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Gentle Birth Choices Paperback – August 9, 2005
Purchase options and add-ons
• Recommended by Lamaze International as one of the top ten books for pregnant women and their families
• Includes a 60-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.
- Print length320 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHealing Arts Press
- Publication dateAugust 9, 2005
- Dimensions8 x 0.9 x 10 inches
- ISBN-101594770670
- ISBN-13978-1594770678
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Exactly the sort of guide that pregnant women have been needing to help them sort through the myriad choices." ― Robbie Davis-Floyd, author of Birth As an American Rite of Passage
"Brace yourself for a powerful experience. This remarkable production combines art, education, and politics. Highly recommended." ― Mothering Magazine
"Harper is among the most active, enthusiastic, and effective writers and advocates in the field of childbirth education today." ― Michel Odent, M.D., author of Birth Reborn
"Exactly the sort of guide that pregnant women have been needing to help them sort through the myriad choices and options that confront them today." ― Robbie Davis-Floyd, author of Birth As an American Rite of Passage
“Gentle Birth Choices provides a new model of maternity care that reduces the need for high-tech crisis intervention and focuses instead on preparation and health.” ― HEALTHWORLD
“A must-have for expectant mothers and their loved ones. . . . Gentle Birth Choices is an intelligent and sympathetic guide to birthing options that explores nontraditional ways that put women and their babies first.” ― NEW AGE RETAILER
"Gentle Birth Choices is the best film on childbirth available today." ― Midwifery Today Magazine
". . . [Harper] dispels medical myths and reimagines birth without fear, pain, or violence. . . . The DVD vividly demonstrates the strength of women during childbirth and the healthy and happy outcome of women exercising gentle birth choices." ― Branches of Light, Issue 27, Fall-Winter-Spring 2005-2006
"From a yogic perspective, pursuing the gentlest approach to a natural process like childbirth involves trusting in the capacity of one's own body. Harper provides the information necessary to do so, not only during labor, but throughout pregnancy, birth and beyond." ― Felicia M. Tomasko, Layoga, June 2006
"Gentle Birth Choices provides everything you need to join the gentle revolution." ― Edge Life, July 2007
" [Harper] guides expectant mothers through a maze of opinions and unquestioned 'best practices' while offering a host of information on both the physical and emotional aspects of holistic prenatal preparation." ― Alec Franklor, Edge Life Journal, April 2008
From the Back Cover
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Gentle Beginnings
Human birth is the most miraculous, transformational, and mysterious event of our lives. It is also an experience that is shared by every single member of the human race. The birth experience indelibly imprints itself in the lives of both the mother who is giving birth and the baby who is being born.
A gentle birth begins by focusing on the mother’s experience and by bringing together a woman’s emotional dimensions and her physical and spiritual needs. A gentle birth respects the mother’s pivotal role, acknowledging that she knows how to birth her child in her own time and in her own way, trusting her instincts and intuition. In turn, when a mother gives birth gently, she and everyone present acknowledge that the baby is a conscious participant in his or her own birth. The experience empowers the birthing woman, welcomes the newborn child into a peaceful and loving environment, and bonds the family. The goal of a gentle birth is to reclaim the wonder and joy that are inherent in the beginning of a new life.
Gentle births occur throughout the world: in homes, where births have traditionally been natural and without intervention; in birthing centers, which are becoming more popular as women demand greater freedom in giving birth; and in some hospitals that are responding to the needs and desires of today’s families. Women worldwide are seeking more natural, family-centered ways to birth their children and experience this passage into motherhood as life affirming, without the suffering and trauma that have been traditionally associated with labor and delivery.
Ingredients for a Gentle Birth
Before describing the important elements of gentle birth, I want to point out that these are merely suggestions. Gentle birth is not a method or a set of rules that must be followed. Rather, it is an approach to birth that incorporates a woman’s own values and beliefs. Every birth is a powerful experience--sometimes painful, always transformational. Each birth is as unique as the woman giving birth and the baby being born. There is no illustrated owner’s manual.
Many women’s early social conditioning that makes them believe they are unable to give birth normally must be replaced with a newfound understanding of the philosophy of and the ideas behind gentle birth. When women realize that their bodies know how to give birth and that their babies know how to be born, they gain confidence. Only then is gentle birth a possibility.
A gentle birth takes place when a woman is supported by the people she chooses to be with during this most intimate time. She needs to be loved and nurtured by those around her so she can feel comfortable and secure enough to follow her natural instincts. A birthing woman must be trusted so she in turn can trust herself, her body, her partner, her baby, and this process of giving birth. Her intuition must be respected. During a natural gentle birth, a woman feels and senses the power of the birth and uses this energy to transform every part of her own being. A gentle birth is not rushed. The baby emerges at its own pace and in its own time, received into the hands of those who love and recognize it for the divine gift that it is.
