What books and resources do you recommend on the topic of natural pregnancy and childbirth?
I am currently reading The Christian Childbirth Handbook by Jennifer Vanderlaan and what a huge blessing it has been to me! I cannot more highly recommend this resource for any couple preparing for birth (yes, a good read for husband and wife!). It is solidly based upon Scripture and covers every topic in relation to making wise birthing decisions, the process of birth, preparing your heart with Scripture, etc. It has an excellent section on dealing with the fears that most ladies experience with the thought of giving birth and counteracts a lot of the lies that our culture presents. God has beautifully designed women to give birth, and so establishing a biblical understanding of the process and preparing for it is wise. This resource is excellent to accomplish both goals!
Bradley Classes - I recommend anyone desiring to prepare wisely for giving birth to take a bradley class! This class was such a huge help to both my husband and me. It gave both of us the tools to understand and manage the different aspects of birth. I love how it encourages and promotes the husband to be the main coach in childbirth. My husband is my number #1 assistant and this course supplied us with the knowledge necessary to know how to do that. This second time around we took the last two classes as a 
refresher. Relaxation and abdominal breathing practice is so important! If you live in my area, I recommend Amber Langeliers as a bradley instructor. She also served as my doula and it made a great impact upon me to have her knowledge right beside me during my birth. Visit here to find a class near you!
If you cannot take the course, I would encourage you to borrow or buy the books based upon the course: Husband Coached Childbirth and Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way. These are excellent reads whether you take the class or not. You can also purchase the Bradley Method Student Notebook.
Naturally Healthy Pregnancy by Shonda Parker is another excellent resource written from a Christian perspective 
that has been recommended to me on multiple occasions. It answers all questions in regards to nutritional and herbal medicine for optimal health during pregnancy. Beginning with God’s design for health and nutrition, the following is covered in detail: how to eat for a healthy baby, which herbs are safe and which are dangerous during pregnancy, and the best ways to minimize those times of nausea and discomfort.
The Wise Woman Herbal to the Childbearing Years by Susan Weed has been a very helpful resource for understanding what natural herbs and supplements are useful during this season of life. It also has numerous recipes for homemade tonics, teas, and various baby problems. I recommend removing pages 11 & 12 for some strange New Agey materials.
Lastly, I would recommend you check out Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. Although I have not read it myself, it has been recommended to me by both my midwife and other friends as a solid read on natural childbirth.
Next week I will be sharing some rich quotes and verses to have on hand for preparing for birth and to use in labor…
great publish, i sure| will likely be visiting some other time
I was looking at the Brio Birthing website, after seeing -C’s post from 1/3/11. It does look really new, but it looks like a lot of it is based on the Bradley System. I was curiously browsing around and found a reading list for their educators. Here’s the list of books, along with their authors. It kind of gives you an idea of what the Brio Birthing stuff is about when you see their recommended reading. I’d love to read all of these!
*Husband Coached Childbirth (Robert A. Bradley, MD)
* Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way (Susan McCutcheon-Rosegg)
*Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering (Sarah J. Buckley, MD)
*Mind Over Labor (Carl Jones)
The Labor Progress Handbook (Penny Simkin)
The Birth Book (William Sears, MD and Martha Sears, RN)
Birth Reborn (Michel Odent, MD)
Birth without Violence (Frederick Leboyer)
Choosing Waterbirth (Bertram, McLanahan, Odent)
Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn (Simkin, Walley, Kepler)
The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth (Sheila Kitzinger)
Creating Your Birth Plan (Marsden Wagner, MD)
Gentle Birth Choices (Barbara Harper)
Having a Baby, Naturally (O’Mara, Facciolo, Ponte)
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth (Ina May Gaskin)
The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth (Henci Goer)
Your Best Birth (Lake, Epstein, Moritz)
Childbirth without Fear (Grantly Dick-Read)
Active Birth (Janet Balaskas)
Born in the USA (Marsden Wagner)
Pushed (Jennifer Block)
Immaculate Deception II (Suzanne Arms)
The American Way of Birth (Jessica Mitford)
Misconceptions (Naomi Wolf)
Don’t Just Stand There (Lichtenstein and Stein)
The Birth Partner (Penny Simkin)
*The first four books are considered “required” reading.
Does anyone know anything about Brio birth?
My husband and I were all set to start our Bradley course this Wednesday (and paid the deposit). We were so excited after reading numerous reviews about Bradley. Tonight, two days before the first class, we get an e-mail from the instructor that she has switched to Brio but that the course syllabus will be identical. All we’ve been able to figure out so far is that Brio is new, as of 12/2010, and claims to incorporate the best of all natural childbirth methods/philosophies (ex: Lamaze, Bradley, etc.). The Brio instructors seem to claim Bradley is outdated.
C: I should have replied to your question, but I made a new post instead (see above) I found a book list in case you want to see some of what the Brio group recommends. I like the list, and it includes a lot of books that are already mentioned on this page.
