natural birth in hospital... good books??

[akbirdy]

My girlfriend is stuck in Alabama (army wife) for her pregnancy and birth. She wishes to have a homebirth, but midewifes are illigal in AL.... She's really having a hard time with this, looking for advise for her and if anyone knows any great books for her to read up on hospital lingo... all that mumbo jumbo... she's worried about unessisary interventions, and the posibility of those leading to problems...

Thanks girls!

[hopefulfaith]

"Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" was good for me. It had the good crunchy birth stories in front, and then she went on to discuss current trends/research, etc.

Henci Goer's book was awesome, IMO, too -- "The Thinking Woman's Guide to Childbirth" or something like that ((can anyone correct me on the title? I gave my copy to a friend, or I'd look)). I would definitely recommend that one to someone planning a hospital birth!

[amis2girls]

Ina May's good, and Birthing from Within.

I've had my three unmed in the hospital.

[courtenay_e]

PLEASE, suggest she have a doula in attendance. On top of the out of hospital childbirth classes that she should take (Bradley, Hypnobirthing, whatever, just not funded by the hospital!), the DOULA will help to protect her, her baby, and her birth plan! There are plenty of doulas who will work on a sliding scale, so cost shouldn't be an issue.

[courtenay_e]

Let us know if she needs help finding one.

[RockStarMom]

Ditto courtenay- above all, she needs a doula. I would also strongly recommend taking a class, such as Bradley.

[akbirdy]

Thanks for all the good advise. Her doctor has not been any help, he has said things like, "well all my patients love the epidural, trust me you'll want it." and "Maybe you should go talk to the Le Leche people, they hate docters." Anyways, he sounds like he's not too supportive of a natural birth for her, so she's looking for a new docter! Are there any websites for looking up doulas in different areas? She is also going to attend a le leche meeting, hopefully to find some like minded women in her area...

I got her Ina Mays Guide to childbirth, I loved that one while I was pregnant too, I'll have her look up the others as well...

I keep telling her she'll do great! I've been reading some of the birth stories on here and it sounds like there are many of you who have had wonderful narural birth experiences in a hospital, it is possible!

Thanks girls!!

[St. Margaret]

Ugh, he sounds HORRIBLE! She'll want a doula to stand btw her and that guy! There ARE doula web sites, try googling... LLL folks might have good references, too. I wish her best luck!

[yequanamama]

And when she locates a good doula, the doula could point her in the direction of a supportive doc or midwife.

[mom2emerson]

I would highly recommend Marie Mongan's "HypnoBirthing" (but get the most recent edition which is MUCH better than the original.

Also, there is a book called "Hey, Who's having this baby anyway" by Breck Hawk, RN and Midwife. I haven't read the book but met the author at a conference (she had a booth next to me so we chatted quite a bit). She is all about natural child birth and making mothers aware of their patient rights and options. May be a really good book for your friend.

[mama_at_home]

Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way is a great resource for birthing naturally in a hospital.