Some of the most important ingredients for a natural gentle birth are described on the following pages. Each woman has individual needs and preferences, so again, use these elements only as guidelines.
Preparation
The education that best prepares a woman for a gentle birth is one that empowers her through information and a belief in her ability to give birth naturally. The original childbirth educators were mothers who labored in front of their children and included them in the folk medicine of the day. Pregnant women asked their mothers about a pain or an ache, and the mothers responded by saying, “Oh, I had that with all three of you.” For the daughter to experience her mother giving birth is worth a whole course in childbirth education. In sharing her mother’s labor and giving birth, she learns about the essence of this miracle firsthand.
Today childbirth educators have taken over the job of mothers whose memories of birth were obliterated with drugs, unconsciousness, and the medical treatments of the day. There are many styles of education and preparation for birth. One of the most important components for all methods of childbirth preparation is a healthy attitude. Women pay attention to their bodies throughout their pregnancy by eating healthful foods, avoiding stress, sticking to a physical exercise program, being cautious about exposing themselves to harmful chemicals or toxins, and maintaining a positive emotional outlook. While preparing for a gentle birth, it’s important to keep an open mind as to how the birth will actually proceed. Flexibility is essential, because in some cases medical intervention may be necessary.
I recommend that a woman look into her attitudes, ideas, and beliefs about birth. This may include exploring her feelings about her sexuality, her relationship with the baby’s father, and her relationships with her parents. A woman who is comfortable with her sexuality will feel less inhibited sexually during the birth. A woman who has examined her own birth will not be likely to repeat the pattern of that birth in the one she is preparing for. A woman who has a good sense of herself will not be easily swayed away from what she knows to be right for herself. A woman who is at peace with her partner and her family members will find comfort in and draw strength from those bonds and will want to include those people in the birthing experience.
Product details
- Publisher : Healing Arts Press; New Edition of Gentle Birth Choices Boxed Set (August 9, 2005)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 320 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1594770670
- ISBN-13 : 978-1594770678
- Item Weight : 0.035 ounces
- Dimensions : 8 x 0.9 x 10 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #351,949 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #684 in Pregnancy & Childbirth (Books)
- #1,125 in Motherhood (Books)
- #1,176 in General Women's Health
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
www.waterbirth.org
IG @thebarbaraharper
IG @waterbirthint
IG @blissbornbirth
Twitter: waterbirth
Facebook: facebook.com/waterbirth
Barbara Harper is passionate about pregnancy and birth and is recognized as a skilled teacher and international expert on waterbirth and gentle birth. Her personal mission has always been to change the way we welcome babies into the world. Her beloved maternal grandmother was a nurse and midwife in rural Ohio for almost 50 years. Her own career in nursing began as an obstetric nurse in the 70s. She did not last long there and was asked to leave because she just could not follow the rules. Neurosurgical and cardiac intensive care units were better places for her skills. She became a board member of the American Holistic Nurses Association in 1983, while working as a pediatric nurse exploring alternative healing modalities and teaching yoga. After two home waterbirths in 1984 and 1986, she started a midwifery education program and apprenticeship.
During her long career, Barbara has also worked as a homebirth midwife, childbirth educator, midwifery instructor, doula trainer and a Blissborn Birth Hypnosis instructor. Barbara founded Waterbirth International in 1988, to provide couples and professionals with research-based information and training, believing that the normalcy of birth can increase by making water immersion and available option for all women. She has authored dozens of professional articles and been interviewed on hundreds of radio and TV shows, podcasts, in newspapers and magazines all over the globe. Her best-selling 2005 book and DVD, “Gentle Birth Choices,” has inspired thousands of parents and professionals alike and has been translated into 9 languages, including the 2016 publication in Mandarin Chinese. Her unique professional workshops, personal growth seminars, waterbirth and hypnosis professional trainings have been hosted within hospitals, nursing schools, midwifery and medical schools and community groups worldwide in over 70 countries.
She was ahead of the curve when she began teaching her Waterbirth Certification Workshops and Blissborn Hypnosis trainings online in 2016. She is asked to return for training in hospitals yearly in many countries including China, Argentina, UAE, Israel, Spain, Mexico, Chile, Vietnam, and locations all over the US.
She lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where she a community volunteer and midwifery, doula, and Blissborn student mentor.
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For me, this is where this book comes in to play. I did not read this book looking for knowledge and factual information on birth, I'd already gleaned that from several other books. I read this book wondering if a gentle birth was truly attainable.
