The gentlebirth.org website is provided courtesy of
Ronnie Falcao, LM MS,
a homebirth midwife in Mountain View, CA
The gentlebirth.org website is provided courtesy of
Ronnie Falcao, LM MS,
a homebirth midwife in Mountain View, CA
|
If you know any birth attendants who are still practicing premature clamping and cutting of the cord, encourage them to watch this video of a grand rounds with Dr. Nicholas Fogelson at USC. It's got lots of research and an open-minded perspective. |
(Note - This page hasn't been updated recently, so many of the good, newer books aren't mentioned here. If anyone would like to volunteer to update or revise this page, please contact me . Thanks.)
Living Well: 'Pushed' cries out for childbirth options - review by
BOB
CONDOR - "As a former editor at Ms. magazine, Jennifer Block is
accustomed
to writing about women's issues. Often those issues relate to the
female
body and health . . . "
Latching
On
- The Politics of Breastfeeding in America, a DVD
What Your Pediatrician Doesn't Know Can Hurt Your Child: A More Natural Approach to Parenting by Susan Markel and Linda F. Palmer
Dr. Markel has clearly done her research about the complicated issues around newborn treatments and procedures. Her suggestions about the eye ointment and vitamin K will be very helpful to new parents in navigating this area.
As the title implies, this book is meant to be used in conjunction with the standard sort of book that covers breastfeeding, burping and diaper issues.
I love the fact that this book has a full chapter on birth-related issues but then gets to the heart of how parents can easily be their child's best advocate about all sorts of health issues. I especially like her treatment of fever and ear infections.
This may seem silly, but one of the things I like best about this
book
is the size. Many babycare books are either very thick or oversized in
some other way. They're hard to handle, especially with a baby in one
hand.
This is a book that you can actually read while you're breastfeeding or
cuddling baby, which is what this book is all about anyway.
The Functions of the Orgasms: The Highways to Transcendence by Michel Odent - OK, let's be honest. Who doesn't want to read this book?
Michel Odent's books are always very interesting, chock full of useful information about the normal hormonal processes involved in all aspects of reproduction. This book will help natural childbirth advocates to understand how drug-free births can also be pain-free births.
Check out this summary of CHAPTER TWO
EXPLORING THE ULTIMATE STEPS OF THE BIRTH LADDER
- Emergence of new
perspectives
- The fetus ejection
reflex
- Climbing towards
the ultimate steps
- A crucial moment
- A powerful hormonal
flow
- The real climax
The Baby Bond: The New Science Behind What’s Really Important When Caring for Your Baby, by parenting expert and pediatric nutritionist Dr. Linda Folden Palmer, is a breakthrough guide that reveals the many unknown, exclusive benefits of a responsive, nurturing parenting style that begins with this precious connection.
"The extensively documented Baby Matters... could serve as an
attachment
parenting primer, covering breastfeeding, bonding, and cosleeping.
Palmer
also pays a lot of attention to food allergies and immunity protection.
" --Mothering magazine
Modern Childbirth: Failure to Progress - this is a great review of 3 books by Sarah Blustain
Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care
by Jennifer Block
New York: Da Capo Press, 2007, 400 pp., $26.00, hardcover
Born in the USA: How a Broken Maternity System Must Be Fixed to Put
Women and Children First by Marsden Wagner
Berkeley: University of California Press, 2006, 305 pp., $24.95,
hardcover
Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born by Tina Cassidy
New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2006, 320 pp., $24.00, hardcover
The Sacred Birth Workbook (ebook) by Stephanie Dawn, based on the Sacred Birth Workshop, is the only workbook of its kind designed for women and men wishing to have an empowered, expanded and joyful pregnancy, birth and early parenting experience.
Using spiritual tools, as well as practical steps and insights,
Stephanie
Dawn shows you the way to the pregnancy, birth and life of your dreams!
Linda Page's book, Healthy
Healing, is the most valuable holistic health reference book I've
seen
for non-professionals.
I recommend The
Official
Lamaze Guide: Giving Birth with Confidence by Lothian and DeVries.
It gives practical, sensible advice and strikes the right tone of being
realistic without being scary.
Psalm
&
Zoya - The Unassisted Homebirth of Our Twins - this is a terrific
new video. Wow! www.earthbirthproductions.com
My clients really like Journey
into
Motherhood: Inspirational Stories of Natural Birth by Sheri L.
Menelli
Homebirth Rites...A
Homebirth
Documentary - The first homebirth film to cite the CPM2000 study
published in the British Medical Journal in June 2005, Produced &
Directed
By Tony McVickers & American Midwives
What Babies Want video - "This documentary is about the profoundly important and sacred opportunity we have in bringing children into the world. Research is now showing us that our society is a product of how we welcome and raise our children. With love and connection, babies develop minds that are coherent and flexible, ready in turn to make compassionate and empathic connections with others as they grow. As we learn how early relationships shape the structure and function of the brain, we are also learning to have a new appreciation of the wisdom of ancient cultures who knew to welcome the infant, even during early pregnancy."
This is a fabulous video - every pregnant couple and new family
should
see this!
I just showed the What
Babies
Want movie in class tonight. The response from my couples was
mixed.
Most thought it went too deep into issues they felt skeptical about.
They
loved the photography and sound science aspect of it. They felt it
ended
on a negative note and were left with an unclear framework. Some
said they needed more instruction and less analysis. I love the film. I
would, however, break the film into parts and work a lecture and
discussion
into it. Some parts I'd leave out altogether. The therapy sessions
about
recalling birth memories where significant but not as scientifically
backed
as other parts of the film. They tried to make them touching and
personal
but there was little connection to these characters. There's just not
enough
of the person's life story to connect to and so, there's no
"Aha!"
moment. It is as if a movie could be made on that topic alone. Shown
all
at once was too much for them to take in. Noah and his wife were sweet
and genuine. I loved that! The expert panel was credible and engaging.
The music was beautiful.
Hey! Who's Having This Baby Anyway? by Breck Hawk, RN & Midwife - A Guide and Workbook
This is a great book for helping women to understand some of the dynamics involved in maternity care, i.e. the hospital and hospital staff are likely to be more concerned about liability issues and the smooth functioning of their institution than the are concerned about the quality of the birth experience for mother, baby or the rest of the family.
