Ive just finished The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger and absolutly recommend it for any woman who is pregnant, whether they are planning a medicated hospital birth or an unmedicated homebirth, this covers pretty much everything!
The beginning of the book is very graphic, the photos are full color of a woman giving birth, absolutly amazing. The pictures go through the beginning stages of crowning all the way to the baby at the breast to nurse. The later pictures where the child is born but still ‘gooey’ with the normal fluids from its trip down the birth canal, these pictures have come in extreemly handy in preparing my children in case they see the baby immediatly after birth. I dont intend on letting them be in the room while I am pushing, they are only 2 and 4 but if they do see the new baby immediately these pictures will have come in very handy so they know what to expect in their new baby sister.
After those photos come the ‘real’ information. The author gives it pretty straight- information on different labour positions, ways to cope with the pain of labour, different types of labour, types of pain relief-both holistic and hard core medical drugs (epidural, stadol etc)
She also covers the first hours of life and what to expect, special needs baby’s, losing a baby and parenthood. This book is absolutly fabulous and is my favorite so far. I have read many books on pregnancy and childbirth and I can easily put this one at the top of my must read list!
The author is very clear and concise in her writing as well, a very easy to read style and a very enjoyable style as well. So much so I have ordered her Homebirth book and am anxiously awaiting its arrival!

Posted by Shelley in Journal on September 28th, 2007 |