting a child, I was of course very happy but also absolutely terrified. I did not know how I would survive the trauma of childbirth. After watching "The Business of Being Born" I began to think differently about the birthing experience. I realized that there might be a way out of the fear I had of excruciating pain, medical procedures and lack of involvement. I began making different choices in my pregnancy, starting with not buying the book "What to Expect..." and instead choosing reading material that would speak to what I really needed: empowerment, positive experiences, and a better overall understanding of the psychology of birthing.
Ina May's book is the most wonderful book I've read over the course of my pregnancy. She is articulate, precise and incredibly helpful in communicating her deep understanding of the birthing process - how, while every woman is different and will have a different experience, the act of giving birth is the same act that has been carried out since the dawn of our species. It is something we are built to succeed at, and it is not meant to cause us pain or agony.
The book is detailed, conversational, encouraging and incredibly informative without beating you over the head with "natural birth is the only birth" or anything so judgmental. I really cannot recommend it highly enough.
As we near the final months before our son is born, I hope to bring Ina May's wisdom and calm with me into that birthing room.
Book Review: A must for every mom-to-be
Summary: 5 Stars
Finding myself unexpectantly pregnant, I was terrified of labor and delivery. I was scared of what everyone always said was overwhelming pain, and of the hospital process itself. Every hospital experience I have had in the past (due to my mother's battle with illness) has been overwhelmingly negative.
However, after reading this book I feel much more confident about the birth process. I know what I want and what I don't want, I have articulated my birthing preferences to my midwives (who will convey it to the hospital staff). I feel ready and almost excited about the process. Thanks to Ina May's book, I now feel that this is a challenge that not only can I handle, but a challenge in which I can take joy. I cannot express how much this book has calmed my fears. I highly recommend this book to any mom and/or dad to be.
EPILOUGE: Giving birth was the most exhilerating experience of my life (although I will admit that it hurt and wasn't the most fun I've ever had). I kept the stories from and principles in Ina May's book in mind and it really helped. I was also able to keep in mind that chldbirth is a natural process and nothing to be scared of. I did wind up getting an epidural after 24 hours of labor (total time: 33 hours) and can still confidently recommend this book to women who plan to have pain relieving drugs because the I was still able to keep Ina May's principles in mind and also because it truly did relieve my fear of childbirth.
I highly, highly, highly recommend this book.
Book Review: brimming with wisdom
Summary: 5 Stars
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth is brimming with wisdom from midwife Ina May Gaskin's many years of experience. This book also has a practical and down-to-earth approach that is refreshing, informative, and easy to read.
This book begins with a collection of birth stories, which take up where her classic book Spiritual Midwifery left off. (In fact, some of the women giving birth here were the babies being born at The Farm, Ina May's community, in Spiritual Midwifery.) We see some of the varieties and realities of birth, and that birth can still be natural, even in the high-tech 21st century.
In the second half, Ina May describes the practical and political situation for modern-day birth and birth practices, opening our eyes to prenatal testing, rhogam, cytotec, cesareans, VBAC and induction, to name a few. Her voice is gentle and encouraging, while telling the full story - ALL the pros and cons - of birth interventions.
Her descriptions of labor, and especially her chapters on the pain/pleasure riddle, and the sphincter laws, are personal favorites, and resonate very much with my own experiences as physician and mother.
This book will be of great benefit to all mothers-to-be and their carers. First-time mothers will especially gain wisdom, and perhaps a necessary disillusionment with our highly medicalised system of birth. Ina May promotes informed choice, as well as respect, for mothers and babies everywhere. May her book be widely read!