Good pregnancy books that stress midwifery?

[witchygrrl]

A friend of mine just told me she is about 6 weeks pregnant. I'd like to get her a book that is midwifery-friendly, but would still go through the stages of pregnancy, a la What to expect...

She is already natural birth oriented, but wants to know more. Help?

[rparker]

The Sears Pregnancy Book? I haven't actually read that particular title, but I did read their Birth Book (and a ton of their other titles). They're usually really thorough, tend to be more mainstream, but definitely support natural birth and home birth. I've read reviews that say a lot of the info in the Birth Book and the Pregnancy Book overlaps... if so, the Birth Book is definitely pro-midwifery and home birth although it mainly assumes that the reader will be having a hospital birth and gives a lot of info on how to avoid interventions.

I really liked Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, but IIRC it doesn't have a whole lot about pregnancy in it.

[Mother Cake]

I just got the Sears Pregnancy Book out of the library. I haven't read it cover to cover, but I would say it is more evidence based than What to Expect. However, it isn't exactly focused on midwives, more on what is happening in your body and how to cope with changes, answers to common questions, etc.

My first thought when I read your title was The Natural Pregnancy Book by Aviva Jill Romm, but it doesn't spend a lot of time on the stages of pregnancy, so it might not be what your friend is looking for. It is written by a midwife, so it takes that perspective. You can get a peak at it on Google Books here.

[J's Mama]

I recommend *anything* by Sheila Kitzinger but in this case i specifically recommend The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by her. Very similar to What to Expect without all the crap. And very inclusive of hospital or home birth, doctor or midwife care.

[Lyndzies]

I just finished Ricki Lake and Abby Epstien's "Your Best Birth," which was very pro-midwife. I dug it.

[WaturMama]

The Natural Pregnancy Book by Aviva Jill Romm.

Ina May Gaskin has a pregnancy book too, but I can't remember the name.

[witchygrrl]

Great suggestions! I think I'll put in an Amazon order for her

[jenifera2]

Our Bodies, Ourselves has a new (2008 published) pregnancy and birth book that is good going through the stages of pregnancy and has a lot of info on various types of births and care providers. I felt it was more a proponent of midwifery than any other model of care, but it does cover other options as well.

[neonalee]

Not necessarily the stages of pregnancy, but for the stages of labor I thought The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin was wonderful! There were so many things that I was just amazed by (because like many I haven't been taught much about my body). My DP is reading it and he says he's learning so much that he wishes he knew 11 years ago when his ex gave birth to his daughter.

[evjolin]

i liked "the mother of all pregnancy books" by ann douglas. think you have to buy it used though, may be going through a revision?

i also really liked "from the hips."

[MommyMatsumoto]

"Gentle Birth Choices" by Barbara Harper is my favorite!

[tommynomad]

Aviva Romm and Gaskin are both quite...granola. If that's your thing: great.

Epstein and Lake's book is the best, most accessible one we've read, and we've read a stack. The companion film "The Business of Being Born" is not only pro-midwife, but exposes modern obstetrics as a less-than-reassuring branch of medicine. Shenomad was pretty settled on a midwife (coming from a MW-dominant culture), but that doco sealed it for her.

[Danidama]

Ask a Midwife! It is awesome. By Catharine Parker-Littler

I can't believe I didn't see it mentioned here, just because I assumed everyone here probably had it. It came out in 2008, though. Pretty new (and fantastic ). Everything one would possibly need to know is in it.