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I won't lie. I spent more time picking over the details of Henry's bedding and "coming home from the hospital" outfit than I did learning about pregnancy and childbirth.My plan: No induction. IV narcotics. Epidural. No episiotomy. Don't wipe him off. Breastfeed.
But, I didn't learn about normal birth. I didn't understand why pushing flat on my back is physiologically incompatible with giving birth. I didn't understand how IV fluids can hinder breastfeeding. I didn't know that electronic fetal monitoring does not improve birth outcomes.
Trust me. There was a lot I didn't know.
And I was okay with that. I trusted my doctors.
But, with Liza's birth, I was an active participant in my pregnancy and delivery. I read. And, I googled. And, then I read and googled a little more.
Fact: Educating yourself in normal birth is the #1 way to ease childbirth fears.
From the comfort of you own couch, for your googling pleasure........
Books
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, Ina May Gaskin
Spiritual Midwifery, Ina May Gaskin
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth, Henci Goer
Husband-Coach Childbirth, Robert Bradley
Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method, Marie Mongan
Birthing From Within, Pam England
The Birth Partner, Penny Simkin
Movies
Business of Being Born
Orgasmic Birth
Pregnant in America
Blogs
Mama Birth
Birth Without Fear
Navel Gazing Midwife
Woman to Woman Childbirth Education
Bellies and Babies
The Well-Rounded Mama
Stand and Deliver
The Unnecesarean
Science and Sensibility
ICAN -- International Cesearean Awareness Network
Homebirth: Midwife Mutiny in South Australia
Websites
Midwifery Today
ICAN
The Bradley Method
Hypnobirthing
Hypnobabies
DONA -- don't forget about your doula! What's a doula? Read this.
Birth Stories
Natural Childbirth Stories
BirthStories
Mama Birth's Birth Stories
Giving Birth Naturally
Childbirth
****If you have any books, blogs or websites you think I should add to my list, please leave a comment with your suggestion!
****And, because I know I have plenty of birth junky mamas reading my messy little blog, I present to you a Mr. Linky for YOUR birth stories! If you have multiple birth stories on your blog, please submit a new Mr. Linky form for each link. Cut and paste the address to the specific post containing your birth story, rather than your blog address.
And, trust me. I am a fool for a birth story. I look forward to reading your story!
12 comments:
I love Dr. Sears The Birth Book-very factual and thorough.
Great idea Laura!
Wonderful, informative post!!
I also really enjoy reading midwife textbooks. My favorite is "Heart & Hands", as well as "Birth Emergency Skills Training." I think they offer a great perspective.
Thank you for the suggestions. I'll add them to the list!
Baby Luke is due this week, so hopefully I'll have a story to add before too much longer! =)
I'm a sucker for a good birth story, too, so I'm excited about your linkup and this series as well. Birth Fear is such an important issue! I'm really grateful for a couple of the books on your list for helping me get over my own.
I love reading other womens' birth stories, whether it be a hospital birth, birth center birth, homebirth, assisted or unassisted, the list could go on. I had a hospital birth and there are not a whole lot of things I would change. I do want a midwife next time, which means I will be delivering at a different hospital because the one I had my daughter at does not grant privileges to midwives. :( VERY FRUSTRATING, but since that's where I worked and had my insurance, I would have been footing most of the bill had it been otherwise. Note: we no longer have our insurance through my work, since I'm no longer offered insurance from the hospital since I only work PRN. I plan on posting my birth story on my blog on August 18 (my daughter's first birthday). Thanks for the linky though (and the links). I have a little more reading to do before the next pregnancy and birth!!
thanks for posting these resources ... just bookmarked for when i need them!
linkied both my boys' home birth stories...I LOVE this series!
I also enjoyed Susan Weed's Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year and The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.
I didn't spend nearly as much time as I should preparing for my first birth, either. But the second and third times I did, and it made a huge difference!
Kelly, good luck! Baby boys are so sweet!
Melissa, thank you!
Charis' Mum, that sounds so frustrating.
Mandi, thanks for linking and I'll definitely add those books. Can't believe I didn't include the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.....
Just linked my homebirth story. Great series. I love reading positive birth stories!
I linked my unassisted homebirth story. I love your blog, and love this series!
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