Which book would YOU recommend?

fearlessbirth · 12-13-2005, 09:45 AM

A very close friend of mine just found out she's pregnant! Only about 8 wks along and had her first Drs appt last week. She lives in another state so we don't get to chat a whole lot. For someone who's really open minded and teetering between the hospital with a Dr. & homebirth with a midwife, which book would YOU recommend at this stage?

I personally love Penny Simkin and Sheila Kitzinger...my FAVORITE, though, is Ina May's Guide to Childbirth...I think it almost may be too *crunchy* and *way out there* for this particular person...even though I mostly agree with Ina May's philosophies, ideas, etc.

Thoughts?

Another thing is that she has a new friend who's pregnant and totally doing the medical/dr/hospital/compliant patient thing and I hope that my friend can choose for HERSELF. I feel like this other friend's influence is the only reason she's not 100% sure about the midwife and birthing at home. (She and her sister were both born and home, without a midwife and caught by dad...oldest sister was caught by a student midwife so the whole idea is very 'normal' to her)...

ALSO....on another note....does anyone know when RaspberryMoonDoula will be joining us again? She actually lives where my friend does and I would LOVE to refer Casey to her. Because even if she opts for the hospital, girlfriend needs a DOULA!!!!

Sorry about the ramble...Lol

DL · 12-13-2005, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearlessbirth

I personally love Penny Simkin and Sheila Kitzinger...my FAVORITE, though, is Ina May's Guide to Childbirth...I think it almost may be too *crunchy* and *way out there* for this particular person...even though I mostly agree with Ina May's philosophies, ideas, etc.

Thoughts?

Well, personally, I would recommend BOTH books to her that you are thinking about! They are great ones, indeed!

About Ina May's Guide to Childbirth: just be honest with her and tell her that there are some *crunchy ("different")* philosophies in that book that she may or may not like for herself...BUT...that the book has some awesome information on birth itself. I tell my clients to take from it what they like, and leave what they don't.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearlessbirth

....does anyone know when RaspberryMoonDoula will be joining us again? She actually lives where my friend does and I would LOVE to refer Casey to her. Because even if she opts for the hospital, girlfriend needs a DOULA!!!!

I did a search and found a thread with her dates listed. She said that she'd be there from Nov. 3 - Dec. 11. IF she's back home, then she probably just arrived back a day or two ago. Hopefully, she'll be back on here soon! Something else you could try if you don't want to wait: see if she is listed in the alldoulas.com doula directory and, if she is, what type of contact information she has listed (I didn't look for that).

Kim Trower · 12-13-2005, 01:26 PM

A new book called "Hey! Who's Having This Baby Anyway?" by Breck Hawk, RN & Midwife. Is wonderful. It is a Guide and Workbook that goes through your many choices you would want to research while pregnant.

fearlessbirth · 12-13-2005, 01:53 PM

Thanks for all of your feedback!! And Kim, I hadn't heard of that book...I'm going to e-bay it now! Lol

motherwise · 12-13-2005, 02:03 PM

I would add: The thinking womans guide to childbirth and a good birth, a safe birth.

Kalamazoo Doula · 12-13-2005, 03:45 PM

I would suggest the book, Gentle Birth Choices, by Barabra Harper, R.N. This is a wonderful book! It covers just about every thing! There are beautiful pictures of mommas in labor, delivering or holding their new babies! My favorite picture in the book, is of a VBAC momma pushing her baby out, while standing up, off the bed, as her partner is supporting her from behind. You can see her c/birth scar very easily. I don't know, the picture seems to speak volumes. I think I'm so attracted to the picture so much, because our area seems to have of kind of stopped encouraging VBACs as much as they were about 5 years ago!

But, back on topic! I really suggest this book, it looks at ALL the different aspects of birth choices, and how to have a gentle birth in any setting.

fearlessbirth · 12-13-2005, 05:09 PM

OH! I love that one as well!!!! I have forgotten about all these greats. Thank you!

motherwise · 12-13-2005, 07:39 PM

ooh, good one

Need2read · 12-14-2005, 01:40 AM

Gentle Birth Choices was amazing! I felt it was a great read, gave many ideas on ways to birth and had lovely imagery. HIGHLY recommended!!!

wendoula · 12-14-2005, 08:07 AM

Gentle Birth Choices, by Barabra Harper, R.N.

Yes - this is the book I would recommend for her. I would also give her a printed list of the others that were posted here and maybe her local library might have a few of them she could borrow.

Wendy