Good Homebirthing books for DH

[mdnaturalmama]

DH needs alot more "convincing" to do a hb. I'm looking for some good homebirthing books for him to read(or listen to) so that hopefully he'll be a bit more confident.

[lyndie]

I don't have any book recommendations (sorry!) but I did want to mention that hearing other HB stories told by couples really empowered my DH.  We're lucky to have a local group called a "birthing circle" (in Anne Arundel Co. MD) that meets once a month to discuss and share anything related to natural pregnancy & birth.  They had a meeting where parents shared their HB stories and hearing the fathers talk about working through their own fears helped my DH a lot.

So that's just a thought, meeting with experienced people... though I realize if you're looking for books then he may be more of a cold-hard-facts type of person.  I'm sure you'll get great recommendations from the other mamas!

[mdnaturalmama]

I'm in MD too! A friend of mine told me about that circle...I'm not sure if we both could ever make it tho. I'm in Harford Co, so a bit of a drive. Do you know when they meet?

[motherhendoula]

Im not in MD - but i CAN recommend a good book!  The Dr. Sears "Birth Book"  - it is written by Dr. Sears - a pediatrician and his wife, Martha - a nurse and mother of 8...it is like the opposite side of Spiritual Midwifery....(while still being pro-home birth)  it acknowledges hospitals - and what they are good for, and being that both authors worked in many different hospitals, it tackles 'hospital protocol'  and sorts out the nonesense.  It is the less 'crunchy chewy' vision of HB - good luck convincing him!

[lyndie]

4th Tuesday of each month & here's the yahoo group.  The group is going to have a new "manager" for 2011 & I think she's planning to create a facebook page, too.  Some meetings may not warrant the drive but if they do another "home birth story sharing" I think it would be worth it.  At the one we attended, there for 5 (or so) couples that told their stories.  Reading positive HB stories on here is great but hearing them in person with the kids playing in the middle of the circle was the best.

Originally Posted by mdnaturalmama 

I'm in MD too! A friend of mine told me about that circle...I'm not sure if we both could ever make it tho. I'm in Harford Co, so a bit of a drive. Do you know when they meet?

[mdnaturalmama]

Thank you Lyndie. I requested to join the group. I'll have to ask if/when their next "sharing" meeting will be.

Thanks for the book recommendation. I did get that one off of my other thread so I had it on my list! It's nice to hear what it's about tho. I think that would be great for him. Now to see if I can find it in audiobook! He falls asleep reading. Lol.

[Partaria]

I was talking to my therapist about this just last week! In my case, DH is on board, but no one else, including the baby's future grandparents.

I think often that when we say "here read this," people think of it as work. In our more media-oriented society, sometimes a video is more likely to get prompt attention. :) That said, I highly highly recommend that you sit him down in front of the wonderful documentary The Business of Being Born. I know for sure it's available as a watch instantly on Netflix, and you can actually rent it on the website here: http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/

DH saw this film before I did. And when I got pregnant, I started looking at birth centers, but the one in town (though great) was financially out of reach. I was so disappointed and scared about having no options. DH gently suggested that homebirth was within our grasp. I was skeptical about HB, but he said "just watch the film, get some info, and see what you think." It changed everything. :) We are now planning beautiful homebirth in May with a wonderful midwife.

[porttack]

I can recommend "Special Delivery" and "The Birth Partner" for homebirthing DH

[mdnaturalmama]

Thanks Porttack. I'll check those out. =)

Partaria, we have actually watched the bus of being born. I thought he was on board, or at least more so, after that but I was wrong. I'm hoping that he'll come around soon.

[Partaria]

BoBB is a great place to start. :) Maybe he can continue to check out the website and sift through the resources there. I'm sure you've also seen this article, but it is from a not-so-on-board-at-first DH's point of view:

http://mothering.com/pregnancy-birth/you-want-to-give-birth-where

[motherhendoula]

this is a link to a blog by Jennifer Block - author of "Pushed"

http://www.jenniferblock.com/wordpress/

another great book ...buuuut, a longer, more difficult read - so it might not be a good choice for your DH

[mdnaturalmama]

Thank you!! I'll def be checking those out myself and I emailed him the links. They look good for him. If anyone knows of any other blogs, etc from reliable sources(I'm sure there are a ton out there, but I need ones from drs or educated professionals, you KWIM) I'd be very appreciative if you shared! =D

[MandyGail]

KW has The Father's homebirth handbook (or whatever its called!) Dh read it in a day or so - its short:)

[mdnaturalmama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MandyGail 

KW has The Father's homebirth handbook (or whatever its called!) Dh read it in a day or so - its short:)

Did he like it? For some reason I'm thinking you said it wasn't really that great. But if it's worth it I'll try to get it from her. I know it can't be found anywhere and she only has two copies.

 

[mdnaturalmama]

So, I just ordered some books from amazon. Needed to get a Christmas gift anyways, so I ordered a few that aren't available at my library. Let's see...The Birth Book, Thinking woman's guide to a better birth, Born in the USA, and Baby Catcher. Not all are for DH, but I think 3 of them are ones that were rec'd on here for getting him on board so I'm super excited about getting them. =)

[lyrebird]

Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth. A great, positive read.

[lyndie]

I'd also recommend taking a Bradley course with DH.  We recently started ours and the first class goes over all the interventions (and why they can be dangerous) that you usually have to fight off in the hospital.  It really reinforced our decision to HB & I could see it swaying him to the right side. 

[BabyFireFly]

I handed DH Ina May's "Spiritual Midwifery" and I think it had a very positive effect on his view of birthing at home. The collection of stories provided from people from all walks of life really helped, along with Ina's special "mellow but firm" tone. My MW and him actually re-read their favorite parts of the book and chatted about them amongst themselves while I was laboring....

[NYC_CNM]

Fathers At Birth by Rose St. John.  It's not really a convince-you-to-have-a-HB book, but it's the best book for dads I've ever read, mostly on helping them be good support partners and grounded during a birth, and it's very homebirth friendly.