Although some of the clinical information isn't completely accurate,
this is a generally very useful book. Those interested in
homebirth
may find that their local situation is very different from what Breck
describes
about the area where she lives.
Books and Videos Available from ALACE
La Leche League International Book Evaluation Committee Books for Group Libraries
APPPAH - Association for Pre- & Perinatal Psychology & Health has put together an extensive list of relevant books and videos.
The NMMA (New Mexico Midwives Association) Guidelines for Practice are finally available in book form. The Guidelines were written by practicing midwives in our association and serve as a comprehensive policy and procedure manual for homebirth and birth center practitioners. Copies can be ordered by sending $35 (which includes shipping) to :
NMMA
P.O. Box 40647
Albuquerque, NM 87196
Pre-pregnancy and Conception
Parenting Begins Before Conception, Carista Luminare-Rosen
Women¹s Bodies, Women¹s Wisdom, Christiane Northrup, MD
The Whole Person Fertility Program, Niravi B. Payne
Taking Charge of Your Fertility, Toni Weschler
Fertility, Cycles and Nutrition, Marilyn Shannon
Pregnancy and Childbirth
Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth, Henci Goer
Good Birth, Safe Birth, Diana Korte and Roberta Scaer
Birthing from Within, Pam England and Rob Horowitz
Active Birth, Janet Balaskas
The Birth Partner, Penny Simkin
Birth Your Way, by Kitzinger
Giving Birth: A Journey into the World of
Mothers and Midwives, by Taylor
Rediscovering Birth, by Kitzinger
Birth Reborn, Michel Odent, MD
The Natural Pregnancy Book, Aviva Jill Romm
Essential Exercises for the Childbearing Year, Elizabeth Noble
Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn, Penny Simkin
The Pregnancy Book, William Sears, MD and Martha Sears, RN
The Birth Book, William Sears, MD and Martha Sears, RN
Five Standards for Safe Childbearing, David Stewart, PhD
Special Women: The Role of the Professional Labor Assistant, Paulina Perez
The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth, Sheila Kitzinger
The Pregnant Woman's Comfort Book, Jennifer Louden
Cesarean/VBAC
Birth After Cesarean, Dr. Bruce Flamm
VBAC Companion, Diana Korte
Obstetric Myths Versus Research Realities, Henci Goer
Natural Birth After Cesarean: A Practical Guide, Johanne C. Walters , Karis Crawford
Silent Knife, Nancy Wainer Cohen
Open Season: A Survival Guide for Natural
Birth and VBAC in the 90's, Nancy Wainer Cohen
Postpartum/Breastfeeding/Parenting
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, La Leche League
The Breastfeeding Book, William Sears, MD and Martha Sears, RN
The Nursing Mother¹s Companion, Kathleen Huggins
So That's What They're For: Breastfeeding Basics, Tamaro
The Happiest Baby on the Block, Dr. Harvey Karp
The Baby Book, Dr. William Sears, and Martha Sears, RN
Your Amazing Newborn by Klaus and Klaus
Nighttime Parenting, Dr. William Sears
Touchpoints, Dr. Berry Brazelton
Infants and Mothers, Dr. Berry Brazelton
The Incarnating Child, Joan Salter
Mother's Day is Over, Shirley Rald
Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child, Zand, Walton, and Roundtree
How to Raise a Healthy Child, Lendon Smith, MD
How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor, Robert Mendelssohn, MD
Your Baby and Child, Penelope Leach
Super immunity for Kids, Leo Galland, MD
The Family Nutrition Book, William Sears, MD
The Happiest Toddler on the Block, Dr. Harvey Karp
Birthing by Irene Byrne, M.A. - "Choices You Have to Create the Best Birth Experience For You and Your Child". OK, I'm probably not the best person to write a review of this book because I was terribly disappointed in their incredibly brief and sloppy treatment of homebirth. For a book that holds itself out as a guide to creating "The Best Birth Experience", it gives very short shrift to what those who have tried it almost always consider an essential ingredient of "The Best Birth Experience" - birthing at home. The book lacks any critical analysis of ACOG's position that homebirth is dangerous, merely parroting ACOG's citation of studies that compare the safety statistics of UNATTENDED homebirths with hospital births. And in a sterling display of lack of critical thinking, the book fails to explain that giving birth at a birth center is exactly the same as giving birth at home, except that you're going to somebody else's "home".
BABY CATCHER: Chronicles of a
Modern Midwife presents both home births and hospital births in a
way
meant to avoid alienating those on
either side of what too often degenerates into a heated argument about
place of birth.
"The Childbirth Manual" by Sandra Roberge
Giving Birth - A Journey into the World of Mothers and Midwives by Catherine Taylor:
- Did you know? Midwife-attended births in the United States have doubled in the past ten years.
- Midwives have a 19% lower rate of infant deaths and a 33% lower rate of neonatal mortality (infant death in the first month) than doctors attending comparable births.
- Midwives who attend hospital births have a cesarean rate that is half the national average.
- The dutch have the lowest percentage of babies and mothers who die or are injured during childbirth. they also have the lowest rate of medical intervention at birth. 70% of their births are with midwives and 1 in 3 births take place at home.
"Birth Without Violence" by Frederick Leboyer (online version). The book that started the gentle birth movement.
"The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth" Sheila Kitzinger
"The Childbirth Manual" by Sandra Roberge
"The Well Pregnancy Book" - i forgot, but it was just recently revised
"Special Delivery" by Rahima Baldwin
"Your Baby, Your Way" by Sheila Kitzinger
"A Good Birth, A Safe Birth" by Roberta Scaer & Diane Korte
"
"The Very Important Pregnancy Program" by G. Brewer
"Birth Reborn" by Odent
"Natural Childbirth The Bradley Way" by Susan McCutcheon-Rosegg
&
Peter Rosegg
"The Birth Book" and "The Baby Book" by Dr. and Mrs. Sears
"A Wise Birth" by Penny Armstrong
"Active Birth" by Janet Balaskas
"Pregnancy Childbirth and the Newborn : The Complete Guide" by Penny
Simkin
"Herbs, Helps &
Pressure
Points for Pregnancy & Childbirth" by Katherine Tarr (hard to
find,
but can be purchased directly from the publisher, Whitman
Books, Inc. or from MImidwife's
Bookshelf)
"Pregnant Feelings" by Rahima Baldwin
"Silent Knife: Cesarean Prevention & Vaginal Birth After
Cesarean&qu
ot; by Nancy Wainer Cohen & Lois Estner
"Natural Childbirth After Cesarean" by Karis Crawford & Johanne
Walters
"Preparing for Birth with Yoga" by Janet Balaskas
"The Water Birth Handbook" by Roger Lichy & Eileen Herzberg
"Gentle Birth Choices" by Barbara Harper, R.N.
