Editorial Review:

Barbara Harper outlines the elements of gentle birthing: support from loved ones, a reassuring and quiet environment with soft lighting, and minimal medical intervention. She shows you how to plan a meaningful, family-centered birth experience and discusses the alternatives available, providing a new model of maternity care that reduces the need for high-tech crisis intervention and focuses instead on preparation and good health for mother and child. With Cesarean section rates in some hospitals at more than 50%, women are acknowledging that childbirth reform is an essential aspect of reclaiming responsibility for our bodies and our lives.

Includes information on: -Giving birth in a freestanding birthing center, at home, or in a hospital birthing room. -Finding a primary care-giver who shares your philosophy of birth, whether midwife, doctor, or both. -Deciding how to best use current technologies. -Practical advice for couples wishing to explore the option of waterbirth, a choice that maximizes the attributes of water as a natural, pain-relieving relaxant and an alternative to drugs and their unwanted side effects.

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

lovely book- gread DVD:

Make sure you get the copy with a DVD! It's a wonderful companion, especially for your birth partner who may not read the book. I felt saddened as I read it that my previous babies did not have gentle beginnings, but it inspired me to make things different for my soon coming baby boy!
The book has a wide range of ideas and birthing practices. No two women birth the same! Surprisingly according to other reviews here apparently some women don't think that they (or their babies) should have the option of... more info

excellent book!:

I really appreciate the way this book is laid out, the important information it contains and how easy it is to access! My partner and I have a great time reading sections out loud to each other. Enjoy!

GREAT book for both moms and dads to be:

Gentle Birth Choices lays out the various aspects of childbirth, and explains the drawbacks of medicated birth or birthing interventions that many moms may encounter. This isn't a how-to book (such as Hypnobirthing or Bradley), but it does inform as to why "natural" birth choices are better, both for parents and baby. There are helpful sections at the back, listing questions to ask your health practitioner and your hospital or birthing center so that you can go into your labor and birth better informed (or... more info

Will appeal to many parents-to-be:

One of the best birth books available, with options ranging from hospital birth to waterbirth. There is also a DVD/video by the same name available by Barbara Harper for those with spouses and/or families to educate, too!
I read this book (and watched the video with my hubby) in preparation for our planned home birth after an "Unnecessarean". I highly recommend it for anyone planning a gentle and natural birth, but also for those who are not sure what they think about epidurals, induction,... more info

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