Reading Material

Since the news of my pregnancy I have been doing more reading and writing. I know I have plenty of time, but all I find myself wanting to do it scour through the reading material that has been sitting on my shelves for a couple years. As a birth doula in training and someone who has a passion for natural childbirth anyway, I already have quite the collection. These are some of my absolute favorite recommended reads during pregnancy. You won't see this mama reading "What to Expect When You're Expecting," or "Babywise."

Stories of birth on The Farm in Tennessee with Ina May Gaskin

"Because a child’s trust and feelings of security are directly linked with his or her physiological well-being, I also talk about the great value of following the mental and emotional needs of the young baby and child throughout the growing years. When a baby is born into this totally new and unfamiliar world, we need to take heed of his or her cues indicating a need for security and comfort, by: carrying the baby constantly, sleeping with the baby, holding the baby skin-to-skin, and following the baby’s continued needs as he or she grows." -Karen Ranzi

"In order for these doctors to make what they consider an adequate income, the hospital has to maintain something like an 80 percent epidural rate. Given this, how strongly do you think medical staff would resist the notion that epidurals are not always a good thing and most women can cope without them?” 
― Henci Goer

"A complete guide to childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and other labor companions."

According to Jean Liedloff, the continuum concept is the idea that in order to achieve optimal physical, mental and emotional development, human beings — especially babies — require the kind of experience to which our species adapted during the long process of our evolution.  Infants whose continuum needs are fulfilled during the early, in-arms phase grow up to have greater self-esteem and become more independent than those whose cries go unanswered for fear of "spoiling" them or making them too dependent.

"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. "

“Remember this, for it is as true and true gets: Your body is not a lemon. You are not a machine. The Creator is not a careless mechanic. Human female bodies have the same potential to give birth well as aardvarks, lions, rhinoceri, elephants, moose, and water buffalo. Even if it has not been your habit throughout your life so far, I recommend that you learn to think positively about your body.” 






If you have any other books to recommend I would love suggestions :)