Ina May's Guide to Childbirth - Ina May Gaskin

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

By Ina May Gaskin

  • Release Date: 2003-03-04
  • Genre: Health & Fitness
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 310 Ratings

Description

What you need to know to have the best birth experience for you.

Drawing upon her thirty-plus years of experience, Ina May Gaskin, the nation’s leading midwife, shares the benefits and joys of natural childbirth by showing women how to trust in the ancient wisdom of their bodies for a healthy and fulfilling birthing experience. Based on the female-centered Midwifery Model of Care, Ina May’s Guide to Natural Childbirth gives expectant mothers comprehensive information on everything from the all-important mind-body connection to how to give birth without technological intervention.

Filled with inspiring birth stories and practical advice, this invaluable resource includes:• Reducing the pain of labor without drugs--and the miraculous roles touch and massage play

• What really happens during labor
• Orgasmic birth--making birth pleasurable
• Episiotomy--is it really necessary?
• Common methods of inducing labor--and which to avoid at all costs
• Tips for maximizing your chances of an unmedicated labor and birth
• How to avoid postpartum bleeding--and depression
• The risks of anesthesia and cesareans--what your doctor
doesn’t necessarily tell you
• The best ways to work with doctors and/or birth care providers
• How to create a safe, comfortable environment for
birth in any setting, including a hospital
• And much more

Ina May’s Guide to Natural Childbirth takes the fear out of childbirth by restoring women’s faith in their own natural power to give birth with more ease, less pain, and less medical intervention.

Reviews

  • Great book for new mamas!!!

    5
    By bell mal
    Great book for mom who’s want to experience natural, unmedicated birth!!
  • A must read for all expecting parents!

    5
    By -megatron-
    This book was recommended to me by several friends, my prenatal chiropractor, and my midwife. I’m pregnant with my first child now and planning an unmedicated home-birth. Ina does a thorough job in describing the incredible task that women’s bodies were built for, and how the medical world can oftentimes get in the way of a natural process that’s been happening since the dawn of time. I highly recommend this book to all parents, ESPECIALLY first time moms who, like myself at the beginning of my pregnancy, knew absolutely nothing about labor or birth.
  • I felt well prepared for birth

    5
    By kareykareylou
    My husband and I both read the book in preparation for birthing our daughter at a birthing center. We were both so well informed about the process of birth that we moved through labor together. We felt confident and comfortable choosing pain reducing medication. And when i hemorrhaged and needed stitches we remained calm and trusting of the midwives.
  • Amazingly Insightful

    5
    By Farmher A
    Every pregnant person should read this, such amazing insight! We are fortunate to have such a voice and advocate for reproductive health.
  • MUST HAVE

    5
    By juliegraz
    If you are afraid of childbirth, like many of us are, this book is for you! TV shows and movies make birth seem like it is not manageable, but this book proves them wrong. There are so many useful tips for natural laboring and birthing. Even if you don’t plan on having a natural birth, these tools are so helpful to have. Not to mention that this book is also filled with so many beautiful, positive birth stories. Definitely do yourself a favor and get this amazing book!
  • Labor Nurse’s perspective

    5
    By LisaDfirstbabyRN
    I am a labor nurse, pregnant with my first baby, and I am choosing the unpopular route of birthing center delivery with a certified nurse midwife. I am so excited about my choice and Ina May’s book helped give me “backup” to defend my choice to my colleagues. Ina May is right to fight for natural childbirth being the best choice for healthy mothers. Too many times I’ve seen women trapped in bed with monitors and IVs begging for epidurals because the Pitocin running through their IV is making the contractions unbearable with no means to cope in the hospital room. It would be wonderful if more women embraced Ina May’s philosophy on birth and chose more natural means instead of elective labor inductions.
  • Ina May Guide to Childbirth

    5
    By JHart13
    A must read for women who are striving to have a natural/intervention free child birth. So inspiring and powerful!
  • Informative

    5
    By Guide to Childbirth
    Love the optimism of natural birth. We were made to reproduce and as women we need to learn to embrace this fact. Ina May fights for our right to natural birth, giving us undeniable facts, and as a woman I appreciate her work, as well as for her to share her knowledge with us. A must read for ALL women.
  • Seems like a waste of money

    5
    By Jamie5315
    After reading the reviews that it doesn't even include part 1 I went online and bought it brand new from a popular website that starts with an A. I paid $1.99 + $3.99 for shipping. Be smart and do your research!
  • The BEST book for expectant mothers!

    5
    By GlitterFactory82
    Loved this book! I can't say how grateful I am to have read this book during my first pregnancy. Ina May opened my eyes to a number of practices and procedures (and risks) that I was completely unaware of, and I closed the book feeling empowered and far more capable of giving birth naturally and without intervention. While the book is obviously written to illustrate the midwifery model of care, it is written with understanding and respect for the obstetric model as well. Looking forward to reading her guide to breast feeding next!

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