CBI Review:
A beautifully presented book outlining the various options
available that are alternatives to a hospital birth. Although Sheila
is based in the
UK, this book is relevant for women everywhere who want to explore
their options.
CBI Ratings:
Supportive of choice:
Easy to read:
Evidence based:
Amazon Description:
This book challenges America's traditional hospital based birth
system, the system which has placed the United States at the bottom
of the list of industrialised nations with regard to healthy babies
and healthy mothers. Dr. Eisenstein explains that birth, for the
majority of women, may even be safer without the routine hospital
procedures: electronic fetal monitoring, episiotomy,
IV's, epidurals, etc.
Editorial Review:
"Although I am personally an advocate of planned,
midwife-attended home birth, I also believe that we must make
conceptual and legal room in the technocracy for those women who
choose to fully claim their power as birth-givers by going it alone.
This is a very brave book and Laura Kaplan Shanley is a remarkable
and courageous woman." - Robbie Davis-Floyd, Ph.D. author of
Birth as an American Rite of Passage
Amazon Description:This book is a presentation of unassisted homebirth
(childbirth without an obstetrician or midwife) as it relates to
psychological growth and development of the couple, the woman and
the man. It addresses why people choose to give birth unassisted,
why couples should consider unassisted homebirth and why so many are
against unassisted homebirth. It shows how planned unassisted birth
is safer than in the hospital and almost always joyful.
The book provides a comparison of traditional hospital birth
to unassisted homebirth, how couples are brought closer together
because of unassisted birth and the profound impact this type of
birthing has on fathers.
Amazon Description:As well as exploding some common misconceptions about who
chooses home birth and why, the book provides real life,
down-to-earth descriptions of the experience from the point of view
of the people most closely involved. The book will hold particular
interest for men, as more than a quarter of the contributions have
been provided by fathers. Anyone reading these vivid, intimate, and
emotional accounts will understand why so many of those who choose
home birth become passionate advocates of parental choice and
non-medical childbirth. As one contributor comments with
satisfaction, "Two hours after the birth we were left alone at home:
the three of us, a bottle of bubbly and the cat."
Amazon Description:A perfect balance of practical information and personal stories,
Home Birth is essential reading for couples considering the
alternative to a hospital birth. Childbirth educator Wesson shows
how having your baby in your own home can be the most fulfilling
thing you'll ever do. While some information is UK-based, much of
the book is also relevant to US readers.
Amazon Description:This is the report of the 1994 confidential enquiry by the
National Birthday Trust Fund (UK). It is an informative and
comprehensive study of births intended to take place at home, shows
that planned birth at home is a safe option, that the women who are
being selected for home births are appropriate, and that midwives
manage home births well and competently. The book contains twelve
chapters, a glossary, and appendices of the questionnaires used in
the study. Though published primarily for a U.K. readership, its
data is of interest to medical researchers and policy-makers
everywhere.
Amazon Description: It astounds the western world that such a highly
industrialised nation as the Netherlands, with all the resources of
modern medicine and technology, has a marked preference for home
birth assisted by midwives. Van der Mark examines Dutch attitudes
and practices surrounding birth from a sociohistorical point of
view, explaining the importance of ideological consensus, the
private nature of the Dutch family, the high regard for comfort and
well being, and the professional development of midwives as trained
and licensed practitioners. This volume will be welcomed by those
convinced of the value of low-intervention home birth, but it will
also be of interest to practitioners who must rely on technological
procedures to manage the birth process. Since the Dutch hold one of
the world records of pregnancy outcome statistics, readers will be
interested in the Dutch midwifery model described here by various
contributors.
Amazon Description:Based on her 12 year study of a free-standing birth center,
Turkel analyzes the medical model of childbirth in contrast to the
midwifery model. In the medical model of birth, women are defined as
patients and birth takes place in hospitals where women have little,
if any, control over their experience. The midwifery model views
birth as a healthy process where midwives act as teachers and guides
for women during pregnancy and birth, helping women and their
families to shape and define their experience to meet their needs
and expectations. Under existing legal and cultural circumstances,
free-standing birth centers face a dilemma. They must continually
accommodate the medical model while trying to maintain the midwifery
model and give women an option to home birth or to hospital birth.
"I just wanted to say thank you
for allowing me to study with your agency! It was a
wonderful experience and I learned a tremendous amount! It
taught great listening and communication skills and provided
me with the knowledge I needed to be a good, informed doula.
I feel ready now to apply my skills and assist clients in
achieving the birthing experience they envision! Thank you
again to CBI and my trainer!" - Kim,
California
