Natural Living books

[jasnjakesmama]

Yipee! I'm the first post!
Okay who would like to talk about books that relate to natural family living? Which ones do you love, hate, consult regularly?

One of my faves is, of course, Natural Family Living by Peggy O'Mara.

I am currently reading How to Raise A Healthy Child In Spite of Your Doctor by Dr. Robert Mendelsohn. I love this book. I like his straightforward, common sense approach to things. I find his advice very in tune with my own instincts and thus very reassuring.

Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin changed my life, or at least how I viewed child birth! I credit her book with giving me confidence in my decision to have a home birth. Very hippy trippy in some parts but it's exactly the way I think birth should be viewed. It also inspired me to learn more about Midwifery and gave me some ideas for a future career.

I'd also like to give a nod to the Dr. Sears books. All of them. He is a nice balance between holistic and your average ped. I wish more Dr's were like him. Maybe then I would not have such a distrust of the medical community.

I look forward to hearing what books inspire you guys on your quest for a natural way of life....

~Jennifer

[Sierra]

Great list!

Well, you named a bunch of my favorites. What did you leave LOL? No, actually, i'm going to think on this. I'm sure there are more that I've enjoyed. The only thing I wanted to say about Spiritual Midwifery is although I think it is an awesome book and even enjoy the hippy trippy bit, I'm not sure I personally think it is exactly how birth should be viewed. See, there were some really disempowering practices during that time in history, even by the midwives on The Farm. For instance, I remember a number of instances in which some midwives in the book yelled at the women to be cooperative (and even sort of subserviant?) to other folks, including their husbands, and stuff like that. They also, as I recall, sometimes instructed women to lay on their backs for birth or get in other such positions. It's an interesting historical look at Midwifery, though, and most of it is very inspiring and motivating!

[saganaga]

I just recently read a newer little book "Feeding your picky eater" by Dr. Sears. I have a toddler who is selective with food, this book has already been helpful.

[glh]

I started reading Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron when my dd started solids. Although some people find her book disorganized, she has tons of information in this book. She has a lot of tips not specifically about food too. She also has lots of recipes and a big section on feeding toddlers. I keep meaning to go back and read it now that dd is a toddler, but have been spending too much time on this board!