Renowned for her practice's exemplary results and low intervention rates, Ina May Gaskin has gained international notoriety for promoting natural birth. She is a much-beloved leader of a movement that seeks to stop the hyper-medicalization of birth--which has lead to nearly a third of hospital births in America to be cesarean sections--and renew confidence in a woman's natural ability to birth. Upbeat and informative, Gaskin asserts that the way in...

Childbirth expert Sheri Bayles, RN, covers all aspects of labor and delivery, including pain relieving options, Lamaze training, a breathing technique, natural childbirth, and everything you need to know about cord blood banking.

"Birth is a natural and normal event and, while it can be unpredictable, this brand-new edition of the authoritative guide will show you how you can make it a gentle and enjoyable experience. Now with two new chapters, The Calm Birth Method helps you to build confidence in your body and its abilities, and shares practical techniques to support you so that, no matter what happens, you feel prepared and can maintain a calm and positive mindset"--

A Harvard-trained physician examines the role of guilt in today's childbirth and early parenting choices, challenging popular misconceptions while arguing that the natural parenting movement is capitalizing on practices that serve to manipulate rather than assist parents.

"With limited resources for hopeful home birth parents, the unknowns can feel overwhelming. The Many Faces of Home Birth fills that void for knowledge by providing a rare glimpse into the private moments of twenty-five unique and modern home births from around the world. With honesty, humor, and confidence, these personal narratives and shared experiences leave readers with the understanding that home birth isn't just for one type of woman. Through...

Revised and updated for today's family, this classic guide to the Bradley Method of natural childbirth helps mothers have healthy babies and joyful birthing experiences--and makes fathers partners in the miracle of life.

"Everything you need to know to have the best birth experience for you, whether in a hospital, birthing center, or the comfort of home"--Cover, page 4.