"Siblings Without Rivalry" by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
See also: Resources for Children for
recommendations
for books to prepare older siblings
"Ended Beginnings" by Claudia Panuthos
"Holistic Midwifery" by Anne Frye
"Polly's Birth Book - Obstetrics for the Home" by Polly Block
"Easing Labor Pain" by Adrienne Lieberman.
"Complete Aromatherapy Handbook, Essential Oils for Radiant Health"
by Susanne Fischer-Rizzi. Publisher: English Translation 1990 by
Sterling
Publishing Company.
"The Encyclopaedia of Essential Oils" by Julia Lawless, Element,
1992
"Aromatherapy An A-Z" by Patricia Davis, C.W. Daniel, 1988
"Homeopathic Medicine for Children and Infants" By Dana Ullman, MPH
"Herbal for the Childbearing Years" by Susan Weed
VBAC:
"Birth After Cesarean: The Medical Facts"
Homebirth:
"Homebirth" by Sheila Kitzinger
Preparing for Growing the Family Beyond the First Child
"From One Child to Two" by Judy Dunn
Grieving and Healing
"Rebounding From Childbirth: Toward Emotional Recovery" by Lynn Madsen
Books For Midwifery
"Spiritual Midwifery" by Ina May Gaskin
Books for Doulas and Birth Attendants
"Mothering the Mother" by Marshall Klaus, John Kennell and Phyllis
Klaus
Aromatherapy Recommendations
"Aromatherapy for Pregnancy and Childbirth" by Margaret Fawcett, RGN
RM,
LLSA. Publisher: in the USA in 1993 by Element, Inc. 42 Broadway,
Rockport,
MA
Homeopathy
"Homeopathic Medicines for Pregnancy & Childbirth" by Richard
Moskowitz,
M.D.
Herbal Resources
"The Complete Women's Herbal" by Anne McIntyre
Children's Healthcare
To
Train
Up A Child by Michael Pearl - one of my clients loves this book
but takes issue with the first chapter.
"Child Health Guide: Holistic Pediatrics for Patients" By Randall Neustaedter, OMD
"Natural Healthcare For Your Child" By Austin & Thrash
"Flu: Alternative Treatments and Prevention" By Randall Neustaedter, OMD
"Beyond Antibiotics: 50 (or so) Ways to Boost Immunity and Avoid Antibiotics by Michael A. Schmidt, Lendon H. Smith & Keith W. Sehnert
"Super Immunity for Kids" by Leo Galland
"The Vaccine Guide: Risks and Benefits for Children and Adults" By Randall Neustaedter, OMD
"Healing Childhood Ear Infections: Prevention, Home Care, and Alternative Treatment" By Michael Schmidt
"Food Allergies Made Simple" by Austin & Thrash
"Home Safe Home; Protecting Yourself and Family form Everyday Toxics and Harmful Household Products in the Home" By Debra Lynn Dadd
"Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis" by Dr. Alan R. Gaby
"Screaming to be Heard" by Elizabeth Lee Vliet
"What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause" by John R. Lee
"Reclaiming Our Health" by John Robbins
"Women's Bodies Women's Wisdom" by Christiane Northrup
"Obstetric Myths vs Research Realities: A guide to the medical literature" by Henci Goer
"A Woman In Residence" by Michelle Harrison, M.D.
In Birth Chairs, Midwives, and Medicine Amanda Carson Banks traces the evolution of birth from natural event to medical crisis. Using birth artifacts, interviews, early texts, and four centuries of birth chairs, Dr. Banks argues that the catalyst for the radical redefinition in the philosophy of birth was the struggle for control over the act itself. Such changes in attitude, in turn, altered the very practice of and approach to delivery.
Anyway, I wanted to say that I have started to read this book and am so impressed with it. It's amazing in the way it conveys an absolute trust in birth and the birth process. It's fantastic. It is *so* inspiring and so beautiful. It starts with a discussion of birthing traditions in different cultures which I found really interesting. And it includes some nice personal birth stories from the author. It's also very easy and enjoyable to read.
I'm recommending it to my clients to help develop their trust in the process, even if they do still choose to have a midwife at the birth. :-)
This book may also be the answer for all those people whose relatives are vocally resistant to the idea of homebirth. Leave a copy of "Unassisted Childbirth" around the house, and suddenly the idea of a homebirth attended by a midwife will start to seem mainstream. :-)
One of the reasons I'm posting this is because it looks as if the book may soon be out of print. I'm going to buy a few extra copies while they're still available.
If you want to order this book, the best way is by ordering directly from the author. The $18 price includes shipping. Laura Kaplan Shanley, 760 36th St., Boulder CO 80303
"A Wise Birth" by Penny Armstrong. My alltime favorite, bar none.
Dr. Mayer Eisenstein delivers babies at home in the Chicago area. His group Home First is a big corporation I understand. He spoke at the 1990 NAPSAC conference in St. Louis.
The book is available direct, or at least it used to be. Phone (312)973-2297.
Homefirst
6652 N. Western
Chicago, IL 60645
Used to cost $10.95, including shipping.
It talks about "Seedthoughts", and has a whole chapter of phrases folks use which have a negative impact on their subconscious, which then of course affects their life. It is a wonderful book, with a focus towards self-healing.
I loved "Easing Labor Pain" by Adrienne Lieberman.
