Best UC books?

[WinterPrego]

What books did you find the most inspiring and educational on UC/HB?  I am looking to order some books on UC, and would like some other women's input!   Thanks ladies 

[guest123456]

I'd like to know too! 

[lovebeingamomma]

If you type in "Unassisted Childbirth" into Amazon.com three come up.  I personally don't know of any so I checked there because Amazon seems to have everything :)  I'd be interested to hear any reviews of these books. 

[WinterPrego]

Last night I ordered Unassisted Childbirth by Laura Shanley and Childbirth Without Fear by Grantly Dick-Read (doing a bit of research I've heard a lot about both of those) off of Amazon (it is a great site, my husband and I always order from there when getting books). I also intend to print up the pdf version of Emergency Childbirth, A Manual by Gregory J. White, M.D.

Really looking forward to reading these, and will post a review once finished!!!  :)

[LadyJennifer]

Interested to hear what others say:)

[Mamatoabunch]

I like Unassisted Homebirth: An Act of Love by Lynn M. Griesmer.

[WinterPrego]

Originally Posted by Mamatoabunch 

I like Unassisted Homebirth: An Act of Love by Lynn M. Griesmer.

Thanks, I'll look it up!

[jenninjapan]

I've read Shanley and the Griesmer book.   Shanley's book was great and I keep going back to it. It was concise, clear and gave me some new ways to think about birthing.  Griesmer's book was a lot longer and I found her writing style a bit convoluted.  She sort of hammered away at the same points just in different ways.  That said I still read it and took some things away from it, especially about taking responsibility for your own health and life. If you are trying to convince your DH to UC, there is a good section on fathers and UC and a lot of input from the men involved in the births. 

There is a great thread a few pages back on the UC forum about UC resources.  I found some websites there more useful than Griesmer's book, but that is only because I had done other reading beforehand (Bradley Method, Thinking woman's Guide to Better Birth).   It is not a how-to, but rather a why book.

[MittensKittens]

Emergency childbirth has actually been the most useful for me. I have also heard that Susun Weed's The childbearing year is great for herbal medicine tips. I am actually waiting for a review copy from her, so I'll be able to tell you what it is like soon :). I personally like books that focus on practical tips rather than spiritual or philosophical aspects.

[havsulen]

Originally Posted by WinterPrego 

 I also intend to print up the pdf version of Emergency Childbirth, A Manual by Gregory J. White, M.D.

Does anybody know where I can get hold of this PDF, please?

[MittensKittens]

Originally Posted by havsulen 

Originally Posted by WinterPrego 

 I also intend to print up the pdf version of Emergency Childbirth, A Manual by Gregory J. White, M.D.

Does anybody know where I can get hold of this PDF, please?

http://books.google.com/books?id=F3X7IYnG9BIC&pg=PA29&lpg=PA29&dq=emergency+childbirth+gregory+j+white&source=bl&ots=oj9GLj6ZIh&sig=NYs0bGxFmJ2faxwAXFfBwz3fuf0&hl=en&ei=ZSBHTLzcGaWksQbFr8W2Aw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

:)

[WinterPrego]

Mittenkittens - I do have a copy of Susan Weeds book Childbearing Year, and I love it! It has a ton of great herbal info.

Havsulen -  This is the link I used, in case you want to compare!  :)    http://www.umbrellanoize.com/stuff/Emergency%20Childbirth.pdf

[MittensKittens]

Originally Posted by WinterPrego 

Mittenkittens - I do have a copy of Susan Weeds book Childbearing Year, and I love it! It has a ton of great herbal info.

Havsulen -  This is the link I used, in case you want to compare!  :)    http://www.umbrellanoize.com/stuff/Emergency%20Childbirth.pdf

Just got mine in the mail and will be reviewing it over the weekend. I think it has some wonderful information, but I do have some criticisms too :).

[lizzie]

Hi Ladies... sort of new here, but I'm really looking forward to your review, MittensKittens, as I'm reading that book right now, (and love other women's input and insight into what I'm reading) and appreciate both of the links to Emergency Childbirth! Thank you both for those. I love Laura Shanley's site, so I'm really looking forward to reading her book, and Greismer's book too... Even if it's less practical, I've just found it's been a great source of ... uh... I guess personal encouragement to be reading books and birth stories that are focused on our ability to do this to counteract the voices out there saying we can't, so even when they're telling me something I already know, the literature supporting UC just helps me stay in the frame of mind I prefer being in!

[WinterPrego]

Originally Posted by MittensKittens 

Just got mine in the mail and will be reviewing it over the weekend. I think it has some wonderful information, but I do have some criticisms too :).

My husband and I also have a few criticisms!  ;)
 

[MittensKittens]

Here is my review of the childbearing year:

The Childbearing Year - a great resource for herbal remedies (part 1)... and

The Childbearing Year - praise and criticism

I have to say I was disappointed not to find anything about gestational diabetes as well.

[MittensKittens]

Originally Posted by WinterPrego 

Originally Posted by MittensKittens 

Just got mine in the mail and will be reviewing it over the weekend. I think it has some wonderful information, but I do have some criticisms too :).

My husband and I also have a few criticisms!  ;)
 

I'd love to hear about it!

[ursusarctos]

For inspiration and positivity I love Jeannine Parvati Baker's Prenatal Yoga and Natural Birth.

[ElizabethE]

I'm reading Emergency Childbirth right now and it's incredible. It's so practical and useful and helpful, and it actually helped me to understand my past labors better. I think it's a great book to have if you want to confidently UC.

[ElizabethE]

Although I did have a question for you all... for those of you who have or haven't read the book, Gregory White asserts that a hand-first delivery needs to go to the hospital. If I were to see this myself during labor, I would probably come to a similar conclusion on my own. What are your thoughts on this, and are there any conflicting ideas about this?