This is a how-to guide for women who want to make birth as good as possible, written by a mother and researcher who has experienced 'optimal' birth three times. The book includes personal accounts, comments, photographs and advice from other families and professionals. The concept of optimality initially seems an extremely subjective one. However, the World Health Organization associates optimal birth outcomes with lowest possible amounts of intervention and drug use and the American College of Nurse-Midwives has developed an Index of Optimality, linking best outcomes with minimal (or zero) use of pain relief and interventions. Both organisations clearly accept the many research studies which conclude that entirely physiological birth is associated with best outcomes in terms of maternal and fetal (or infant) morbidity and mortality. On a subjective level, optimality has long been associated with natural birth by women and families who have experienced successful physiological births. However, by women who have tried but 'failed' to have a natural birth, 'natural' is no longer seen as being optimal. Women who are afraid of things going wrong or of experiencing pain in labour also assert that 'optimal' means the use of every kind of intervention to induce, monitor, 'control' and anaesthetise labour and birth; many even prefer elective caesareans. Some professionals share these interventionist views, perhaps because of a desire to control the physiological processes, pre-empt problems or gather evidence to avoid litigation. Considering these views in terms of both safety and experience, Sylvie Donna has researched the concept of optimality. This book for pregnant women is the first outcome of her work. (An edition for midwives - called 'Optimal Birth: The What, The Why & The How' - is now also available.) She concludes that 'optimal' does indeed mean 'natural', provided this term is redefined substantially. Surprisingly, she also concludes that physiological birth (i.e. birth with no drugs or interventions) usually means far less pain overall than any interventionist alternatives. Sylvie Donna's work has the support of many professionals and several have contributed first-hand accounts, comments or testimonials.

BIRTH: Countdown to Optimal

Sylvie Donna

Fresh Heart Publishing

Are you pregnant, or hoping to have a baby soon? This book is a reassuring and thought-provoking 10-step guide for women who want to go through pregnancy and birth with as little intervention and disturbance as possible, with a midwife or obstetrician in attendance, for the sake of safety. Based on the idea that childbirth is a healthy process and not a sickness of any kind, this book will provide you with the information and inspiration you need in order to get your baby - or babies! - born healthily. (Actually, the book features several mothers of twins or triplets, who also had completely normal births, as well as mothers who were considered ‘high risk’ for other reasons, such as being over 30.) The 10-step program is presented in an easy-read format and includes information not usually easily-available to non-experts, as well as plenty of first-hand accounts or comments from women who’ve had entirely healthy births. (There are also a few cautionary tales from those who didn’t...) Contributions come from Michel Odent (pioneer of water births), Janet Balaskas (the woman who realized we're better off not lying down when we give birth!) and Bill Bryson (the travel writer)... as well as from many other experts and ‘ordinary’ but extraordinary mothers, who made this book possible. In short, this is a handbook which could make a real difference to your future and also that of your babies and wider family. There is a comprehensive Glossary and Index, which could be very useful to you if you're new to this business of having babies, or if you want to make your experience far better than it was last time. A comment from a prenatal teacher: “What every woman will want to know, put simply and clearly.” A comment from a midwife, perinatal researcher and adjunct professor (Betty-Anne Daviss): “Sylvie has created a prescription for healthy birth in a 10-step approach to keep parents focused on what is important in a potentially disastrous birth environment... She has... provided us with a book that encapsulates anything you wanted to know about keeping your birth normal and healthy...” And a comment from a mother: “Had a very late night Friday as I could not put your book down. Wow!”

Preparing for a Healthy Birth (American Edition) (Fresh Heart Books for Better Birth)

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Donna, Sylvie

Women's Health

An international collaboration of lecturers, practitioners and researchers. Each chapter considers a topic relevant to normalising maternity care. Topics include: routine interventions • epidurals • physiological third and fourth stages • longer labours and approaches to monitoring / intervention • most effective models of care • birth centres • home birth • mental health • doulas • reasons for intervention • links between research and practice • harmonising models of birth • caseload midwifery • including 'normality' on medical training courses • the symbolic value of birth • developments in China, the UAE, Brazil and other countries where dramatic changes are taking place (e.g. in sub-Saharan Africa) • the 'natural' caesarean • individual agents for change • intrapartum best practice • ways of supporting women labouring without pharmacological pain relief • water birth • VBAC • the role of regulatory bodies • ways of publicising your work • communication for best results • review of progress and pointers for future research. Questions and extracts provide stimulating reflection and seminar material. For midwives, obstetricians, GPs, doulas and other maternity caregivers. "I strongly recommend this book to midwives, obstetricians, doctors and hospital administrators. It carefully reviews the scientific data." Marsden Wagner-who was director of Women's and Children's Health at the World Health Organization for 15 years, before his retirement.  Questions and extracts provide stimulating reflection and seminar material. For midwives, obstetricians, GPs, doulas and other maternity caregivers.  "I strongly recommend this book to midwives, obstetricians, doctors  and hospital administrators. It carefully reviews the scientific data." Marsden Wagner-who was director of Women's and Children's Health at the World Health Organization for 15 years, before his retirement