Excited, Exhausted, Expecting" by Arlene Modica Matthews @ pregnancy
What Every Pregnant Woman Should Know by Gail Sforza Brewer and Tom Brewer (really excellent nutrition guide--out of print--hunt around)
Obstetric Myths vs Research Realities: A guide to the medical literature by Henci Goer (really great book if you want the facts to answer you doc's ideas)
A wide assortment of excellent childbirth books (including Obstetric Myths vs. Research realities) and parenting books are available from The Birth Source at (213) 667-2366. A free catalog is also available. Mention ICAN and 25% of the profits are donated to ICAN.
Dance of the Womb -
The Ancient Art of Bellydance as a Tool for Conscious Childbirth by
Maha
Al Musa - For the first time an Arab woman has revealed to the world
how
bellydance can be used as a powerful tool.
See also: Videos
from Cascade, and their section on Videos:
Midwifery
& Obstetrics
HomeBirthVideos.com - both VHS and DVD
Birth International - Australia - they have more DVDs listed in their paper catalog than online (as of 3/05) (formerly Ace Graphics?)
Perinatal
Education
Assoc. Inc - USA - www.birthsource.com
98 East Franklin St, Ste. B. Centreville, OH 45459
Phone 1-866-88 BIRTH toll free Email infor@birthsource.com
Baby Talk Consulting -
South
Africa - www.babytalk.co.za [No longer selling videos?]
PO Box 15047 Lambton 1414 Phone 27 11827 4810
Email babytalk@mweb.co.za
NEW DVD release “BIRTH
WITH
GLORIA LEMAY” - (2011) This is my new favorite DVD! There
are quite a few births, all beautiful and gentle and safe. It's
lovely
to see physiological birth unfold with occasional gentle guidance from
the midwife. Gloria gives us a special treat in that there is an
optional track with commentary so that students can learn from
listening
to her comments as they watch the video through a second time.
And
the EXTRAs have lots of information about the function of the foreskin;
I learned a lot from watching this.
Everyone loves Ricki Lake's new birth movie: The Business of Being Born! California midwives might say that the births are a bit frenetic for their tastes, but they say that women birth the way they live; it's not surprising that Manhattan moms birth differently from northern California moms. :-)
An
Interview with Cara Muhlhahn, Midwife Featured in The Business of
Being
Born
Natural Born Babies: A Modern Birth Story - The film has already received rave reviews from Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein, as well as Dr. Sarah Buckley. The film was a finalist in the 2009 Birth Matters Film Contest and was awarded AABC's (American Association of Birth Centers) 2009 Media Award.
Her goal in creating the film was to specifically illuminate out of
hospital midwifery and women's choices in health care. The cast
of
out-of-hospital birth clients touch on all the typical questions and
concerns
that families have such as safety, the role of a midwife, pain and pain
management, water birth, active involvement of families members,
control
and the snowball effect of interventions typically found in a hospital
setting.
What would happen if women were taught to enjoy birth rather than endure it?
In answering that question, Orgasmic Birth poses the ultimate challenge to our cultural myths.
Filmmaker Debra Pascali-Bonaro reveals a revolutionary approach to
birth
that is statistically safer and healthier for both mother and child
than
the birthing and delivery methods that are standard in many parts of
the
world today.
HomebirthDads.com -
The
Dad's Perspective on Homebirthing on DVD - This excellent DVD has some
wonderfully honest discussions of homebirth from the dad's point of
view.
This would be a great addition to any midwife's library, and curious
families
would get more of the information they need to know whether homebirth
is
right for them or not.
Le Premier Cri (The First Cry) follows pregnant women all around the world, as they live, work, and give birth.
I screened the movie and imo it is
horrible...
an apology of interventionism using the "anthropology" aspect of birth
around the world.
The french grass roots are denunciating the same problems
and the movie was a flop thank god..
Home Delivery -
The Adventure of Giving Birth at Home
Safely
Into
Water - An Appreciation of Waterbirths - This is a great DVD about
waterbirth. I really appreciate that it starts with a discussion of
waterbirth
safety and then offers birth videos and interviews with parents.
I especially appreciated that they had lots of time with dads speaking
about their experience!
Amazing
Talents
of the Newborn is available from The
Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute. It's based on the
book, Your Amazing
Newborn, by Klaus and Klaus. The video is very affordable
($10),
an excellent presentation, and parents are thoroughly enthralled when
they
watch it.
Spiritual
Midwifery
is available on DVD now - it's invaluable for the history of The Farm
Midwives
and the resurgence of homebirth. There are lots of videos of the
actual emergence of the baby so it begins to seem more and more
normal.
As someone who attends mostly waterbirths, I find the focus on the
semi-reclining
position to be a little old-fashioned, but the natural environment was
pioneering in its time!
Under
her
own steam - A delightful homebirth of a first baby in The
Netherlands.
The English commentary describes an active birth, with the mother using
upright positions and the bath for comfort. She delivers in a supported
squatting position . . . from ACE
graphics - Australia. [The Dutch on the video cover is "op
eigen
kracht - een thuisbevalling", and it references this
A
Swedish
film about homebirth
I Watched
My Brother Being Born! , (© 2005 Anne Vondruska. Running time:
21 min.) - narrated by seven year old Katarina Vondruska.
There is also a book of the same title written by the mother
daughter
team of Anne and Katarina Vondruska.
"Welcome to the World". The women in this video are both vocal (one
is exceptionally so) and seem much more realistic...they don't mention
any "method", but give birth in a way most of my students find in line
with their belief of what birth should or could be like for them.
Unfortunately, this video is expensive ($190.00) but maybe a group
of
teachers could buy it together. INJOY lets teachers preview it for
$10.00,
so it doesn't have to be bought "sight unseen"....
A catalog of 60 great birth and parenting videos is available from
I just saw the movie “What Babies Want” myself. It is
Fabulous.
Noah Wyle‘s narration will hopefully let this get into some “big”
hands.
The filmmaker’s next film is going to be about midwives and how almost
all complications can be dealt with at the bedside next to the parents
which prevents the trauma of separation. It is a really good film
and I will be showing it in my travels. If you are interested in
one you can contact me too.
