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Summary: One of the best childbirth books ever!!
Review: If you enjoyed Spiritual Midwifery by Ina Mae Gaskin than you will love this book. If you haven't read Spiritual Midwifery than you are in for a treat. In my opinion these books are the best for educating pregnant women and healthcare workers on the safety of natural childbirth. I am a labor and delivery nurse and mother of three. Gaskin's books have inspired me to be a better nurse for the laboring woman and to be a better patient when delivering my own little ones. I think this book will give the pregnant woman an excellent idea of what to expect during labor and delivery. A must read!
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Summary: Timely, Excellent, and Life-Changing
Review: Ina May Gaskin has done it again! I got my hands on this book almost as soon as it came out, and it is probably the best childbirth book I have read in a very long time... possibly ever. Pregnant women are inundated with horror stories and high-tech shenanigans from the moment they discover they are pregnant; this book is the perfect counter-balance. Ina May discusses in a clear, accessible, and friendly style all of the stages of labor, and the birth stories she includes are joyful, realistic, and are sure to give any woman more hope and less fear about her impending childbirth.Gaskin also discusses the various interventions and procedures that women are likely to encounter, and gives a good assessment of the pros, cons, and indications for each. Her section on VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) is truly excellent. I would recommend this book to any woman, and to anyone who works in the field. It's fabulous!
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Summary: True wisdom
Review: Ina May Gaskin has written beautifully about women's inner wisdom about childbirth which involves trust and love. Ina May embodies this wisdom and is truly one of the best sources for information about childbirth. Sphincter Law is real and should govern the decisions obstetricians make when women are giving birth.
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Summary: Wow! The most essential and honest pregnancy book out there!
Review: Ina May has revolutionized midwifery in the United States. Her original book "Spiritual Midwifery" while wonderful is a bit too hippy, freaky for me but this book is something different. It is as if someone said you should pen a book that speaks directly to educated, modern and thoughtful parents of today. Her book is bright well organzied and straight to the point. Some of the back to nature stuff in the book is a bit over the top however each indivdual reader can sift though this and decide what infomation and advise is too radical. I think that any parent whether you are going to deliver in hospital, birth center or at home should read this book. The appendix is filled with other resources for parents. Love this book and would reccomend it to everyone out there interested in an intelligent book concerning pregancy!
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Summary: Childbirth made EASY
Review: Ina May is absolutely incredible! Every woman must read this book. I realize that few of us can truly identify with the decision to live commune-style as many of the folks in the book have done, what I think we can all embrace is the idea that birth is meant to be a natural, god-given gift. It is NOT a medical event. The stories in this book show us the power of excellent birh support. They also point out how critical it is to fill ourselves with positive thoughts and push away negativity. These things are crucial in childbirth - they can make the difference between feeling as though you are about to crash in a plane and being the person flying a plane. If you only read one book about childbirth - THIS IS IT!
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Summary: Empowering and Informative
Review: Ina May's informal approach to the topic of natural childbirth enables the reader to access detailed and empowering information about the physical, mental, and emotional process of giving birth. The first half of the book includes birth stories from many women who have experienced both medical and natural births. Their personal stories help the reader understand the impact of both approaches and make a more informed decision. This section of the book would be especially helpful to women with few friends/family from which to seek advice, or those who have heard primarily "horror stories" about birth. The second half of the book is a guide to achieving a natural birth in many different settings, from home to hospital. The book is easy to read, informative and empowering because you come away with so much knowledge. I also appreciated the fact that the author avoids using "hippy speak", or a dialect that everyone can understand. Some natural childbirth guides use more slang. Definitely read this book if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant!
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Summary: obstetrician loves it!
Review: Reading "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" is like cracking an ancient code etched in my DNA. As Ina May's words unfold, they bring to modern consciousness information that is essential and visionary, articulating and applying the ancient wisdom of childbirth in the language and culture of the present time. In this information age, this book is creating a "new" birth culture. Like "Spiritual Midwifery" in its time, "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" is a pioneer and an instant classic, a significant and inspiring milestone in the evolution of human culture. This book is intelligent and lovely. I plan to order it by the case and give one to each of my prenatal ladies. (I am an obstetrician/gynecologist.)
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Summary: The most encouraging pregnancy book I've read.
Review: Since I became pregnant I have been a book hound and I've read several different titles (especially books on Natural Birth). I have found Ina May's book to be the most honest and inspiring! She is not afraid to offend and really tells it like it is! I reference it often and I feel lucky to have read this before labor and delivery. I am very satisfied with this book!
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Summary: The Truth About Childbirth is in this Book
Review: Strip away all of the medical speak, fear, and the horror stories and you will have Ina May's honest guide to Childbirth.
I found this book more than just informative, which it really is. This book tells you things that no one--not even your best friend will tell you. In these pages you learn about birthing babies and will be able to look critically at what having a hospital birth means. I found this book to be empowering because it armed me with the birth stories of all the women in the first half of the book as well as all the information I needed about the birth process. I can honestly recommend, without reservation, this book to all expecting mothers, father, and anyone involved in the birth of babies. This book will give you much needed balance when becoming educated about childbirth.
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Summary: Ina May has done it again!
Review: The power and joy of natural childbirth is alive and well at The Farm. The midwives there have proven that birth works when left alone. I am a doula who attends women hoping to have the most natural experiences in hospital settings. This book reinforces my belief in the birth process. This book is empowering, positive, and downright amazing. How can you argue the statistics? Anyone who is pregnant or thinking of having a baby should read this book before any others. Except maybe Spiritual Midwifery! Women have the power, they just need the support!
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