I read this book a few weeks before my due date. After finishing it, I truly felt at peace with my body and with my decision to pursue a natural birth. Sure, I still had my doubts, but after reading about all the women who had NCB in many different settings, I felt strongly that I could do it. And a few weeks later, I DID. Once labor began, I probably forgot everything I read, but what I didn't forget was the sense that I was just one of many women who embarked on a journey toward a gentle birth, and that if other women could do it, SO COULD I. My memories of my son's birth are gentle and peaceful, most of it spent in the water with my midwife holding my hands and my doula massaging me through contractions. My only regret is not having my husband read this book, too, as I think he was more nervous than I was. The accompanying DVD is also something I found immensly helpful. Neither my husband nor I had ever seen birth, but this DVD gave us an idea of what to expect. While it helped to calm me, it really helped my husband when I was actually in labor because he knew that what was happening was normal and natural.
Should this be the only book you read while pregnant? NO! But then, I don't think there is any one book that really covers every little piece of information about pregnancy. Do I think this is a book that should be read by every pregnant woman? Yes, I do. Perhaps if more women read this book, pregnant women would no longer be treated to horror stories about birth, and instead, would know that, in most cases, it can be a gentle, loving process.
Barbara Harper, RN is the founder of Global Maternal/Child Health Association, which is a non-profit organization committed to educating the public about natural birth - specifically water birth. I had never heard of her, or this organization, at the time that I first read the book, but I was considering a water birth then. I was already planning on giving birth at a free standing birth center, which did have Jacuzzi tubs in every room, so I was hopeful of using the water in some point in my labor, and possibly delivering there. But I wasn't really committed to it yet; it was just something that was in the realm of possibilities. After reading Gentle Birth Choices I couldn't imagine why anyone wouldn't want a water birth!
So, tell us about the book?
Gentle Birth Choices is well organized into 8 chapters. It is a very easy read, but will take more than a few hours. I read it in a few days the first time, and recently re-read it in about the same time.
Chapter 1 is called "Gentle Beginnings" and consists of explanations of what a Gentle Birth is, and examines the necessary ingredients - things like low light, a reassuring environment, well prepared mom, early breastfeeding, etc. It also includes explanations of why these things are necessary and "better" for your baby.
The next Chapter is on the Medicalization of Childbirth. This chapter discusses the history of childbirth in the US, and the corresponding results in today's healthcare. This is actually a fascinating read!
Chapter 3 is on medical myths and the goal is to debunk some widely held beliefs about childbirth (such as the hospital is the safest place for childbirth, continuous fetal monitoring is necessary, that kind of thing)
Chapter 4 is called a "Gentle Revolution" it is about the natural childbirth movement and it's history.
Chapter 5 is on the use of Midwives and their status in this country. You need to bear in mind that this book is 10 years old, so some of the information on state laws is out of date.
Chapter 6 is on water birth; its history, its benefits, water birth around the world, as well as an FAQ of commonly asked questions about water birth. If you are considering a water birth, this chapter is a must read! It is also good to give to family/friends who think you have lost your mind :)
Chapter 7 is on the mind-body connection in childbirth.
And finally Chapter 8 is on making gentle birth choices - choosing where to give birth (hospital, birth center, or home), choosing a care provider. That kind of thing.
After that there are 7 appendices, which range from questions to ask a doctor/midwife, to writing a birth plan, to resources.
All in all it is a very complete book on planning a gentle birth and why you would want to.
So, what's wrong with the book?
Nothing is really wrong with it. It is a great read and is very interesting. But I think it has a target audience of people that are already committed to natural birth. I think Ms. Harper goes a little too far with the "touchy-feely stuff" at times, which is OK - childbirth is a very emotional thing. But she also goes too far with her commitment to natural childbirth.
Let me explain that. I am a VERY staunch supporter of natural childbirth. The over medicalization of childbirth is a huge part of the health care crisis in the US. However, I also know that there are times when the interventions are necessary. Are they needed as often as they are used? Not even close, but sometimes they ARE needed. And when they are needed, I thank G-d that they are available!
However, Ms. Harper does not seem to acknowledge this well. She says that "all women" can have a gentle birth and gives the impression that interventions are never needed. First of all, that is just false, and second of all, I think it sets women up for heartbreak. For example, what happens to the woman who does all this planning for her gentle birth and then something is wrong with the baby and she has a needed c-section? Is she then a failure? I don't think so, but I am not sure that Ms. Harper feels the same.
Final Thoughts
Despite my criticism, this really is an excellent book and I do highly recommend it! It is packed full of information to help you make decisions on planning the best birth possible. It might be a bit too out there for someone on the fence about natural childbirth, but if you are already committed to a natural birth, and just want a little pep talk to help convince you that you are doing the right thing - or just want to learn more about water birth - than this is the book for you.