LINKS

The classic book on home birth! The first section details the experiences of parents and midwives during the birth experience. The second section is a technical manual for midwives, nurses, and doctors. Includes information on prenatal care and nutrition, labor, delivery-techniques, care of the new baby, and breast-feeding.

A reader from New Zealand  says it's great - essential reading.
I loved this book. It was an enlightening and refreshing look at the philosophical and practical aspects of Westernized childbirth. Parents-to-be should read it and question the assumptions made about childbirth. All health professionals who provide care to pregnant women (and their partners) should read it. It should be on the undergraduate reading list of all medical, nursing and midwifery schools


Since the Bradley method was first introduced in 1970, a growing number of expectant parents have opted for natural childbirth, knowing that it's safer than medicated or surgical delivery. But where can parents-to-be go for information on how to have a successful Bradley birth? This book provides all the answers, offering sound advice on how to prepare physically for labor and what to expect during each of its stages. Photos & line drawings.

 

from San Francisco, CA. Excellent - A bible for expecting moms.
Very easy to understand. I was given this book when I was about 6 months pregnant. On first glance I thought "oh no not another hippy, love child herbal book", to my surprise (and 5 hours of not so painful joy in the next 4 months) I thank the gods above for having this book, and the grace to follow the suggestions within. This book also helped with the "pink eye" problem that newborns have, and the other strange little wonderful things that happen to a womans body during and after childbirth. A book written by wise women for wise women!

A reader from Italy says:
I got this book hoping it would have the information that I was looking for. I wanted to have pictures mainly of a developing baby. This book was more than I had hoped. It is beautiful! The week by week guide that shows you "actual" pictures is done with a lot of style. The other parts of the book labor, your newborn, etc. are exceptional. I enjoyed reading this book so much and it gave me some information that I had not gotten any where else. I don't feel that it gave any "negitive" messages or information to cause worry. I am currently pregnant with my second child and I enjoyed the book so much I bought one for a pregnant friend.

"Readers are given a glimpse of how protecting the integrity of birth, beginning on a personal level with our own peace of mind, may help bring about more positive, conscious birthing for everyone." Midwifery Today "can encourage anyone to realize the power they possess in their own bodies." Lorraine Driscoll, M.D., Journal of the American Medical Women's Association "I can guarantee that Claudia will touch and affect you on a variety of different levels. You will learn something about yourself and your own perceptions by reading this terrific book." Sylvia Klein Olkin, Positive Pregnancy Fitness.

Open Season
by Nancy Wainer Cohen

Doris Haire, National Women's Health Network said:
"Obstetricians would be wise to read this book before their patients get their hands on it. The rate of unnecessary cesarean sections would be significantly reduced if Open Season were required reading for everyone taking childbirth education classes. Nancy Cohen's witty handling of a very serious subject may well be a turning point in American obstetric care."

  

Silent Knife
by Nancy Cohen, Lois J. Estner

"The bible of cesarean prevention." Wall Street Journal "A landmark event, which will change the course of obstetric care by giving parents the information they need to make the decisions that are best for their own families. Comprehensive, highly readable, sensitive . . . should be read by everyone who cares about someone." Marian Tompson Director, Alternative Birth Crisis Coalition American Academy of Medicine "Required reading for all childbirth professionals and prospective parents." Journal of Gynecological Nursing

 

BREAST FEEDING

 

Parenting and Families Editor's Recommended Book
Here's the 35th-anniversary edition of the big book on breast feeding, written by the experts at La Leche League International. The Womanly Art of Breast feeding is a comprehensive resource guide providing just about everything you need to know about how--and why--to breast feed your baby. Latch on to this book for step-by-step guides to early months, common concerns, problems, and weaning. Additional sections on general nutrition, sleep issues, going back to work, discipline, and fathering are useful for all breast feeding mothers. Unfortunately the black-and-white photos are not always as clear as they should be, and the informative line-drawings are too scarce.

 

An essential guide for breast feeding women .
Sheila Kitzinger brings her knowledge and experience to light in this extremely-well-illustrated (superb photos!) guide to breast feeding. She includes what to expect, what is normal, and what problems may arise. This would be a wonderful gift for a new mom. I love this book and highly recommend it as a first-read for those women who are breast feeding or thinking about breast feeding.

 

POSTPARTUM AND PARENTING

 

Parenting and Families Editor's Recommended Book
In their excellent (and hefty) resource guide, The Baby Book, attachment parenting specialists William Sears and Martha Sears have provided new parents with their approach to every aspect of baby care basics, from newborns to toddlers. Attachment parenting is a gentle, reasonable approach to parenting that stresses bonding with your baby, responding to her cues, breast feeding, "wearing" your baby, and sharing sleep with your child. For those parents who worry about negative effects of this attention, the Sears say, "Spoiling is what happens when you leave something (or some person) alone on the shelf--it spoils."