This is a classic. This unique DVD shows women using the techniques of relaxation, rhythm, and ritual in coping with non-medicated labors. It shows all hospital/birth center births, which is nice if your clientele mostly birth in these places. This DVD isn't for the faint of heart -- in fact, Penny includes a sheet where she talks about helping families process the images and the sounds they hear. This shows women for the length of one contraction, so there is never a "calm" moment. Families could become confused and think ALL of labor is like this. On the other hand, it shows what the range of normal is for women going with no pain medications as far as coping goes.

This is a nice tool for doulas to have, but do take care before showing just anybody.

I own and use many childbirth videos on a regular basis (including the very expensive Injoys) but this is my favorite for many reasons.

• it is short
• it shows many different women
• it shows many different labor settings
• it shows many different care providers
• it shows coping techniques during each phase/stage of labor
• the focus in on how women REALLY behave in labor
• it is always the class favorite, even among the guys (who are a teensy shell shocked by the "noises") because it is very realistic

All that, plus the price is hard to beat. I don't agree with some who say that it is "too much" and needs to be prefaced with a long diatribe. I tell my class attendees that they will see many different women coping with labor contractions and to focus on what SHE is doing and how her labor partner responds to it. The discussions afterwards are always great!