Rating: 
Summary: an empowering tool
Review: As the event of the birth became more real to me, this book was recommended to me. It helped turn my fear and aniexity about labor and birth into knowledge and confidence in my own abilities. I think there are two components to the birthing event; pain and fear. Pain can be managed either by your own body or by medical intervention but fear can turn the event into a scary chaos. This book helps to dispell fear and educate you about pain and coping. It is clearly written to encourage women who are thinking about natural childbirth but there is a lot of information that could be very helpful for those who choose differently. I felt very empowered by this book - I finished it feeling a confidence in my own body's ability to birth a child. Birthing a child is a rite of passage - this book puts the focus on you, your transition into motherhood and can help you be mentally present for the birth of your child - however it may happen!
And yes, I did manage to do it naturally - this book was very supportive.
Rating:
Summary: A bit wacky and very unique!!
Review: You won't find another book like this, it is truely one of a kind! I recommend it. If you like to read up on birth and pregnancy, don't miss this one, as much of the information and stories in here you will not find anywhere else. I recommend starting with the chapter that most interests you and going from there. It has information not only on how to cope with labor, but how to prepare mentally, and doing birth art, etc.
Rating:
Summary: Well worth it!
Review: This book empowered me to view the spiritual side of birth and to recognize that a natural labor and delivery, though hard work, is a rewarding and innate experience. I absolutely loved it and read it somewhere between 5 and 7 times while expecting. I even read it while in labor to calm myself down and had a healthy, baby boy via natural childbirth in the meantime! Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Childbirth: medical or spiritual?
Review: Birthing from Within is extremely helpful to expecting women, their partner, and their support systems IF your inner core believes in a spiritual component to childbirth. For people who find strength in the medical model, may find some concepts difficult to understand and relate to. The author clearly prefers a natural birth if possible and encourages women to give birth naturally. Many practical pain relief techniques are provided to help with making this a possible reality. I felt the author did well at presenting curent medical model childbirth options and presenting and exploring new ideas and 'new' ways of looking at the birthing process. New? Women have successfully given birth for thousands of years prior to the invention of modern medicine. The author also makes practical and helpful suggestions for partners and birthing companions (such as only offering 3 fingers to a woman while she is having a contraction to reduce the chances of her breaking one of your fingers). It is empowering if your core beliefs match that being presented.
Rating: 
Summary: Took the Class
Review: I read through the first few chapters of this book while I was taking the class that is based upon this book "Birthing from the Heart" (Lewisville, TX). I stopped reading the book because I realized that I was getting ahead of the class in what we were learning. There are a lot of wonderful techniques that you can learn from this book, as well as learn about how you feel about having the baby and your relationship with others. The book seems to focus on you as a woman and your becoming a mother...in a traditional sense.
Rating:
Summary: wonderful book
Review: This book is perfect for expectant parents that are interested in more than showing up at the delivery room and leaving with a baby. The author leads the couple through an exploration of the physical and spiritual aspects of pregnacy. enjoy
Rating:
Summary: A terrific guide to birthing.
Review: If I had skipped the first 13 chapters (primarily how to express yourself through art during pregnancy) I would have nothing bad to say about this book. It is a wonderful alternative to the traditional way of viewing birthing. I have found that you either embrace the content, or for those not willing to think outside the box, it will go against everything you think about labor and delivery. The knowledge I gained by reading this book was very helpful.
Rating:
Summary: A great gift for yourself and baby
Review: I used this book while I was pregnant and found it to be very helpful. The artwork exercises deepened my awareness of the process and I did the birthing bracelet with beads from the women in my family and saved it. I used hypnotherapy for my birth and brought two of my pictures to the hospital. Unfortunately the hospital wouldn't let me come for a long time so by the time I got to the hospital I had my baby in fifteen minutes. My pictures were hung though and were very helpful as I pushed!!! I highly recommend this book for everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: I kept thinking it would get better....
Review: So, to be clear from the start, if you're into making art projects with your husband to express your feelings, having your friends over baking cakes while you give birth at home with your other children watching, sitting around hogan-style learning to howl like a coyote (and then getting your husband/partner to co-chant with you once you've gotten into it), and want to connect with every other woman giving birth in the world at that moment in some kind of circle of sisterhood, etc., all the while trying to be distracted from your pain, then this is the book for you. Unfortunately, that's just not me. However, I accept that these things are great for some people, so continued to read, thinking that somewhere I'd find some good exercises, relaxation techniques, or SOMETHING to help me get through this birth naturally. While I did find a few good pages of ideas (the best being to understand your worries and learn from them) it was nothing that wasn't explained better or more safely in other texts. To be fair, being from New Mexico where the authors now live and practice, my tolerance for people who move to the State and get all wrapped up in what they think is a good understanding of Native American culture and practices, or being in touch with the enchanted earth, is pretty slim. Especially because most people DON'T get it, so when they try to convey these ideas in a text for others it just makes for REALLY exhausting reading. Believe me, the real symbol of New Mexico has nothing to do with a turquoise colored coyote wearing a bandana. Why do I mention all of this NM stuff? Because it's just so overwhelming all over the book. I kept hearing a little voice in my head say "oh brother," over and over. And I'm kind of into alternative things and looking at what other cultures can teach us, so for me to feel this way should probably serve as a warning to others. So for my more open-mined, artistic, and possibly gullible friends out there, this may be the most touching book you read. For others, I advise that you buy on sale or just skip it all together. There are other safe and reliable ways to experience childbirth without drugs.
Rating:
Summary: a repeat of Creative Childbirth
Review: I loved Creative Childbirth for my first and used it and Better Birthing with Hypnosis for my 2nd . I received ' Within 'for a gift . Liked it but other two had all I needed plus fantastic audio tapes. A good runner up but birth art in Creative and Better Birthing much more healing This is agood runner up to first two Linda
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