I went to the premiere of "What Babies Want" tonight and I cannot
say
enough about this film. I purchased two copies and considering
making
it a requirement that my clients view it during pregnancy. It
really
examines the awareness during pregnancy and birth. For example,
it
followed twins from 20 weeks on with ultrasound it showed interaction,
then when they were around maybe 2 years old, they put up sheer
curtains
in a room and the twins on their own went between a curtain and made
the
same movements as they did in utero towards one another. This was
just one small part of the movie. There were alot of biggies at
this
premiere including Noah Wyle from ER who contributes alot to this film
personally with his wife and son and narrates it. Jay Gordon was
also their, and Mary Jackson. The theater was full. You can
purchase this video or DVD.
The video is Delivery
Self-Attachment, by Righard and Kittie Frantz, 1992. It's 6 minutes
long and very affordable.
From the sleeve: "Righard's study.....looked at two groups of
newborn
babies. In the first group, the infant was placed on the mother's
abdomen
and within 50 minutes most infants had self-attached to the breast and
were suckling correctly. In the second group the newborn babies were
removed
from the mother's abdomen, bathed, measured and replaced on the
abdomen.
The infants in this group from an unmedicated birth self-attached but
half
of them had a faulty suckling pattern. Most of the infants from a
medicated
birth were too drowsy to be able to suckle at all." Opinion: This is a
simple movie, with all visuals, no narration except for some written
notes
before each scene. Profoundly affecting and delightful to watch.
Midwife' review - I found this video so disturbing I've removed it
from
my collection. It's hard to imagine the circumstances under which
it might be valuable; perhaps a mom having a truly necessary induction
might find this an appropriate video. Otherwise, it's full of really
unhelpful
mental images of birth: Most of the women have IVs in; many women are
lying
on their back, even in very early labor. And the footage seems to
be all hospital births, even though many women planning hospital births
will sensibly labor at home for as long as possible, at least in early
labor. What's the deal here? I get the distinct sense that Penny
has sold out here, essentially pandering to the hospital industry
instead
of getting her message across about non-pharmaceutical pain
relief.
Truly, I would expect most women laboring under the conditions shown in
this video to need an epidural pretty quickly, given the lack of
upright
positions and the notorious discomfort of laboring on your back.
The joke, of course, is that she does describe the basics of an
"unsupportive
environment" - stark surroundings, bright lights, loud noises, lack of
familiar objects - but neglects to mention that these could all be very
easily avoided by laboring at home. As you can tell, I thought
this
video was horrible. I wouldn't show it to my labor coach clients
except as noted above - if they're facing a medically necessary
induction
- and then we presumably wouldn't have time to watch the video. I
suppose I could toss it in my labor support bag and we could watch it
while
the mom's lying flat on her back with pitocin and an epidural. I
thought this video should be entitled, "How to Cope with Unnecessary
Pain
caused by an Unsupportive Environment and Lying On Your Back". And, no,
I'm not done yet. It is very difficult to watch a video that
offers
suggestions for how to cope with the horrible pain of back labor
without
mentioning that you should fire your birth attendant if they didn't
notice
a posterior presentation early in labor? What are you paying them
for, anyway? To stand by and blame you for the posterior position as
you're
being wheeled down the hall for your Cesarean? It's a good thing
she mentions so many ways of coping with back labor, because all those
moms lying on their backs will end up with posterior babies, whether or
not they were posterior to begin with. This video is "obscene" in its
pretense
that this video has anything to do with normal birth.
Special Delivery (Rahima Baldwin - 1989 - 43 minutes)
Giving Birth (Suzanne Arms - 200?)
Giving Birth: Challenges and Choices (Suzanne Arms - 1998, 35
minutes)
Birth in the Squatting Position (Suzanne Arms - 1998, 10 minutes)
Birth Day
(Naoli Vinaver Lopez and family- 1998, 10:40 minutes)
Birth Into Being - The Russian Waterbirth Experience (Global
Maternal/Child
Health Association - 1998, 28 minutes)
Water Baby: Experiences of Water Birth (Karil Daniels - 1986 - 58
minutes)
Midwives . . . Lullabies . . . and Mother Earth (Michel Odent,
Bullfrog
Films - 1993 - 53 minutes) NOT YET IN COLLECTION!
Water
Babies:
The AquaNatal Experience in Ostend (Michel Odent, Bullfrog
Films - 19?? - 37 minutes)
Delivery Self-Attachment (Lennart Righard - 1996 - 6 minutes)
The Elk and the Epidural - How to Have an Epidural in Awareness - A
Video from Birthing From Within (Pam England and Suzanne Denmark - 2001
- 15 minutes)
First Breath - This is a slide show of natural birth. There
are
beautiful still photos of a number of different couples organized by
stages
of labor. These are mostly black and white. This is an
excellent
"starter video" for those who are squeamish. You can just watch
the
end if you want to see photos of just-born babies.
Sweet Bunches - Birth Choices with a Licensed Midwife (Nancy Spencer
- 1998 - 40 minutes)
Home Sweet Homebirth (Yvonne Lapp Cryns - 1998 - ?? minutes)
Whose Body, Whose Rights? (1995, 56 minutes) - A great
discussion
of the history of circumcision as well as medical and ethical
issues.
Some graphic footage.
Water
Babies:
The AquaNatal Experience in Ostend
My Footling
Breech
Birth DVD - This is a home delivery of a posterior footling breech.
The parents were informed of the risks of breech birth, and wishing to
avoid a cesarean, chose to deliver at home with trained and experienced
midwives .
Psalm
&
Zoya - The Unassisted Homebirth of Our Twins
Okay, I need to get a video or 2 for teaching...what are your
favorites?
I'm pretty attached to Stages of Labor, as a beginning overview to get
everybody on the same page with the basics, but am open to hearing
about
others that might introduce the stages of labor and what is happening.
I would also like a video that shows some active labor
coping....positions,
breathing...as a visual reference and to show the reality, /and/ that
it
is doable and how to be active even in a hospital room...etc. Has
anyone seen / had feelings about
My favorite is "
For the most part, I steer away from videos because it is a passive
way of learning that isn't necessarily useful. Also, one of the
biggest
problems with videos is that it is impossible to impress upon couples
the
variety of ways in which labor/birth can unfold. Not only that
but
it is possible to contribute to setting up specific expectations.
Videos also fail to give a realistic sense of time, as well as, not
possibly
conveying what the mother/parents experience during the process.
