reading recommendations?

[wendy1163]

hi all.

just wondering what you are reading as you prepare for your new arrival. I just finished "your best birth", the rikki lake and abby epstein follow-up to "the business of being born". last pregnancy I loved "ina may's guide to childbirth" and "birthing from within". I also appreciated "happiest baby on the block" once my critter finally arrived. what else should I check out? what books (or movies or articles) have meant the most to you during pregnancy?

I am new to this forum, so I guess I should introduce myself as well. I am a mama to a lively 13 month old boy, delivered in a hospital with a midwife. aiming for a home birth for this one, due march 24. we currently live in alberta, canada, but are eagerly anticipating our move back to NC this fall. glad to have the support of you lovely wise women.

wendy

[1babysmom]

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Edited by 1babysmom - 3/16/13 at 7:33am

[ciga]

well, i was reading ina may's "guide to childbirth" and nina planck's "real food for mother and baby" but I decided to take a break from pregnancy books so I'm reading Tom Robbins' short writings "wild ducks flying backwards" right now and then I'm moving on to "mole people". I think I'll wait a month and then continue on the pregnancy book run. Nina Planck's book is great. She is really down to earth and makes pre-natal and post-natal nutrition seem less overwhelming. I also have "your pregnancy week by week" given to me by my sister. That one has some little bits of useful information but most of it is all about everything that IS going to go wrong so I have to limit my intake.

[VegMomma]

Another Alberta mama! There are now three of us in this DDC! (Even though you're leaving... it still counts for a little while. )

Later on in pregnancy, I recommend that my clients read "Adventures in Natural Childbirth". It's a book made up entirely of really positive birth stories, and can be helpful later in pregnancy to put you in a good birthing headspace.

Here's a list of what I have in my lending library, if you want to take a peek for some ideas.

[Juvysen]

I'm in the midst of Birthing from Within and recently finished "real food for babies and moms"

I learned most from surfing MDC, I think though...

[Carley]

My favourite books were:

Pregnancy, Childbirth & Newborn

The Birth Partner

Spiritual Midwifery (which I thought was more fun to read than the Guide to Childbirth - I reread it over and over in the days & during my labor!)

Good luck!!!

[catchthewind]

I plan to read "Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" this time around. I've heard really good things about it but haven't had a chance to read it yet.

[Charmie981]

Originally Posted by VegMomma

Later on in pregnancy, I recommend that my clients read "Adventures in Natural Childbirth". It's a book made up entirely of really positive birth stories, and can be helpful later in pregnancy to put you in a good birthing headspace.

My birth story is in that book . I love it!!

For someone planning a hospital birth, I like The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth

And for everyone I like Birthing From Within, especially the chapters on dads and on coping techniques.

[beautifulnm]

I liked Ina May's guide.

[engineer_mom]

Ina May and Henci Goer are great.

Here's a few more...
Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife by Peggy Vincent. Hilarious and touching anecdotes of Ms. Vincent's experiences delivering babies at home.

Misconceptions by Naomi Wolf. An expose of the misconceptions many women have about the "defective body", the medical birthing industry and becoming a mother.

Pushed by Jennifer Block. "Block looks into a growing contingent of parents-to-be exploring alternatives to the hospital-and the attendant likelihood of medical intervention-by seeking out birthing centers and options for home-birth.

[anjanetteopal]

Originally Posted by engineer_mom

Ina May and Henci Goer are great.

Here's a few more...
Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife by Peggy Vincent. Hilarious and touching anecdotes of Ms. Vincent's experiences delivering babies at home.

Yes! There were a few stories that were hard to get through, but so good to see the full range of homebirth experiences!

I too loved Real Food for Mother and Baby!

[Right of Passage]

If you like history I really enjoy Birth The suprising history of how we are born. I love history!

Another vote for Ina May's Guide to childbirth. I like Spirtual Midwifery but there is a couple stories that were harder to read, I'd say Ina May's is softer and a bit more "mainstream" as far mainstream as Ina May can go . I'm finding the birth partner to be so full of fabulous information that I'm going to have DH read it. Ina May was a bit too much for him.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Heart & Hands warning there is a birth story in there that made me cry my eyes out.

If you plan to birth in a hospital I think The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth is a MUST!

I enjoyed Pushed but it's very much about the politics of birth.

Birthing From Within is very artsy so if you're a creative soul it would probably be fabulous for you. It was wonderful for helping me work through birth trauma. I think it's wonderful that the author talks about her experience having a c-section with her first even though she knew everything to prevent it, and having a wonderful second experience.

Gentle Birth Gentle Mothering is enjoyable as well.

If you go to www.childbirthinternational.com anything on their recommended reading list won't steer you wrong.

[Deir]

I highly recommend the Bradley Method books. Even though I didn't do the literal position they recommend, I found it so useful.

[Kikelet]

Dr. Sears Pregnancy Book. Love it.