OB Summer Reads

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Since I haven't received any replies to the post that I made in "Recommended Reading", I thought that I might bring this down here to see if I got a few more responses. After all, these aren't really "academic" books, but reading aimed at the general population. These books are for "entertainment" purposes generally.

Summer seems to have started early this year. It's already hot and humid, and in my free time, all my body wants to do is pick up a good book and read read read. I'm definitely in my "Summer Read Mode." I dare not go on Amazon anymore because that "one-click order button" is really getting dangerous for me! :)

A few years ago I read "Baby Catcher" by Peggy Vincent. I loved the book but I've read it soooo many times - I need something new. Over the weekend, I ordered "The Diary of a Midwife" and "Immaculate Deception II" (Susanne Arms). They will arrive tomorrow, but I'm just wondering if anyone has ever read them. Have I made some good book choices here? If you've read them, what did you think? Is "Diary" anything like "Baby Catcher"? How do they compare?

Even though these books are already on their way, I'm wondering if I've made some good choice and curious to what I have to look forward to. Any comments are appreciated. After I've read them, I'll post a little review here if anyone is interested.

If you've got a book that's "easy" summer reading material, please share if you think that it's worth it. Yes, I know that we have a sticky for books, but I didn't get any replies, and I'm looking for books that aren't really academic in nature, although I really learn a lot from any book that I read - especially if it applies to OB. Thank you!

Happy Summer Reading everyone! :balloons:

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I have personally used this site for books from Varney's Midwifery to Diary of a Midwife, to all the works of Penny Simkin. I have been VERY pleased with the service and fast shipping. I love this company (and no this is NOT an advertisement, I have no personal connection to this company other than being a satisfied customer, so I hope it's ok I post it here):

http://www.1cascade.com/

Specializes in OB, lactation.

The Ultimate BF Book of Answers is very good.

You can read a good bit of what he (Dr. Jack Newman) writes here under "handouts":

http://www.geocities.com/breastfeedinglinks

The Breastfeeding Answer Book

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0912500921/qid=1089344597/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/002-2472091-8159245?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

is also good, & more comprehensive. More of a reference book, but indispensable is Medications and Mother's Milk. 2004 edition just came out-

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/096362198X/qid=1089344634/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-2472091-8159245?v=glance&s=books

If a nurse or L&D could only get two, I would probably recommend these.

This page has breastfeeding book suggestions for professionals:

http://www.iblce.org/suggested_reading_list.htm

I am a bf counselor and I have most of the big bf/lactation books. BF & Human Lactation just came out with a new edition that is supposed to have a lot of new updated information. The BF atlas is also good for later, really getting into specifics - it is full of pictures and case studies.

Any questions about breastfeeding books, feel free to email me :)

This is mostly nonfiction that I have read, or from my wishlist:

Taking Charge of Your Fertility

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060937645/ref=wl_it_dp/002-2472091-8159245?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I2TPR8U17FR83&colid=25MJEBJUY33JY

Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century: A Book by and for Women

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0684842319/qid=1089344314/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-2472091-8159245

Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0553382098/qid=1089343223/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-2472091-8159245?v=glance&s=books

Eve's Herbs: A History of Contraception & Abortion

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0674270266/qid=1089343250/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-2472091-8159245?v=glance&s=books

I haven't read this one:

Listen to Me Good: The Life Story of an Alabama Midwife

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0814207014/ref=wl_it_dp/002-2472091-8159245?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I3UGWBSO80JCY7&colid=25MJEBJUY33JY

A Midwife's Tale : The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812 I read part of this and then got too busy with schoolwork. Kind of dry but good.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0679733760/ref=pd_sim_books_3/002-2472091-8159245?v=glance&s=books

I can't believe I haven't read Spiritual Midwifery:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1570671044/ref=pd_sim_books_2/002-2472091-8159245?v=glance&s=books

Now Ina May Gaskin also has:

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0553381156/ref=pd_bxgy_text_1/002-2472091-8159245?v=glance&s=books&st=*

I have not read any of these but they are on my wishlist:

Ethnography of Fertility and Birth

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0881338176/ref=wl_it_dp/002-2472091-8159245?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I2JB1IG8J6LNZP&colid=25MJEBJUY33JY

Women Healers: Portraits of Herbalists, Physicians, and Midwives

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0892815485/ref=wl_it_dp/002-2472091-8159245?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=IVSVRS9WVR5KG&colid=25MJEBJUY33JY

Witches, Midwives, and Nurses: A History of Women Healers

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0912670134/ref=wl_it_dp/002-2472091-8159245?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I1R9T1EBISJUU2&colid=25MJEBJUY33JY

Birth Chairs, Midwives and Medicine

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1578061725/ref=pd_sim_books_1/002-2472091-8159245?v=glance&s=books

Lying-In: A History of Childbirth in America

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0300040873/ref=pd_sim_books_1/002-2472091-8159245?v=glance&s=books

For Her Own Good : 150 Years of the Experts' Advice to Women

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0385126514/ref=wl_it_dp/002-2472091-8159245?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I4FYP3H3USO0F&colid=25MJEBJUY33JY

Birth in Four Cultures : A Crosscultural Investigation of Childbirth in Yucatan, Holland, Sweden, and the United States

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/088133717X/qid=/sr=/ref=cm_lm_asin/002-2472091-8159245?v=glance

Birth As an American Rite of Passage

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0520084314/qid=/sr=/ref=cm_lm_asin/002-2472091-8159245?v=glance

I have read this, not a women's health thing but good: The Spirit Catches you and you Fall Down:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0374525641/qid=1089344093/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-2472091-8159245

Couple more that are good:

The Continuum Concept:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0201050714/qid=1089344372/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-2472091-8159245

Our Babies, Ourselves: How Biology and Culture Shape the Way We Parent

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385483627/qid=1089344414/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-2472091-8159245

The Red Tent fictional book that I loved:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312195516/qid=1089343907/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-2472091-8159245?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Some other general fiction I liked:

Poisonwood Bible

Prodigal Summer

Memoirs of a Geisha

Into the Forest

Davinci Code

Whew. I guess I'm officially a bibliophile. Hope that gives you some ideas (please lie and say it did if it didn't ;)

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

u can get all the above at the website I mentioned, too. It's where I got a lot of these books. A good list of books, to be sure, mattsmom.

Specializes in OB, lactation.

agree about cascade, they have cool catalogs too if you must have paper :)

http://www.1cascade.com/request

Thank you Mitchsmom. Wonderful list. In fact, I think that I'm just going to cut and paste your list and make it my wish list on Amazon. :chuckle Sounds like they'd make a great library in and of itself.

BTW, The Ultimate Book of Breastfeeding is an awesome book. I got it last weekend and I really have enjoyed reading the book. I think I'm going to get "The Nursing Mother's Companion" as well as a doula marketing book (mine wasn't returned). I really need to rebuild my library and you all have suggested some awesome books! Thanks!

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