With all that in mind "giving birth and being born" has a rather
rambling
montage of several labors/births that take place in an out-of-hospital
birth center. I've had parents tell me that it was at first
boring
but as it went on they realized that 'oh, that's what labor can be
like'.
After the montage there is a very well done presentation on the
physiology
of labor with some excellent graphics. It does NOT break labor
down
into Cartesian coordinates like other descriptions might . . . so, in
an
attempt to be culturally appropriate, I provide the information they'll
need for understanding the "stages" of labor.
For couples planning hospital births you'll preface the film with
'this
is normal physiology'. 'If you don't relate to the setting start
thinking about how you can create an atmosphere for yourselves that
will
enhance your physiology in the hospital. Including creating ways
of using the furniture and equipment in the LDR suite.'
Duka's Dilemma
- An anthropological study of life in Hamar, Southern Ethiopia.
Birth Day
- Mexico
Sacred Birth
- an unassisted outdoor birth in Peru. Available from their
new website (2007). Also available from homebirthvideos.com
homebirthvideos.com has a section on World
Birth
Duka's Dilemma
- An anthropological study of life in Hamar, Southern Ethiopia,
including
a brief birth sequence.
We
Know
How To Do These Things: Birth in a Newar Village - home birth
in Nepal
Birth Into Being - Russia
Born in Water - Central America
Channel for a New Life - There are no Dopplers used in this last
one,
even though the dad is an MD, the famed Leo Sorger.
Water
Babies:
The AquaNatal Experience in Ostend - a different birth
culture, although "Western".
The classic, "Birth in the Squatting Position" is about Brazilian
women,
I think.
Highly recomended books for preparing the sibling ages 2yrs-6yrs:
We're Having a
Homebirth
by Kelly Mochel - a colorful, contemporary book!
Home
Birth
Coloring Book - A pdf coloring book free for download...
Welcome
With
Love by Jenni Overend, Julie Vivas
[From Publishers Weekly] - Jack and his family welcome a baby
boy in this tranquil description of a seamless home birth, from an
Australian
team. "Mum's got pains in her tummy and that means her baby is ready to
be born," announces the boy narrator. Overend makes the baby's arrival
a family affair and carefully describes the events from a child's
perspective.
When Mum takes a walk outdoors alone in the whistling wind to "help the
baby along," for instance, Jack thinks, "If I was a baby listening to
that
wind, I'd want to stay inside Mum, floating in the warm water." The
woman's
walk and subsequent indoor pacing works, however, and she finally gives
birth in a standing position, fully undressed, supported by her husband
as her children and sister look on, and a midwife guides the infant
out.
In a placid concluding tableau, the older siblings curl up in sleeping
bags before the fire, alongside their parents and the newborn. Vivas's
(Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge) softly focused pencil illustrations
capture the serenity of the delivery, as well as Jack's aweAand slight
apprehensionAat the arrival of his new brother. Though the natural
childbirth
scenario may not be typical of most youngsters' experience, those
awaiting
the birth of a new sibling may well take comfort in the book's smooth
introduction
of the stages leading up to labor as well as its soothing tone and
images.
Ages 4-8.
[From School Library Journal] Kindergarten-Grade 6-A
refreshing
book that dares to show and tell it like it is. "Mum's got pains in her
tummy and that means her baby is ready to be born." So Jack, his two
older
sisters, Dad, Anna the midwife, and Mum's sister get ready. The baby's
clothes are laid out, the "special microphone" and an oxygen tank are
unpacked,
and a giant bed is set up by the fire. Readers are then presented with
the routines and realities of a home birth. This book is bold and
sensitive,
tasteful and sweet. There is no shielding from reality. Mum yells and
screams
and leans on Dad. Jack, from whose point of view the story is told, is
anxious and unsure of what to expect. When the baby is born, there are
several startling and yet beautiful images: the baby's head emerging
from
between Mum's standing legs, the baby boy dangling upside down on the
page
with his umbilical cord reaching up, and finally the mother, naked and
on her knees cradling the baby in her arms. There is an inner glow to
these
colored-pencil illustrations, a softness and purity that allows for
total
acceptance of this unadorned experience. There is a feeling of
intimacy,
as if readers are more than bystanders to this most incredible and
natural
occurrence. The howling wind is used as a literary element, wild as Mum
progresses through her labor, dying down at night, and calm, as it is
inside.
This is a book to be shared, discussed, and simply enjoyed. It is
steeped
in love.
Runa's Birth
is a wonderful story book about four year old Lisa's experience with
her
sister's homebirth. The story sensitively takes young and old to Lisa's
home and explains her day as her mother's labour progresses. The book
describes
birth as it is: A thrilling natural process. You see Lisa's mother
using
lots of different strategies to deal with her contractions and explains
how the midwife provides support.
Video - Children At Birth (Jay Hathaway - 19??)
"Welcome To The World"
Recommendation for birth video
InJoy Videos
3970 Broadway, Ste. B4
Boulder, CO 80304
1-800-326-2082.
SELF ATTACHMENT VIDEO
This is a video, rather than a reproducible article, but references are
given in the movie..........(also on the cassette sleeve: The
Lancet(1990,
Vol. 336, pgs. 1105 - 1107), by Lennart Righard................)
[ Official commercial review - This long-awaited film is the next best
thing to being in Penny's childbirth education class. Students
ask
questions, Simkin provides food for thought and we see couples
practicing
what they learn. As always, the reassurance that childbirth is a
normal, natural process is evident in Simkin's work.]
Comfort Measures for Childbirth (Penny Simkin - 1995 -
40 minutes)
One Midwife's Collection of Reviews of Birth
Videotapes
and Audiotapes - some copied directly from advertisements, so be
forewarned!
Gentle Birth Choices (Barbara Harper - 1994 - 47 minutes)
This video is universally loved and is my favorite one for showing
actual births.
[This book and video set provides a new model of maternity care that
relies less on high-tech intervention and more on preparation and good
health for mother and child. This video blends interviews with midwives
and physicians of six actual births, showing the options of water
birth,
squatting, home birth, and vaginal birth after prior cesarean.
The
video clearly and forcefully demonstrates the power of women during
childbirth
and the choices available for a healthy and happy birth experience.]
