Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth

Mar 13, 2010

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41KS9G9F8YL. SL160  Ina Mays Guide to Childbirth

  • ISBN13: 9780553381153
  • Condition: NEW
  • Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

NEWS Product Description
NEWS What should I know to have the best birth experience for you.
Plan against thirty years of experience, Ina May Gaskin, midwife leading the nation in sharing the benefits and joys of natural childbirth by showing women how to trust ancient wisdom of their bodies for a birth experience healthy and fulfilling. On the basis of women-centered midwifery model of care, NEWS Ina May’s Guide to Natural Birth gives pregnant. . . More info>>

Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth

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5 Responses so far | Have Your Say!

  1. A. Ross
    March 13th, 2010 at 1:22 pm #

    One of the few rules we have learned after my wife would have a child I read this book to the dean of natural childbirth in the United States, while the tone of the book is too touchy-feely/hippyish For me, I must say they are well worth reading if you plan a natural birth or a full tech’ed hospital. That said, it would be very easy to read the Gospel and resulted in vertigo repudiation of modern medicine, so a question to be addressed, if not skeptical, at least in some critical thinking fully engaged. It is also possible that readers who are fully committed to a hospital delivery in May out of this book feeling scolded, or if the decision is somehow “bad”.

    The writer is a superstar in natural childbirth, largely as a result of 35 + years in the project “The Farm”, a kind of confinement in the common Tennessee. The first half of the book is a collection of stories written by natural birth mothers who were either on the farm, or somehow in conjunction with the author. While these are certainly useful as examples of how this is happening all along, they tend to be quite repetitive and can certainly stand to be reduced a little. And for those unfamiliar with the process of birth, certain terms that may be blurred. Finally, for those who want to read this book on the subway (like me), it warns you that there are very graphic photos of childbirthing in this section.

    The second half of the book, the reader traverses the whole process, especially to explain the modern medical procedures childbirthing not based on health and the needs of the mother, but is designed for comfort in the medical world. Things like the epidural, amnion, fetal monitoring, Pitocin, forceps, suction cups, etc. all under sustained attack. Gaskin makes a convincing argument for most criticism, with many fine examples of historical texts and anthropological research. Perhaps the most striking examples and come from convincing studies childbirthing modern Scandinavia. Sometimes Gaskin extends very little to try and demystify any medical procedure and not always the most recent data. For example, Rhogham has absolutely no more mercury, and risks of amniocentesis has been overestimated. However, only in the debate over natural childbirth vs. hospital birth is extremely difficult to argue with the data have been collected from thousands of natural births.

    Finally, the reality is that the experience of every mother is different, and no technique, approach or solution that works for everyone. However, the book has a very good job of convincing me that the mental approach of the mother childbirthing and expectations for the experience is the most important indicator of how we are all going.

  2. umsami
    March 13th, 2010 at 3:47 pm #

    I am 17 weeks pregnant, and while I am thrilled to be pregnant. . . I’m always afraid that I would feel pain during childbirth. Ina May reading books and stories born of women there has changed all that. I think I can handle the job now. . . I caress the same idea not to use drugs. (Before that, I said I wanted an epidural, and any other medicine’d me.) Even if you end up with some pain medication, I know I should not enter the work process n ‘ is not the level of fear I had before. It is invaluable. This is a must read for every pregnant woman and her husband. . . if he does not want to be medicated or non medicated birth. Bravo Ina May! Just wish I lived closer to TN so I can use its services.

  3. Peggy Vincent
    March 13th, 2010 at 6:34 pm #

    Everyone associated with the type of birth knows Ina May, and many fans waiting too long for this book. She could not come at a better time, as legions of today’s women voluntarily turn to the tricks of modern obstetrics, notably epidemic epidurals.
    I am a midwife at retirement (and author of Baby Catcher, a memoir of modern midwifery), and I learned a long Gaskin my leisure listening speaking, to visit years ago bazillion farm, and read and reread and reread Spiritual midwifery. But much has changed in obstetrics by Spir. Mid. was published, this time, natural childbirth was in vogue, and Ina May was a kind of preaching to the choir. Now, O Lord, Lord! Now things are very, very different. Rates of caesarean hover around 25-30% in some hospitals, and the epidural rate is double. What considerations are women;
    studying style Ina May “I realized the power of teaching by parable: the story time. Women’s eyes glaze over when talk stories, but the attention is rivited from birth. In this guide to childbirth, Gaskin examined the changes in modern OB and offers ways to escape the routine. But again depends storytelling techniques to convey the key message: If you are around people who believe they can do and support your belief that you do, then guess what? You do.

  4. Alicia Huntley CNM MSN
    March 13th, 2010 at 6:47 pm #

    Ina May I have long known and expected this book for years. Now I have a copy in my hand, I am not disappointed. First, he begins the book of 100 pages of articles, most of birth. Beautiful birth stories, horror stories of birth, birth stories, crazy, and even second generation birth stories. I enjoyed reading the story of the birth of Mariahna, then a few pages later the story of how Mariahna same birth. There is a special bonus in the history of the birth of two obstetricians (married couple) giving birth. The book will be worth the investment if only for the stories of the birth.
    second part of the book well written and includes research on pregnancy, birth, midwifery and obstetrics. It includes a historical perspective is fascinating and imformative. Statistics and research are in a way that is neither dry nor boring.
    strongly recommend that anyone pregnant, considering pregnancy or dealing with pregnant women should read this book. Although we disagree in May with some of the conclusions and recommendations, the data are convincing and recommendations, both based on evidence and cost.
    When the richest country in the world is criminal high infant and maternal mortality and morbidity, it is time for a change. Read the last chapter (the first if you want) for a vision of how change can bring.

  5. Jennifer Hansen
    March 13th, 2010 at 7:28 pm #

    I am married to a midwife, then I heard the gospel of home confinement for years. But the books I had lent publication dates of my elementary school and junior high years, so I asked myself often surreptitiously – is still really that bad? So I started prenatal visits for their own first baby, and yes, it is more or less. Go to a doctor to keep an eye on the conditions that require the resources of a hospital – but if not then I’ll stay home for this baby. Read this book and could decide the same thing.

    No scare tactics, and plenty of solid data backup, Ina May is a timely antidote to the over-engineering, pharmaceutical way too l confinement is still conventional wisdom in most U.S. hospitals. It made the cold point that many so-called need, medical procedures – procedures that may increase the pressure and dangers of childbirth – are based on ignorance of modern physicians on how birth is really effective . Ina May quotes from medical texts were written before many drugs and procedures used in the “routine” action to the hospital were invented. Doctors who have written books of old did something more modern obstetricians have done: there are normal deliveries, again and again and again. They took for granted that things have been forgotten by modern medical schools. Ina May combines the old medical model of birth with extensive experience in the field of obstetrics you wonder what really happens during labor and what you (plural – * * Mom and Dad) can and should really do.

    Ina May will guide you safely from the artificial horror of modern obstetrics and manual artificial transcendentalism multiple pregnancy. Common-sense tips will help you sleep at night and click on a lot of blisters on the head. We closed the book feeling the truth of May spicy Ina closing line: “Your body is a lemon!”

    UPDATE – July 2006: I gave birth to twice since I wrote this review and I stand by every word always. If you are planning to give birth at home in a birthing center or hospital, take education courses to the childbirth for data relating to the birth – but reading this book to fill the inevitable gaps.

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