Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

I absolutely love this book and recommend it to all moms but especially those who are preparing for a home birth. The stories in the beginning of this book are very reasssuring.

This book is a must read by pregnant women and those that serve them. Gives information through real life stories from birthing mothers and midwives for successful natural birth. Almost all attempted in-home births were successful (all but 2), even for those with multiples, VBAC, and with "large" or breech babies. Well higher than average success rates of delivery without any intervention needed. In fact over 96% were in home births with no complications arising!!!In hospitals today, they try to control all aspects of birth for a speedier and more lucrative ($$$$) for the doctors and hospitals at the expense of the baby and mother. They use scare tactics to get families to comply, but this book tells how natural birth really is. I have birthed 6 babies, had 4 c-sections, and pregnant with #7 & will have my home birth with a midwife while incorporating these techniques. Natural childbirth is what a woman and baby's body was designed for. It is a truly life changing experience and amazing! It is not scary or overly painful as portrayed in movies, but natural and gradually progressive & the body knows what to do.This books tells all the scenarios you can think of in childbirth. 1st half is real women's detailed birth stories, and the 2nd half is full of the secrets to their success rates and outcomes.

I was prepared for this to be a very hippy dippy book and it is a bit but not too bad. I think it is very much worth reading if you are having a baby and espeically if you are interested in having a normal, low medical intervention labour. It gives plenty of guidance on what a normal labour will be like when little or no modern medical techniques and drugs are used and thus gives you a clearer idea of what's involved and what to expect. And give you confidence that you can do it, that your body is designed to do it.It does seem quite biased to home birthing and birth centres (citing img's own birth centre 'the farm' frequently), but it does say that occasionally when certain birthing problems present, they have moved women to hospital for medically assisted births and c- sections, just that their % are much lower than hospital, as they do not default to these interventions after a certain average timeframe. As such they treat each labour individually rather than having standardized policies ie if not this much dilated after certain time then intervene etc.Also, I am not American, but she certainly does paint a picture of American hospitals being very procedural and with tight time management (also a lot of the book seems to date from 70's& 80's), which doesn't seem to be the case so much where I live. So she seems to want to inform readers of the benefits of natural birth and boost their confidence that it is a good option rather than just doing what the hospital suggests without question. She is quite critical of hospitals and does give the possible cons of all the medical interventions and that can be quite scary and comes across as overbearing at times. I could see how if you were suspicious of hospitals this might drive you over the edge and thats not good. Then again all health services benefit from some stone throwers IMO.For me, I'm planning to have a low intervention normal vaginal delivery, but I will be doing it in a hospital setting and if my OB advises certain procedures are necessary,at some point, for the babies health, she will have my immediate approval to cut. However, I do know already that she favours vaginal over c- section and doesn't do routine episiotomys etc so I'm comfortable with her philosophy and the hospitals.There is a lot of talk of empowerment from having a vaginal delivery in this book and while I don't doubt that's true, the most important and empowering thing is a live, healthy baby after delivery. I also think its important to have the choice to deliver how you want (assuming no particular problems obviously) and I do think this book is fundamentally about that.

Just as good as the recommendations, and particularly interesting to read and learn so much about birth norms in the US from the perspective of a New Zealand woman planning a home birth. The stats and research are excellent, and references thorough and diverse. Also beautifully written.

I found so much reassurance and knowledge in these pages and highly recommend it. My own fears and misconceptions about labor are melting and the benefits of a natural birth are so clear. My favorite birth story was the obstetrician and her obstetrician husband. Very powerful to have her professional and personal perspective included. I will even recommend to friends aren't so interested. The birth stories alone are very powerful. The later chapters do get a bit preachy and are us focused but I will recommend it all mothers to be in any cause!

Received the link to read instantly into my inbox. The content of Ina May's book was well written and easy to read. She uses references to her information and shared great personal hands on experiences. A great book to read to learn about natural child birth in a supportive approach.

I had the typical idea that it was normal to give birth lying on your back and in hospital.However, after reading a few good books, including this one, I feel ready and am looking forward to giving birth. Hopefully in two weeks!What I got most out of this book is that the process of giving birth is a natural occurrence and should be treated that way. Also, the wholistic nature of giving birth. For example, of you have a problem with your partner, clear the air before baby comes.I highly recommend this book, especially for American women.

Amazing. Must read for every pregnant woman! Natural childbirth education at its best. Highly recommended, especially great if you have a fear of natural childbirth.

Essential book to debunk myths about pregnancy. A must ready for everyone expecting, or preparing to expect soon. Savor it.

It’s good to get an understanding of what your body goes through labour and childbirth but the constant comparison between home birth and hospital birth and how the former is better than the latter is not really necessary.

Every pregnant woman should read this book during her pregnancy to be free from many fears and wrong information feed to us by various people

Muy recomendable. He dejado las clases de preparación al parto porque este libro le da mil vueltas a la matrona de mi pueblo: más actualizado y no mete miedo. Con fotos de mujeres que no sufren durante el parto, consejos para prepararse y todo desde un punto de vista natural. Se lo recomiendo a todas las embarazadas que conozco (también en español)Highly recommended, i have stopped attending labor classes in my village cause this book is far more updated and gives a view positive (and not scary or bloody) about having a baby. I recommend it to all pregnant women: it has beautiful images of women in labor not suffering, and Lots of tips & tricks to prepare for it without fear. Life changer!

A bit hippyish (less so than spiritual midwifery) - but great to get you in a positive birth mindset (especially the birth stories). Love Ina Mays books.