[Follows several couples before, during and after birth. Some
choose a doctor, others a midwife. The labor and birth scenes
demonstrate
a variety of positions, breathing and relaxation techniques, and sounds
of normal labor and birth are included.]
WARNING - The soundtrack has some static on it; it may be mildly
annoying.
This is a dated video, but the births are great. Some notes about and
in
response to the video:
At 2 minutes into the video, the birth attendant announces the baby's
sex. I don't do this unless you ask me to.
4 minutes - About the benefits of hospital birth, i.e. the woman
"enjoyed
being in the hospital and being waited on." I can recommend some
good postpartum doulas who will come to your house and wait on you.
6 minutes - "The labor progressed slowly through the day". If
a woman hasn't kicked into active labor by late morning, it's unlikely
to happen until evening.
9 minutes - I'm happy to support dads in catching the baby.
Birth #1 - homebirth - I don't wrestle the head out like that. Notice
how white the baby's body is from the compression in the birth canal
compared
to the darker color of the head. It's quite common for a baby's
body
to be really white like that immediately at birth. Typically,
they
pink up right away. Then there are some really nice descriptions of
coping
with the intensity of labor pain and great descriptions of birthing
energy.
Birth #2 - hospital birth - This is her first baby, and she's having
a really long early labor; taking prenatal herbs can shorten early
labor
dramatically. Laboring on your back is just asking the baby to turn
posterior,
which may have been a big problem with this labor. I don't encourage
pushing
flat on your back if at all possible. I don't splash betadine all over
the mom's bottom and the baby's head. Notice how much the head is
molded
- birth and baby's are amazing. [The molding of the head confirms that
the baby was likely stuck in a posterior position, which is why labor
progressed
so slowly and was so painful for this woman. We'll be working
hard
to prevent a posterior position.] I don't routinely suction vigorous
babies!
Birth #3 - birth center birth - This dad is rubbing the mom's back
in the typical way that a nervous dad does. I'm sure the mom is
basking
in his loving attention, but she might appreciate it even more if the
rubbing
were a little slower and less frantic. It also seems to help to massage
mostly in a downward direction - something about helping to focus on
moving
the energy down and opening the cervix rather than holding things up.
Any
baby who's biting the doctor's finger doesn't need suctioning! Notice
that
they're holding the baby right side up so the fluids will pool in the
back
of the throat so they can suction them out. I prefer to hold the
baby face down for a few seconds to let the fluids drain naturally. The
mom said she would have liked it to be slower. If things seem to
be moving too quickly for you, a hands-and-knees position or even a
knee-chest
can slow things down and help you regroup.
This is a remake of the great Giving Birth: Challenges and Choices.
Suzanne Arms is possibly the most articulate person on the subject
of natural birth.
I wholeheartedly recommend this for everyone. In particular,
the bonus materials do a great job of documenting what the first hour
postpartum
if often like at a homebirth. See "Molly's Story".
[A model for normal childbirth, addressing popular misconceptions and
hospital routines, focussing on issues of pain, fear, midwifery,
doulas,
babies; featuring Dr. Christine Northrup, OB.]
This is very nicely produced and is an excellent film for sharing with
family who are dubious about your homebirth choices. There is a
single
homebirth shown.
Notice that the women are RESTING in the squatting position; they're
not using energy holding this position. In our culture, women often
need
help getting in and out of this position, but the goal is to be
completely
relaxed once you're in the squat. Notice also how well the
tissues
stretch around the baby's head and how gently the moms are pushing
right
at the end when they birth the head. It's also interesting to me
that in almost all of these births, both the mother and baby seem to
need
a short period of isolated integration before they reconnect with each
other. Please let me know if you'd like to set the pace with
this,
rather than have me "hand the baby" to you as soon as baby's born.
This is a short video and very engaging - a wonderful video to watch
together as expectant parents; it shows how much the laboring woman
depends
on her partner to be her anchor. This is also a good video for children
to see because it is very gentle and shows the kinds of noises women
make
while birthing.
[Video footage from the Soviet Union - three Moscow home waterbirths,
and a birth in the Black Sea. WARNING - This video has some mild
religious references, linking waterbirth to baptism, which may be
offensive
to some.]
This video is beautiful and inspiring. I especially enjoy
watching
the midwife catch her own baby, doing expert perineal support from
behind
and flexion of the baby's head from in front.
I was particularly interested in seeing that the babies left under
water for a few seconds don't seem to be taking a breath. It's
only
after they're brought to the surface that they display a startle
reflex,
flinging their arms wide and expanding their lungs to take their first
breath. They do really seem to be waiting until after they're
brought
to the surface.
If you're interested in lotus birth, let me know and we can talk about
details and logistics.
[A unique documentary that provides in-depth information on the use
of water for labor, birth and early childhood development.
Includes:
four water births in home, hospital and birth center settings;
demonstrations
of water training exercises for pregnancy, water birth, and for
infants,
to enhance their early childhood development.]
Wow! This video is really terrific . . . very inspiring.
It shows the normalcy of birth, yet with a very appropriate reverence
for
the process and the newborn's experience.
Some things to note - During Michel Odent's conversation with the
Lighthouse
couple from California, they're showing a waterbirth. Note the
ridge
of skin that forms along the midline of the baby's skull as the bones
overlap
to pass through the tightest spot in the pelvis; once the head reaches
full crowns, this disappears as the head re-expands.
Throughout this tape, the breastfeeding techniques aren't great.
They're kind of jamming the nipple in the baby's mouth without waiting
for the newborn to gape the mouth nice and wide.
I liked the flowers floating in the water - feel free to get these
for your waterbirth.
The baby born in the San Francisco Victorian is taken to the hospital
for a checkup immediately after the birth. This is completely
unnecessary,
as I will do a thorough checkup of the baby about an hour after the
birth
and will refer you to your pediatrician if anything looks
unusual.
Actually, given the rise in hospital-acquired infections and
antibiotic-resistant
bacteria at hospitals in this area, taking a healthy newborn to the
hospital
is a really dangerous thing to do.
Regarding what to wear for a waterbirth . . . my assistants and I are
comfortable with any level of family nudity, so please feel free to do
whatever you're comfortable with. We see lots of naked people in
our work, both newborns and adults.
