Thursday, June 16, 2011

Book Review: Natural Hospital birth by Cynthia Gabriel

Natural Hospital birth: The best of both worlds
by Cynthia Gabriel

Reviewed by Martha Artyomenko


Doula, medical anthopologist, and mother of three, Cynthia Gabriel offers the tools and inspiration you need to release your fears, win the support of the hospital staff, and avoid unnecessary interventions.

I have never read a pregnancy book that I so throughly loved before! Okay, I loved Ina May's guide to childbirth, but this one is absolutely amazing!!!
I think everyone, no matter what type of birth you desire should read this book.
This book explains birth in way that I have not read before, it speaks of the emotional impact birth can have on a woman, medicated or non-medicated. It goes through the steps of labor and birth, explaining them in a way a mother who has never given birth can read and be prepared.

It speaks of reasons for interventions, and reasons you could refuse or accept. This book is filled with birth stories of mothers, and the struggles or triumphs they faced throughout their births. This is not a book that is going to be too scientific for readers who struggle with that. This is a basic guide for the mom, who would like a natural birth. How natural it is, this book can explain how that varies for each woman.
I especially liked in the appendix a list of common interventions and how to avoid them. It was simple, educating and gives you the info and encourages your own research as well.
This book does not make you feel fearful, but rather empowered and encouraged to go forward with labor and delivery.

Overall, this book is such a wonderful guide for childbirth, I wish I could buy a copy to give each client! I give this book 5 large gold stars!!!

This book is available for purchase from many sources.
It retails for $16.95 and is 256 pages long
Amazon

Borders
Borders often has coupons as well on their books, making this a reasonable place to buy from.

2 comments:

  1. I can't wait to check it out! Now to try to get my local library to buy a copy... :)

    All of my births have been natural hospital or birth center in the hospital births. I'm curious to hear her reflections.

    ~ Cathy

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  2. This book sounds great. I look forward to reading it!

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