Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

by Ina May Gaskin
Publisher: Bantam Books
Trade Paperback, 349 pages
List Price: $18.00 Our Price: $12.60

Drawing upon her thirty-plus years of experience, Ina May Gaskin, the nation's leading midwife, shares the benefits and joys of natural childbirth by showing women how to trust in the ancient wisdom of their bodies for a healthy and fulfilling birthing experience. Based on the female-centered Midwifery Model of Care, Ina May's Guide to Natural Childbirth gives expectant mothers comprehensive information on everything from the all-important mind-body connection to how to give birth without technological intervention.

Filled with inspiring birth stories and practical advice, this invaluable resource includes:

  • Reducing the pain of labor without drugs—and the miraculous roles touch and massage play
  • What really happens during labor
  • Orgasmic birth—making birth pleasurable
  • Episiotomy—is it really necessary?
  • Common methods of inducing labor—and which to avoid at all costs
  • Tips for maximizing your chances of an unmedicated labor and birth
  • How to avoid postpartum bleeding—and depression
  • The risks of anesthesia and cesareans—what your doctor doesn't necessarily tell you
  • The best ways to work with doctors and/or birth care providers
  • How to create a safe, comfortable environment for birth in any setting, including a hospital
  • And much more

Ina May's Guide to Natural Childbirth takes the fear out of childbirth by restoring women's faith in their own natural power to give birth with more ease, less pain, and less medical intervention.

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  Some Meat, Some Bones
HappyHomemaker of Oregon, 4/18/2011
I read this book during my first pregnancy, and it did help me not fear labor so much by helping me come to understand how my body works. A lot of the pain management strategies were very helpful.
HOWEVER... Ina Mays obviously thinks we have monkeys in our lineage, and she does not seem to believe in God. There is some odd 'spiritual' stuff in here (in fact her other book is called Spiritual Midwifery), but she's NOT talking about the Holy Spirit.
So, there is a lot of meat in here, but don't swallow until you've identified the bones.