Reading Recommendations for a future CNM student?

Specialties CNM

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Hi there,

I'm a newbie student at the beginning of my nursing education (1 year down!), and though my CNM credential is a long way off, midwifery is the reason I decided to dive into the nursing field. I am an information-seeking type of person, and an avid reader, and I would love to have some book/journal/ etc recommendations to help keep me current and engaged as I power through the rest of my general nursing education.

I have already read a LOT of what seem to be sort of 'classics,' as well as your basic doula cannon- All the Farm/Gaskin books, basically everything on the DONA reading list, 'Birth as an American Rite of Passage,' 'The politics of Breastfeeding,' 'Pushed' by Jennifer Block, 'The birth Partner,' Lamaze, Bradley, Hypnobirthing, several midwives memoirs etc, etc.

I feel like I'm running out of things to read besides textbooks (nothing against textbooks- I like them too). I also feel that lots of what I've read is maybe no longer as relevant as it once was.

What are your favorite journals to keep up on, both for recreational reading and keeping pace with EBP?

Favorite books, whether 'informational' or 'inspirational'?

Is there a good resource online to find out this sort of thing? ACNM's most recent book recommendation is from 2008.

Also documentaries!

Thanks!

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Specializes in Nurse-Midwife.

Midwifery and Childbirth in America by Judith Rooks

(an older book, but very good historical look at nurse midwifery, non-nurse midwifery, and the dynamics among midwives)

Baby Catcher by Peggy Vincent

Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health

Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing.

I also like the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Green Journal) - though not midwifery focused, it can have some good information.

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Specializes in ICU.

A couple fun books-

Baby Catcher by Peggy Vincent, a memoir set in Berkeley, fascinating to see the way midwifery and childbirth practices have changed. Also follow her page on fb, great inspiring stuff. And she's just coming out with her next book Midwife: A Calling.

A Midwife's Story by Penny Armstrong, a midwife who first practices in hospital and then starts doing home births in Amish country in PA

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Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.

Definitely Baby Catcher, and DEFINITELY spiritual midwifery (although it is kind of presented as a primer to midwifery practice, which i feel i inappropriate). Spiritual Midwifery is great for the groovy birth stories, but should NOT be used as a reference for practice!

I highly recommend Delivery by J. Crichton. About a midwife in an inner city hospital.

Also Midwives! Can't remember the author.

Documentary- there is a new one coming out soon called the Mama Sherpas, about hospital midwifery practices. I'd recommend it because I AM IN IT!!! lol.

Also- After Tiller. Not midwifery specific, but quite relevant to women's health.

I adore my Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health. Well worth the subscription cost.

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Definitely Baby Catcher, and DEFINITELY spiritual midwifery (although it is kind of presented as a primer to midwifery practice, which i feel i inappropriate). Spiritual Midwifery is great for the groovy birth stories, but should NOT be used as a reference for practice!

I highly recommend Delivery by J. Crichton. About a midwife in an inner city hospital.

Also Midwives! Can't remember the author.

Documentary- there is a new one coming out soon called the Mama Sherpas, about hospital midwifery practices. I'd recommend it because I AM IN IT!!! lol.

Also- After Tiller. Not midwifery specific, but quite relevant to women's health.

I adore my Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health. Well worth the subscription cost.

Say what. Now I'm going to spend the entire time watching it trying to guess which one is you, lol.

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Specializes in hospice.

I believe Midwives was written by Chris Bohjalian. I might have spelled the last name wrong. That's the one that takes place in Vermont, right? Court case, etc?

If you've never read The Red Tent by Anita Diamant I highly recommend it.

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Specializes in Nurse-Midwife.

I don't know if there's a book I loathed more than "Midwives" by Chris Bohjalian.

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Specializes in OB.

Baby Catcher was the one I loathed. I felt like most of her stories couldn't possibly have been true, in which case calling it a "memoir" rubbed me the wrong way.

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Specializes in hospice.
I don't know if there's a book I loathed more than "Midwives" by Chris Bohjalian.

I enjoyed reading it, but ended up not sure how I felt about it at the end.

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Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.
Say what. Now I'm going to spend the entire time watching it trying to guess which one is you, lol.

IIRC I am wearing a black and white houndstooth dress. I am shown with a patient and then I have a short voiceover part too. I'm DYING for it to be released!

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When is it being released?

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Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.

It's being shown in select locations, right now the release date is "fall 2015." But it was supposed to be around April of this year, so I don't know.

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