Spiritual Midwifery [B2182]

2002 PB, 4th (and apparently also the most recent) edition of the 1976 original, in Gift-Worthy condition. The original Spiritual Midwifery, published in 1976, introduced an entire generation of young women to the possibility of home birth and breast feeding - and shared the birthing stories of women who chose to have their babies at home with the help of a midwife. It also breathed new life into the all-but-vanished field of midwifery. This classic book on home birth is now in its fourth edition, with updated information on the safety of natural childbirth, new birthing stories, and the most recent statistics on births managed by The Farm Midwives. Ina May also provides new information about potentially dangerous techniques routinely used in hospitals during and after birth, as well as the latest findings about VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). Improved instructions for handling breech births are also given. Included are stories of working with Amish women, showing a different culture with a similar appreciation for natural childbirth. Photos, illustrations.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Wonderful powerful book. I purchased this for the second time. My first was 1982 a week before my first son's home-birth experience. I still have this book 42 years later and now have the pleasure of giving one to my daughter who just let me know she was pregnant. There are not enough words to express how this wonderful book helped me with 4 home births. A book written with so much information and birth stories, that bring calmness to any Mother who is traveling down this road of life. You will find yourself crying because of the passionate way it all comes together and that's the great beauty of this whole book ."

"The natural birthing bible, the inspiration, the Earth mother herself! This book has given me the knowledge, inspiration and positivity to be confident going into this wild wild ride of pregnancy and birth, to the point where I'm excited to go into labor. I feel prepared to be able to speak to my midwives and ask them the procedure and policies for episiotomy, c section, induction etc and to very firmly decline what I know is not best for MY pregnancy. What an empowering read. I will keep her closely by my side over the next 5 months."

"This book is super interesting! My version (4th) was complete with photos from the farm and families involved which is really cool. So many positive birth stories which was my favorite part! It talks about birth being a spiritual experience, which it definitely can be. It's basically historical nonfiction and I really enjoyed it!"