Some recommended reads!
Author: Sarah Buckley
An authoritative guide to natural childbirth and postpartum parenting options from an MD who home-birthed her own four children. * Speaks to a new generation of parents who are concerned about the medicalization of childbirth and want current and science-based info about alternatives.
Author: Jennifer Block
A groundbreaking narrative investigation of childbirth in the age of machines, malpractice, and managed care, Pushed presents the complete picture of maternity care in America. From inside the operating room of a hospital with a 44% Cesarean rate to the living room floor of a woman who gives birth with an illegal midwife, Block exposes a system in which few women have an optimal experience. Pushed surveys the public health impact of routine labor inductions, C-sections, and epidurals, but also examines childbirth as a women’s rights issue: Do women even have the right to choose a normal birth? Is that right being upheld? A wake-up call for our times, Block’s gripping research reveals that while emergency obstetric care is essential, we are overusing medical technology at the expense of maternal and infant health.
Author: Hilary Jacobson
*I would personally recommend this book to all women. It is an excellent guide for those breastfeeding and those who are not. ~ Khadijah Bansfield
Supply problems, colic, GERD-reflux, fussy baby, fatigue and depression and more common problems after birth can be influenced and improved with changes in diet. Read this book to understand how a low-fat diet, insulin resistance, IGT, PCOS, tongue-tie, and exposure to toxins can influence a mothers' and her baby's health. Learn how simple steps and food choices can lead to vast improvement. Jacobson's well-researched and compassionate book shows mothers how to optimize their supply while addressing the underlying issues. Mother Food is recommended by lactation consultants, midwives, and birth preparation teachers. By eating a maximum of lactogenic foods and herbs in their diet, mothers achieve control over their breastfeeding experience and gain peace of mind. Mother Food is packed with recipes and guidelines that help mothers navigate both low and high milk supply, baby's colic, food sensitivities and allergies, and a mother's feeling depressed, tired and foggy-minded.
Author: Ina May Gaskin
*Ina May Gaskin is an excellent author and midwife. I have learned a lot from reading her books. I would recommend all of her books. ~ Khadijah Bansfield
What you need to know to have the best birth experience for you. Drawing upon her thirty-plus years of experience, Ina May Gaskin, the nation’s leading midwife, shares the benefits and joys of natural childbirth by showing women how to trust in the ancient wisdom of their bodies for a healthy and fulfilling birthing experience. Based on the female-centered Midwifery Model of Care, Ina May’s Guide to Natural Childbirth gives expectant mothers comprehensive information on everything from the all-important mind-body connection to how to give birth without technological intervention.
Author: Marsden Wagner
* I absolutely loved this book! It was very well-written and I learned a lot from it. ~Khadijah Bansfield
In this rare, behind-the-scenes look at what goes on in hospitals across the country, a longtime medical insider and international authority on childbirth assesses the flawed American maternity care system, powerfully demonstrating how it fails to deliver safe, effective care for both mothers and babies. Written for mothers and fathers, obstetricians, nurses, midwives, scientists, insurance professionals, and anyone contemplating having a child, this passionate exposé documents how, in the most expensive maternity care system in the world, women have lost control over childbirth and what the disturbing results of this phenomenon have been. Born in the USA examines issues including midwifery and the safety of out-of-hospital birth, how the process of becoming a doctor can adversely affect both practitioners and their patients, and why there has been a rise in the use of risky but doctor-friendly interventions, including the use of Cytotec, a drug that has not been approved by the FDA for pregnant women. Most importantly, this gripping investigation, supported by many troubling personal stories, explores how women can reclaim the childbirth experience for the betterment of themselves and their children.
Author: Susan McCutcheon
Details an alternative to Lamaze childbirth that includes a more natural breathing method and a totally unmedicated birth that many first and second-time parents prefer.
Author: Penny Simkin
* This book has been very helpful for me as a doula. It is a great guide providing readers with everything they need to know about being a great birth partner. ~ Khadijah Bansfield
Since the original publication of The Birth Partner, new mothers’ mates, friends, and relatives and doulas (professional birth assistants) have relied on Penny Simkin’s guidance in caring for the new mother from the last few weeks of pregnancy through the early postpartum period. Fully revised in its fourth edition, The Birth Partner remains the definitive guide for preparing to help a woman through childbirth and the essential manual to have at hand during the event.
Author: Pam England & Rob Horowitz
* This is a beautiful book. I have done birth art with my clients and the results were powerful.
~ Khadijah Bansfield
Here is a holistic approach to childbirth that examines this profound rite-of-passage not as a medical event but as an act of self-discovery. Exercises and activities such as journal writing, meditation, and painting will help mothers analyze their thoughts and face their fears during pregnancy. For use during birth, the book offers proven techniques for coping with labor pain without drugs, a discussion of the doctor or midwife’s role, and a look at the father’s responsibilities. Childbirth education should also include what to expect after the baby is born. Here are baby basics, such as how to bathe a newborn, how to get the little one to sleep, and tips for getting nursing off to a good start. Pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is a process of continuous learning and adjustment; Birthing From Within provides the necessary support and education to make each phase of birthing a rewarding experience.
* These are just a few titles that I would recommend. If you have any other recommended reads, please email me the title of the book, as well as a brief summary of the book.
* Detailed descriptions of books are from the publishers and Amazon, where you can order these books.
