I read "The Birth Partner". It is very good and covers lots of areas that I hadn't thought of before. There is no way I could get my husband to read the whole thing, though, it's thick! I have shared some passages with him.
We did take a Bradley class with an instructor who UC homebirthed four of her five children! I really think that the class is extremely comprehensive and really covered almost all of the things that "The Birth Partner" did. Plus, we were hearing it from a neutral person so *I* wasn't telling my husband what to do or remember. He found the classes very scientifically interesting as well, and (I think, although he wouldn't say so) empowering as a husband. I would suggest that a comprehensive class (ours was 12 weeks) for the two of you to share might be good for communication and preparedness. Then again, maybe your first experience was enough of an education and all you need is a book or two.
I found some neat home birth books at the library that were 30 YEARS OLD, but was shocked to find that the medical interventions that they warned about are STILL in use today! Yeah, and homebirth YouTube videos (or any homebirth videos seem to be helping us get into the mindset of visualizing ours.
I've personally have read HUNDREDS of homebirth stories online, most of them with the ending I would wish, some with transfers, etc. ALL with little hiccups of one kind or another (I haven't read a purely textbook birth yet--they are all unique). They have really helped me change my view of "normal" since hospital birth and birth stories are all I've ever heard about from people I know. It has been a REALLY good exercise for me. I also can ask myself, how would I handle this situation? What would I want? What can I do to prepare for this or that? And, like I said, it helps me to realize that my experience will be unique too and I cannot predict ANYTHING about it. Not easy for a person who likes to order and control her little world, but good for me.
Anyway, that's probably more than you asked for and still from a greenie, but these things have helped me so I hope they can help you too!
