Pregnancy & Doula Books

So, I’ve meant to post this for a while, but as is so often the case, I got sidetracked by life and all the craziness it entails.  Now that I have a little time, I am ready to share with you some of the books that I’ve read during the course of becoming certified and recertifying as a Prenatal Massage Therapist and Doula.

First, I will give my brief reviews of each book and I will also try to add a new page just for recommended books.

1) Pushed – The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care by Jennifer Block

                    This is an amazing review of many of the trends that have come and gone throughout the history of maternity care.  It will cause you to examine the impact that those trends have had on your own personal views of childbirth.  There are many personal stories of women who have fought the system and the common perceptions of childbirth.  The history of midwifery in America is extensively discussed and Ms. Block even uncovers the alarming trend of the criminalization of homebirth midwives and the mothers they serve.  This is definitely a book that any self-proclaimed birth-junkie will want to read.

2) The Doula Guide to Birth – Secrets Every Pregnant woman Should Know by Ananda Lowe & Rachel Zimmerman

                         This is a book that is written for the expectant mother, but one that every doula will enjoy.  There are multiple references made to the evidence-based medicine published in the studies of the Cochrane Collaboration.  The information is both concise and understandable.  The authors do a fabulous job of discussing how doula care can help the expectant mother regardless of who or even if she has a partner in life.  They refer to the Doula Project of the Chicago Health Connection which provides doula support for young teenaged women.  The amazing thing about the Doula Project is that the doulas were once teenaged mothers themselves!  The authors also discuss how doula care can help women who are surrogates or planning on giving their babies to another family for adoption.  I found the information to be very balanced and beneficial.  It is an enjoyable read for both birth professionals and the mothers they serve.

3) Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn – The Complete Guide by Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley, Ann Keppler, Janelle Durham, and April Bolding

                         This gargantuan book definitely is full of information.  It begins with the basics of describing the reproductive process.  While this may seem very elementary, I suppose that some women who have the foresight to read a pregnancy book before conception may find it helpful.  I did find the topics of how to choose a caregiver, birthing location, and childbirth classes to be beneficial to a pre-pregnant or newly pregnant woman.  The book gives detailed examinations of nutrition, environment, herbal remedies, prescription drug use and street drug use and how each of these mayaffect the development of the fetus.  The section that discusses the history of maternity care is very brief, but segues nicely into an explanation of how the body perceives pain and how the expectant woman may be able to approach the handling of pain.  The stages of labor are detailed well and help to demystify the process for the expectant woman.  As a doula, I don’t think this book is a necessary read, but for expectant women, it is a great book to help prepare for pregnancy and childbirth.  It is comprehensive and will help women feel well-informed and empowered for birth.

4) Birthing From Within by Pam England and Rob Horowitz

                         There are many doulas who are certified through the Birthing From Within course and have read this book as part of that process.  For those of us who are certified through other organizations, I believe that this is a valuable book that can be extremely beneficial in our growth as doulas.  This book is written for pregnant women and their partners and is designed to help them understand what labor might be like and how women can accomplish birthing their babies.  The authors try to help the reader challenge and acknowledge the beauty of pregnancy and childbirth despite the influences of society.  Birth art is introduced as a way to help women and their partners face and cope with their fears, hopes and concerns.  Birthing rituals from throughout history and across cultures are discussed to assure the expectant woman that there is no “right” way to birth.  The medical side of birth is discussed without using heavy, difficult jargon; but in a way that affords the reader dignity of intelligence.  There is valuable information for fathers as it is acknowledged that birth also has a profound affect on them.  Pain management is discussed in a way that helps the expectant mother understand and appreciate the benefits of childbirth pain to both her and her baby.  There are wonderful appendices that are easy references and even contain cut-out cards for the parents to use.

5) Doula Programs by Paulina Perez and Deaun Thelen

                         This relatively short, concise book is a great read for anyone considering entering the Doula profession.  How being a doula affects your lifestyle, how to care for your family, how to market your services and create a business identity are all discussed in this book.  If you are a prospective Doula, this should probably be one of the first books you read.

6) Gentle Birth Choices by Barbara Harper, R.N.

                         This book is an absolute must-read  for all expectant women and the professionals who work with them.  It is superbly organized and written in a way that is engaging to both types of readers.  There is a large part of the book that is devoted to dispelling many of the most common medical myths that exist today.  There are beautiful black and white photos throughout the book and a wonderful, if dated, DVD that is included with the book.  The book recognizes that birth happens in many places and under a variety of circumstances.  This is an amazing examination of what “gentle birth” really is and how women can have that type of birth for themselves and their babies. 

7) Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin

                         While this book is intended as a must-read for aspiring midwives, it is an excellent teaching tool for Doulas and is a book that will inspire any expectant mother.  A large portion of this book is dedicated to sharing personal stories and first-hand accounts of birth on The Farm.  There are births that have both happy and sad outcomes, but all help us to appreciate the amazing power of women.  No matter what the outcome of a birth, this book helps to show that when a woman is supported with love, compassion, and kindness, childbirth can be the most empowering experience she has.

8 ) The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer

                         I consider this to be the pregnant woman’s bible.  The many possible interventions and options that women may have to face in childbirth are discussed in a balanced and non-judgmental fashion.  The history and method of each intervention or option is briefly detailed and then there is a list of the Pros and Cons of accepting that intervention or option.  Studies are listed in the back to help the reader make a proper informed choice based on the evidence.  I love, love, love this book and recommend it to all my clients, especially those who have chosen to birth in a hospital environment.

9) The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin

                         This book is one of the best books to help an expectant mother’s support team to better understand how to help her through the different phases of labor.  It well-describes what a mother may be experiencing during the different phases, both physically and psychologically, and gives wonderful tips to help her partner provide support that is both comforting and effective.  As a Doula, I found this book to be a vital asset to me during the first few births that I supported.  As time has gone on, I find that although I refer to it with less frequency, I still feel comfort in keeping it in my birth bag where I can grab it easily if more support suggestions are needed during a birth.

10) Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

                         This book is the champion of the Natural Childbirth Movement.  Multiple stories of unmedicated, truly natural childbirth are shared along with a critical examination of the many medical procedures and interventions that have become a part of routine childbirth in hospitals across the country.  If you are an expectant mother who has fears about your ability to birth your baby either with or without pain management, or if you are interested in finding out if unmedicated, truly natural childbirth is for you, this is the book to read.  If you are wondering whether the many medical interventions that have become routine are actually necessary to successfully birth a baby, you need to read this book. 

So, there it is, my book list.  It does not include every book I’ve read about pregnancy, childbirth or maternity care.  There are many more amazing books out there and if you have some to recommend, please do so.  I am always open to recommendations!

I would also like to send out a HUGE CONGRATS! to Abby Epstein for her successful VBAC http://www.mybestbirth.com/forum/topics/abbys-baby-is-here

And another HUGE CONGRATS! to Gisele Bundchen for her successful Waterbirth/Homebirth http://bostonherald.com/blogs/entertainment/the_assistant/?p=594