Notice that they're holding the baby right side up so the fluids will
pool in the back of the throat so they can suction them out. I
prefer
to hold the baby face down for a few seconds to let the fluids drain
naturally.
NOTE 1 - There's a long segment at the end of this video about the
work of Igor Charkovsky and the use of water for prenatal preparation,
birth, and infant work. Some people may find the focus on performance
mildly
disturbing and this whole segment somewhat extreme.
NOTE 2 - There's an erroneous statement on the video: "Placental
separation
could cause lack of oxygen right away." This is completely
false.
The placenta and the umbilical cord contain oxygenated blood that can
continue
to supply oxygen to the baby for 5-10 minutes after the placenta is
separated.
Dr. Michel Odent, a pioneer of the natural birth movement, believes
life-long health is influenced by the mother during pregnancy and
birth.
[from Compleat Mother ad -
- A visionary seeks small solutions to large problems.
- In Holland, two-thirds of the births are attended by
midwives.
Women are seen by doctors when medical care or supervision is
needed.
The cesarean section rate is around seven percent.
- Nearly all societies develop rituals to separate mother and newborn.
- Most medical procedures in birth are, in fact, absolutely irrational.
- If we transform birth we can transform the world.
- Dr. Odent's 98-year-old mother shares her own enlightened view of
birth.
- Social drug abuse in western countries started one generation after
the widespread use of drugs during labor and birth began.
- When we understand human nature at birth, we will change the way
babies are born.
"This video explores the water birth experience at a state hospital
in Belgium where over 20000 women have given birth in water. We
see
women attending prenatal water workouts and learning to relax with
their
partners in water. A number of births are shown in a clear
Plexiglas
tank including an amazing breech birth and the birth of twins.
Recommended
to stretch the boundaries of normal birth just a bit further."
This video was ground-breaking in its time, but when I look at it now,
the births just seem like they traded a birthing tub for the birthing
table
with stirrups. The mom is still lying in a semi-reclining
position,
and the OB is still "delivering" the baby.
They also leave the baby underwater for quite a while - up to a minute
or so? Maybe more? The standard of care in our area is to bring
the
baby to the surface almost as one continuous gentle movement, so I
prefer
that my clients not get these images in their minds.
I also object to their rant about how waterbirth should "obviously"
be in a clinic. There is no reason they couldn't take all their
safety
equipment to the woman's home, but it's a lot more convenient to have
the
women come to their clinic. I call this way of thinking "The
Mystique
of the Building." It's mystification and nothing more, and I don'
t like to propagate it.
There is also some poppycock about a woman who had a c-section because
her pelvis was "too small".
And, [pet peeve alert], the birth attendants are not wearing gloves.
The real plus of this video is great footage of a breech waterbirth.
Bottom line - there
are
much better birth videos available now!
This is a really fun video that I love to watch over and over.
[Dr. Righard's study, published in The Lancet (1990, Vol. 336),
1105-07),
looked at two groups of newborn babies. In the first group, the
infant
was placed on the mother's abdomen and within 50 minutes most infants
had
self attached to the breast and were suckling correctly. in the
second
group the newborn babies were removed from the mother's abdomen, bathed
measured and replaced on the abdomen. The infants in this group
from
an unmedicated birth self attached but half of them had a faulty
suckling
pattern. Most of the infants from a medicated birth were too
drowsy
to be able to suckle at all.]
This video has the flavor of being an ad for the midwife and large
families. There is some value in that there are very brief shots of
about
six homebirths, which can help to give birthing couples a mental image
of what homebirth looks like. There were some things I particularly
didn't
like about this video - there were some images of women lying down in
labor;
the midwife pulls on the head much more than I'm comfortable with in
all
the birth scenes. There's a waterbirth included on here, but the
footage
is very brief. There's a moderately religious flavor to the video.
This video has the flavor of being an ad for the midwife and large
families. There is some value in that there are very brief shots of
about
six homebirths, which can help to give birthing couples a mental image
of what homebirth looks like. There were some things I particularly
didn't
like about this video - there were some images of women lying down in
labor;
the midwife pulls on the head much more than I'm comfortable with in
all
the birth scenes. There's a waterbirth included on here, but the
footage
is very brief. There's a moderately religious flavor to the video.
The history, philosophy and legalities of homebirth. There are no
births
on this tape.
Breech Videos
Teaching Videos
Miracle of Birth - 5 Birth Stories
Miracle of Birth 2
Tried and True
or anything else good for teaching and demonstration??
Other Cultures
Resources for Children
Baby On The Way by William and Martha Sears
When You Were A Baby by Katharine Ross
The New Baby by Fred Rogers
I'm A Big Sister/ Brother by Maxie Chambliss
Some OK books
The New Baby by Mercer Mayer
The Night Before The New Baby by Natasha Wing
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
[The joy of birth is shown in four natural, unmedicated births at home,
in a birth center and at the hospital. Children are present at
all
the births.]
In general, these are nice births. This video shows some things
that I wouldn't particularly recommend, in particular, having a
laboring
woman lying almost flat on her back.
Birth #1 (with Dr. Gregory White) - The noise level at the birth seems
quite high for a sensitive newborn who's hearing unmuffled noises for
the
first time. I encourage a much lower noise level. Also, I
try
to make a point of not engaging in lots of conversation at and
immediately
after the birth, because my chatting distracts the baby and parents
from
greeting each other. I try to respect that this is the family's special
time. I encourage family members not living in this household to
allow the immediate family quiet time to get to know their baby
according
to their own instincts. They'll let us know when it's time for
the
rest of us to meet the baby.
Birth #2 - The OB's technique is much more aggressive than I like to
see. Also, you won't be required to wear caps or masks. [grin]
Birth #3 - Note the crumpling of the scalp just before the head pops
back out at the full crown. Also note that the placenta is still
attached to the baby when it's birthed. You don't often see this
in a video.
Birth #4 - This appears to be an unassisted birth; I liked the way
the mother astutely notices that the baby is gurgling from fluids in
the
throat and suggests that the dad hold the baby with the head slightly
lower
for a bit. Notice how well this clears the baby's airway. (I
generally
encourage this for 5-10 seconds immediately after the birth, typically
on the mom's belly.)
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