Birthing

Birthing Book List

 

Active Birth:  The New Approach to Giving Birth Naturally by Janet Balaskas
An easy to read book based in yoga and movement written by a British midwife.  It gives you an understanding of the process of birth and how to approach it mentally and physically.  An excellent resource if you want to birth without anesthetics.

The Birth Book:  Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth  by Martha Sears, R.N.
A well rounded coverage of all options of choice  surrounding the birth process.  Great presentation of the process of birth.  Part of a series of books about birth, babies, and parenting.

Birthing From Within:  An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation by Pam England
An amazing book written to support birth as an emotional/spiritual journey of self discovery.  A wonderful book for all women who wish to explore themselves and enlighten their birth.

The Birth Partner  by Penny Simkin
A classic birth book for anyone who wants to “be there” and have a tool box full of understanding and ideas for supporting a birthing woman.

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn, Revised and Updated:  The Complete Guide by Penny Simkin
Another classic that covers all you might need to know about what to expect and how to enhance the process.

Better Birthing with Hypnosis:  Mindful pregnancy and Easy Labor Using the LeClaire Method by Michelle LeClaire O’Neil
Hypnobirthing can be profoundly helpful for achieving the birth you want.  Self hypnosis is a useful lifetime skill that can be applied to many situations throughout your life.

A Child is Born by Lennart Nilsson
Another classic with amazing in utero photos.  Also nice to share with siblings if they would like to see “the real thing”.

Great Expectations: Your All-in-One Resource for Pregnancy & Childbirth by Sandy Jones and Marcie Jones
This is an excellent pregnancy book that takes you step by step through your pregnancy.  It has a common sense approach combined with sound scientific knowledge.  It has a reassuring text and supportive philosophy.  One of the authors is a certified nurse-midwife.

When Survivors Give Birth:  Understanding and Healing the Effects of Early Sexual Abuse on Childbearing Women.  By Penny Simpkin, PT and Phyllis Klaus, CSW, MFT.
The only book of its kind.  It provides survivors and their caregivers with extensive information on the prevalence, short and long term effects of childhood sexual abuse, emphasizing its possible impact on childbearing women.

 

Reviewed by Marti Churchill, CNM    April 2006