You’ll have to share about your experiences since the Brio plan doesn’t seem to be very well known yet. As of now, there are NO Brio instructors listed on their website (www.briobirth.com) within 300 miles of me (in DFW, Texas). However, it sounds like they are just doing a smart combination of already-proven studies. Looks good so far, and I’m sure it will pick up fast.
Blessings and congrats on your pregnancy!
Yes. Brio Birth was previously called Bradley Reborn. As I understand it, basically a bunch of the Bradley instructors approached Bradley about the desperate need to update their materials. I agree that there was some significant outdated materials there. Bradley refused. Bradley Reborn and now Brio Birth is definitely based upon the Bradley materials just updated, expanded, and should be a huge improvement. As for now, the new materials have not been released for Brio Birth, so you teacher will still be working off the Bradley books and such, I am sure.
Hi again! I have a doula friend who is about to have a book published with verses for pregnancy / childbirth. Right now a lot is on her website: http://www.gatewaybirthservices.com/ There are a lot of scriptures and encouraging words, songs, verses, etc. I hope you like it!
Thanks for this list. With only 13 more days to go before my due date I am trying to get finish Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth before its too late! I am still near the beginning; however, its been great so far! How have you been feeling? Ready to deliver?
I would also recommend the book birthing from within. With my first pregnancy I was younger (25) and I took Bradley classes. My instructor was really nice, but I too felt unprepared for birth (I did have a really powerful water birth at the birthing center by God’s grace). One thing is that I didn’t practice the 20 minutes of relaxing once or twice a day which was recommended (and for very good reason!-you need those skills in labor), but also a lot of the Bradley information is head information and when you are in labor you transcend out of your thinking brain into a more primal brain (if you are laboring without drugs), so even if you wanted to, it is very troublesome to access all that info. Birthing from Within has a lot of art excercises, etc. which make many people uncomfortable, but art exercises use that same part of your brain that you labor with. What a terrific time to start exercising that side of your brain while pregnant. Also, the one thing labor is MOST of the time is uncomfortable. What is your response in uncomfortable situations? (this is a generalized question not directed at you, but please feel free to ponder). I really feel like BFW helps to prepare you emotionally for birth- you birth with your heart not your head.
I did read Ina May’s guide for Childbirth as well and do like it. I think it is important though to have the understanding that all women’s bodies are designed to give birth is an ABSOLUTE statement. Most women’s bodies have been designed well, but for the small percentage of women who have true complications and really are blessed to have the expertise of a o.b. may think to themselves- what’s wrong with me? is my body not made perfectly designed? This is no kind of mentality for a new mother to have. She should feel empowered by her birth experience. Women who have to have an emergency cesarean (and actually any women who births by cesarean) if they can stay heart centered in the birth can have a truly beautiful birthing experience. This is what Birthing From Within is all about.
I just discovered the Christian Childbirth Handbook the other day though and I am very excited to check it out. I work a lot with pregnant women- mentoring BFW classes, teaching prenatal yoga, and sometimes doulaing. I have turned my heart to Jesus over this past summer and I am happy to have been led to this resource because I feel excited about the possibility of learning how to incorporate Christ into my work and using these gifts that God has given me.
I have to agree–Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth is great! I have not heard of the other books you mentioned so the Ina May’s book was all I had. While slightly “new agey” with their views on birth it was a great resource and I’ll definitely be re-reading it when we get pregnant again! Thanks for the tips on your other books.
I’m definitely going to look into that first one. I read Christ Centered Childbirth with my first, which made me realize that this can be a worship experience (it was!). It’s been a while since I’ve read it so I can’t comment any more.
Also, thanks to a previous commenter for the baby positioning. My son was OP (despite rarely being on my back– he continues to be stubborn
) and I’m hoping this little one will make his/her entry into this world a tiny bit faster and less painful by facing the other way.
The homeopathy book also sounds really interesting. Hopefully I’ll get money for my birthday and can buy a few of these. My library has been a wonderful resource, but some need to be close at hand!
I also recommend Ina May’s. I’ve already read it this pregnancy and plan on reading it again this summer.
I just recently got Homeopathy for Pregnancy, Birth and Your Baby’s First Year. I love that it gives recommendations for homeopathic remedies for typical pregnancy complaints (nausea, constipation, etc. The stuff we normally just “live with” because it’s not serious enough to risk taking drugs for, but homeopathics are safe, so you can safely treat the annoying symptoms too!), as well as the various things that might go wrong during the birth. After reading through the book, I made sure to have some homeopathic remedies on hand that can be used for stalled labor, excessive bleeding, etc. I have a feeling it will be a great resource book throughout the baby’s first year as well.
Hi Lindsay,
I’ve just recently been reading your blog. As a new wife and expecting the birth of our first child, everything I’ve read has been so encouraging, informative, and helpful. I’m not due until July, but thought now would be a good time to find a childbirth class, your post this morning couldn’t have been timed any better. May God continue to bless you for your service to Him!
