Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
Books | Health & Fitness / Pregnancy & Childbirth
4.3
(79)
Ina May Gaskin
MORE THAN 500,000 COPIES SOLD! • In this completely revised and updated edition, the nation’s leading midwife shares the benefits and joys of natural childbirth by showing women how to trust in the ancient wisdom of their bodies for a healthy and fulfilling birthing experience. “This book should be read by every woman who is having or may someday have a baby, and by every midwife, nurse, doula, childbirth educator, and doctor who assists or may someday assist these women through their maternity experiences.”—Marsden Wagner, M.D., M.S., former Director of Women’s and Children’s Health, World Health OrganizationBased on the female-centered Midwifery Model of Care and drawing upon her decades of experience, Ina May Gaskin gives expectant mothers comprehensive information on everything from the all-important mind-body connection to how to give birth without technological intervention.Filled with inspiring birth stories and practical advice, this invaluable resource covers: • Reducing the pain of labor without drugs—and the miraculous roles touch and massage play• What really happens during labor• Orgasmic birth—making birth pleasurable• Common methods of inducing labor—and which to avoid at all costs• Tips for maximizing your chances of an unmedicated labor and birth• How to avoid postpartum bleeding—and depression• The risks of anesthesia and cesareans—what your doctor doesn’t necessarily tell you• How to create a safe, comfortable environment for birth in any setting, including a hospital• And much more!Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth takes the fear out of childbirth by restoring women’s faith in their own natural power to give birth with more ease, less pain, and less medical intervention.
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Author
Ina May Gaskin
Pages
368
Publisher
Random House Publishing Group
Published Date
2008-11-19
ISBN
0307486257 9780307486257
Ratings
Google: 5
Community ReviewsSee all
"This book changed my life and how I view womanhood. In a culture that tells women we are not strong enough for our bodies, we need Ina May’s perspective on birth. A must read for any woman really but especially those like myself that have ever said “ I love the idea of natural birth, and I wish I could do it, but I have such a low pain tolerance.” Please please read this!!"
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Em Lewen
"Surprisingly engaging! I tried to read this shortly before or after my first baby and couldn’t get through it but now I’m expecting my second, it feels very relevant, helpful, and empowering. I wish she included more Canadian information and that there was a more updated edition (much of the data here is 20 years old, and the birth stories are primarily from the 70s-90s). However, the basic information is essentially very good and the basic message of “your body knows how to give birth” is crucial. I gained a lot of specific tips and ideas for my birth wishes. <br/><br/>At times she presents an overly idealistic view of what’s possible in birth - eg “it’s best to give birth surrounded by good friends (your midwives)”. Even though I have midwives, there’s no chance of them being good friends - best case scenario I’ve met each of them once or more before labour! She can also have a bit of a double standard for expecting medical interventions to have extensive research supporting them but gets frustrated when her intuitive/indigenous approaches aren’t accepted despite a lack of studies. This is understandable because medical interventions come with a lot more risks than “labour upright” or “try nipple stimulation” do - but it’s something I noticed. <br/><br/>Critiques aside I would highly recommend this book to anybody moving towards birth and wanting to gain a bit of natural-physiologic birth perspective."
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Teresa Prokopanko
"A must read for any expecting mama looking to empower herself in preparation for birth"
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Erica Bliss