Books on Natural Childbirth

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

I am looking to my fellow RNs for a little guidance. I am a first time expectant mother who is very excited and naturally a little nervous as well! I have already dug up my maternal-newborn textbook from nursing school and begun refreshing. I am very very interested in natural childbirth and would love it if anyone could recommend some books on the subject.

Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
I am looking to my fellow RNs for a little guidance. I am a first time expectant mother who is very excited and naturally a little nervous as well! I have already dug up my maternal-newborn textbook from nursing school and begun refreshing. I am very very interested in natural childbirth and would love it if anyone could recommend some books on the subject.

Not a book, but have you watched the documentary Business of Being Born? It is available on Netflix. Labor of Love is also a must read.

I have watched "The Business of Being Born" quite some time ago and would love to watch it again (although I no longer have Netflix). Also, one of my close friends is a doula and has offered her services. She delivered both her girls entirely naturally and has been a great resource and inspiration to me. I will check out the book "Labor of Love". Thank you for your input!

Specializes in OB.

-Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, or if you want the older, more psychadelic version, Spiritual Midwifery, both by Ina May Gaskin

-Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein, the makers of the Business of Being Born, talks a lot about different options for childbirth in the U.S. and good questions to ask yourself and your provider

-The Birth Partner, by Penny Simkin, offers a lot of specific techniques and positions for a natural labor and birth

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Definitely use a doula if you're hoping to go natural! Also, check out your options for different practices - OBs vs. midwives.

Definitely use a doula if you're hoping to go natural! Also, check out your options for different practices - OBs vs. midwives.

Yes, I will definately be using my doula!

Also, I am blessed to have Kaiser insurance, and our local woman and children's center is a brand spankin' new facility. They have an OB and CNM on at all times, and I have made it clear that I want to deliver with a midwife if possible. I will be preparing a simple and flexible birth plan. Both my sisters had their children at this same hospital, and I my OB rotation in nursing school was at this facility as well. I was fortunate enough to witness a beautifully smooth natural delivery with a midwife while in school. All of these experiences make me feel very comfortable and confident with having my baby there!

Call me crazy, but I have had three natural childbirths! I watched a video called "Labor of Love". It was very accurate and helpful. I knew what to expect to some degree.

Being educated and knowing what to expect is the best way to have a great experience with natural childbirths. Staying mentally in control is key. You go girl!!!

Specializes in MedSurg, PACU, Maternal/Child Health.

Just today I found a book on my Nook device, it is called Pushed: The Painful Truth about Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care. It is interesting so far, it advocates on natural process, which women have been doing for thousand of years. AWHONN's Perinatal Nursing also advises on ways to make birth easier...including pushing while in sitting or squatting position, which makes the baby come out easier. It makes sense as the baby moves down with gravity and the pushing. Most OB doctors have the women in lithotomy position (laying on their back with legs spread) to push. But this isnt very effective as requires more pushing force. Why MDs use this position is not known. But going from cave paintings of women delivering while squatting and from modern women who had spontaneous labor while on the way to the hospital, they all delivered in a seated or squat position. I also heard/know that some medications including epidural can prolong labor due to their numbing effects on the body's systems.

Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.
-Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, or if you want the older, more psychadelic version, Spiritual Midwifery, both by Ina May Gaskin

-Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein, the makers of the Business of Being Born, talks a lot about different options for childbirth in the U.S. and good questions to ask yourself and your provider

-The Birth Partner, by Penny Simkin, offers a lot of specific techniques and positions for a natural labor and birth

In addition to these, The Thinking Women's Guide to a Better Birth, by Henci Goer

Specializes in Childbirth Educator, Birth Doula.

Sheila Kitzinger's "Complete Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth".

Anything Penny Simkin. Anything Ina May Gaskin, especially her "Guide to Childbirth".

I tell my doula and CBE clients that it may be best to stay away from anything too academic during pregnancy when it comes to birth, though.. the whole key/goal is to be able to turn your left brain off about it. So while "Pushed" is a great book, it may not be the best fodder for childbirth preparation.

The absolutely best childbirth book on the market is "Laboring Well: A labor nurse shares insights from 10,000 births". This book is positive and balanced, as well as easy and fun to read. Ina May's book has lots of good information, but has an obvious anti-hospital bias without sharing clearly the issues that women will face trying to get to the hospital if something goes wrong. There's a scary assumption out there that getting to the hospital in an emergency is easy and that all will be well. Who wants to take that risk with their baby, or their own life? Laboring Well is full of fabulous information and is very supportive of natural labor. Give it a try.

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