~Colleen
My suggestions would be reading “Birthing from Within” and taking Hypnobirthing classes(or Hypnobabies, which is very popular also). The difference between my Hypnobirths and ‘hospital version of Lamaze’ birth was life altering, no less. I can’t imagine having another baby without doing it Hypnobirthing way.
These books look worth checking into! Thanks for the recommendations!
We took Bradley classes with our 1st. I thought they were helpful at the time, but when it came time for labor, I was totally unprepared. Maybe I missed something-I don’t know. The classes were certainly imformative, and I’m not putting it down by any means. But nothing went quite like it said it would, and the relaxation and breathing, like you mentioned, was pretty much impossible. Thank the Lord, I was still able to have a natural waterbirth without any complications!
Anyways, I guess I’m just reminding myself that this time around I want to be more prepared-mentally and spiritually. That first book you mentioned looks like what I need!
This is a very helpful post, great resources for expectant moms, I will keep those in mind for a number2 !
have a nice day!
I love those books, too! I also like Jennifer Vanderlaan’s 40 Weeks devotional book, along with her Childbirth Handbook.
Blessings,
Michele
Please check out the baby positioning website http://www.spinningbabies.com
My husband and I took the Bradley Series with our first born. We also had a bradley instructor as our doula. I have read most of Ina May’s book and it is wonderful to read the positive stories of birth rather than the horrific stories we are imprinted with by our culture. I also have the Herbal for the Child Bearing years.
I would also like to recommend, “What every Pregnant woman should know” and “Mind over labor”. I do not remember the authors. What every preg. Woman should know has a LOT of information about nutrition and pregnancy and has a wonderful recipe section I refer to on a regular basis.
Blessings to you and your upcoming birth.
I just wanted to mention the book “Supernatural Childbirth” by Jackie Mize. I think it is a great book from a christian author. It discusses what God has in mind for childbirth and also can be a great encourager to those believing to concieve. She has a whole host of prayers and scriptures to pray over your labor and delivery and your baby and family as a whole. It has been a great resource to me with my four pregnancies. She also has a small, what i would call “hand-book” that simply contains the “Prayers and Promises” contained in her original book. THis however does not have the wonderful stories of God’s miracle-working power in the lives of different families. I suggest getting the original book. Enjoy!
I second that!!!!! I actually met Jackie and Terry Mize, they both visited our old church. what a wonderful testimony they have.
This is the ONLY book I highly recommend for COUPLES to read.
Thanks for sharing the resources…especially the Christian Childbirth Handbook. I’ve been thinking about this and have decided that I want to have scriptures available to read and worship music to listen to while laboring (I’ll be attempting a VBAC in a hospital with a midwife). I’m adding this book to my reading list. Oh, and Ina May’s book was a great read; I’m another one who highly recommends it.
I would like to echo your thoughts on the Bradley Method books, as well as Ina May’s Guide. They’re wonderful. For inspiration, I loved Peggy Vincent’s memoir, “Babycatcher.” I guess I haven’t read anything from a specifically Christian point of view, but I would like to. I’ll have to check out some of your recommendation…next time.
I also took the Bradley Method Course with my husband for our first daughter in 1999, and then a refresher class in 2002 for my son. My husband and I really enjoyed the classes and learned so much. It was a true bonding experience and brought us closer together! I had 2 natural childbirths with no drugs and my second baby was even breach, and whoo he was a way easier labor and delivery. It is possible to have a drug free birth, but even if through the process one chooses drugs you are informed and know what questions to ask. You are an educated couple and one that we believe is also responsible. That for me was what the method is about.
Great resources! You MUST read Ina May’s book…I would get rid of all others and only read this if I had to!
Hi Lindsey,
I have read most of these books and will get them out again as we prepare for the birth of our 4th child this summer. I’ve enjoyed 3 water-births (2 in hospital with my midwife and the last at home with my midwife.) But at 34 weeks my planned home birth was threatened last time because my baby was breech. My wonderful midwife gave me the book Optimum Fetal Positioning. This book was invaluable to me. Within a week my baby had turned and as I kept following the exercises and resting positions, she settled into a comfortable, perfect OA postition and labor was much quicker and easier. (My first baby was OP). There are several good websites that discuss this theory too. I just thought that I would share my success and would encourage any expecting mom to look into OFP. I think it would possibly cut down on many interventions and difficulties during labor!
Thank you for your post. God bless you and your family in the coming days. I will be praying that this one will be easier for you.
Thank you, Lindsay, for posting such a helpful, informative blog. I also want to give a thumbs up to Shonda Parker’s book “Naturally Healthy Pregnancy”! I have heard it described as the Christian version of “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”. Here’s a little tip, though… If you’re interested in purchasing the book, it can be purchased for $22.45 from Shonda’s website at the following link:
http://www.naturallyhealthy.org/books.php
This is a huge savings over Amazon’s lowest price of $50.74! Check out Shonda’s other great books, as well.
thanks for sharing these resources… we’re not at the baby stage yet, but I’ll keep these in mind for when we are