| Families are flooded with media about pregnancy and | | | | the wide variety of information they share, from the |
| childbirth. Publishers happily send free magazines, | | | | physical process to how it feels and what to do |
| television shows are devoted to the subject and | | | | about it. Mothers who are pregnant for the first time, |
| even full websites have been born to share | | | | or want to understand more about the process of |
| information about the process of pregnancy and | | | | pregnancy and childbirth will love reading this book |
| childbirth. If that weren't enough to prevent an | | | | cover to cover. Experienced mothers who know the |
| expectant mom from buying a book on the subject, | | | | basics will benefit from looking up answers to specific |
| when she arrives at the book store she finds herself | | | | questions. |
| searching through shelves of books trying to find just | | | | For Information |
| the right one. | | | | New Active Birth by Janet Balaskas shares the |
| It is worth it to buy a book, if you know what you | | | | information you need to know to work with your |
| are looking for. Every book is different, written for a | | | | body during labor. Moving beyond the basics of what |
| different purpose by an author with a unique | | | | options are available and what different terms mean, |
| expertise. The following books are five of the best | | | | Active Birth explains the movements of the baby |
| about pregnancy and childbirth, but they may not all | | | | through the pelvis and how to help your baby make |
| be good matches for you. Choose the book or | | | | these moves. Authored by a childbirth educator, the |
| books that have the best chances of answering your | | | | book not only explains what to do, but why you |
| questions in a way you can relate to. | | | | should do it based on good body mechanics. With |
| For Fun | | | | exercises for pregnancy to help you learn to move |
| Birthing from Within by Pam England and Rob | | | | your pelvis, this is the perfect book for any mother |
| Horowitz is by no means your typical childbirth text. | | | | looking for the next step of information to help her |
| Written by a midwife, it talks about the spiritual, | | | | prepare for labor. Mothers without previous birth |
| emotional and psychological issues surrounding birth | | | | experience may find the book too focused on |
| missed by most other authors. Instead of telling you | | | | position and movement of labor to answer all their |
| what to do, the book is designed to help you | | | | questions and should use it in combination with |
| discover who you are and where your strengths lie. | | | | another book. |
| This is done through games, art projects and a | | | | For Courage |
| variety of other activities. Mothers who are looking | | | | Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin is |
| for something other than the nuts and bolts of | | | | written in such a warm style you feel as if the |
| pregnancy will find Birthing from Within a welcome | | | | author is a trusted friend sharing her experience. |
| treat. However, mothers who are looking for | | | | Rather than being impersonal, Ina May's Guide treats |
| answers may find the book too vague and scattered | | | | birth as a normal, healthy event and celebrates the |
| and would do better to pair this book with another | | | | wonderful experiences women have during |
| more intentional about answering questions. | | | | pregnancy and labor. Not shy about answering |
| For Education | | | | embarrassing questions, and not to proud to admit |
| Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn by Penny | | | | mistakes, the author, a midwife experienced in |
| Simkin, Janet Whalley and Ann Keppler covers | | | | homebirth, teaches you about labor from her first |
| everything you could think to ask about the entire | | | | hand experiences. Most mothers will feel much more |
| childbearing year. Written very much like a text book, | | | | confident in their ability to give birth after reading this |
| this comprehensive guide is well indexed and follows | | | | book, however a handful of mothers find it difficult |
| a logical sequence with charts to help you quickly find | | | | to read because of the non-standard terminology |
| and compare information. The authors' expertise as | | | | used (i.e. rushes instead of contractions). |
| nurses, childbirth educators and doulas is displayed in | | | | |