"One of the Top ten recommended books for pregnant women and their families."
Description
Birth as every woman would like it to be
• Recommended by Lamaze International as one of the top ten books for pregnant women and their families
• Includes a 45-minute DVD of six live gentle births
• More than 32,000 copies sold of the original edition
New parents are faced with a myriad of choices about pregnancy, labor, and birth. In Gentle Birth Choices Barbara Harper, renowned childbirth advocate, nurse, former midwife, and mother of three, helps to clarify these choices and shows how to plan a meaningful, family-centered birth experience. She dispels medical myths and reimagines birth without fear, pain, or violence. Harper explains the numerous gentle birth choices available, including giving birth in an independent birth center, at home, or in a hospital birthing room; finding a primary caregiver who shares your philosophy of birth; and deciding how to best use current technologies. She also provides practical advice for couples wishing to explore the option of using a doula or water during labor and birth to avoid the unwanted effects of drugs and epidurals.
The Gentle Birth Choices DVD blends interviews with midwives and physicians and six actual births that illustrate the options of water birth, home birth, and vaginal birth after a prior Cesarean section. The DVD clearly reveals the strength of women during childbirth and the healthy and happy outcome of women exercising gentle birth choices. It is a powerful instructional tool, not only for expectant parents, but also for midwives, hospitals, birth centers, and doctors.
Reviews
"Exactly the sort of guide that pregnant women have been needing to help them sort through the myriad choices."
"Brace yourself for a powerful experience. This remarkable production combines art, education, and politics. Highly recommended."
"Harper is among the most active, enthusiastic, and effective writers and advocates in the field of childbirth education today."