Promoting Normal Birth: Research, Reflections & Guidelines (British Edition) (Fresh Heart Books for Better Birth)

Medical Books

Nursing

Preparing for a Healthy Birth (British Edition with Notes and References)

A book for pregnant women who are thinking about giving birth at home or in a birth centre. The book is beautifully illustrated throughout with photos taken by the professional photographer and doula, Patti Ramos. As research discloses the risks of intensively managed hospital births, increasing numbers of women and men are considering alternatives. This new, updated edition of Sheila Kitzinger's pioneering work is highly informative, yet sensitively written, and supported by comments from other women and professionals. A social anthropologist and mother of five, Sheila Kitzinger, the author, is also the author of 23 books, published in 20 languages. A long-time champion of freedom of choice in childbirth, she is uniquely placed to advise and support women who are making decisions about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and motherhood.

Birth Your Way: Choosing Birth at Home or in a Birth Centre (Fresh Heart Books for Better Birth)

KITZINGER, SHEILA

Parenting & Relationships

A book for pregnant women who would prefer to give birth with as little intervention as possible, so as to make things as good as possible for both themselves and their babies. The 'countdown' takes the reader through 10 key topics, and all discussion of issues is supplemented with birth stories and comments from all kinds of women and professionals too. The tone is practical, reassuring and even inspirational because the many positive birth stories show how it's possible to have a really happy, healthy experience of birth. Contributions come from Janet Balaskas (the woman who realised we're better off not lying down when we give birth!), Michel Odent (pioneer of water births) and Bill Bryson (the travel writer)... as well as from many other experts and 'ordinary' but extraordinary mothers, who made this book possible. The advice is based on current research evidence and in any cases where the evidence is controversial the research and relevant issues are discussed in an optional extra 'notes' section at the back of the book. There is a comprehensive Glossary of pregnancy terms and a user-friendly Index, so as to make it an optimally useful book in all sense of the word. In short, this is a handbook which could make a real difference to a pregnant woman's experience and also to that of her baby. A comment from an antenatal teacher: "What every woman will want to know, put simply and clearly." A comment from a midwife, perinatal researcher and adjunct professor (Betty-Anne Daviss): "Sylvie has created a prescription for healthy birth in a 10-step approach to keep parents focused on what is important in a potentially disastrous birth environment... She has... provided us with a book that encapsulates anything you wanted to know about keeping your birth normal and healthy..." And a comment from a mother: "Had a very late night Friday as I could not put your book down. Wow!"

Birth: Countdown to Optimal - Inspiration and Information for Pregnant Women

Biographies & Memoirs

Professionals & Academics

This book is for any woman considering a vaginal birth after one or more previous cesareans. What are the risks? What are the advantages? What is the best choice in your particular case? The author, Hélène Vadeboncoeur, takes you through the research and also gives you a glimpse into other women's experiences through the use of first-hand accounts. It was, in fact, the author's experience of two very different births (one a cesarean, the next a VBAC) that inspired her to get a PhD. In her thesis she explored how women experience giving birth in hospital. Hélène wanted to consider questions about birth because this is such an important event in women's lives. For over 10 years since then, she has divided her time between teaching and participating in research projects. (She is currently on the Board of the International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization.) She also regularly gives talks at conferences around the world. This means that you not only get the benefit of advice from a woman who's been through both a cesarean and a VBAC, you also get taken through the most up-to-date research. Serious information is presented in an upbeat, readable style. Comment from an obstetrician: "As a professional who is concerned about the risk in the cesarean rate I would like to suggest that all women who have anything to do with cesareans read this book. The author has collected research data and precious accounts, which will help women make an informed choice as to how to give birth to their babies." Feedback from a midwife: "Hélène Vadeboncoeur offers women an important tool to support them if they choose to give birth vaginally after a previous cesarean." Comment from a VBAC mom: "This book can help you heal the inner scars that every cesarean leaves behind. It'll also help you prepare and inform yourself to make a different journey with your next birth."

Birthing Normally After a Cesarean or Two (American Edition) (Fresh Heart Books for Better Birth)

Vadeboncoeur, H. L. Ne

Vadeboncoeur, Helene

This book is for any woman considering a vaginal birth after one or more previous caesareans. What are the risks? What are the advantages? What is the best choice in your particular case? The author, Hélène Vadeboncoeur, takes you through the research and also gives you a glimpse into other women's experiences through the use of first-hand accounts. It was, in fact, the author's experience of two very different births (one a caesarean, the next a VBAC) that inspired her to get a PhD. In her thesis she explored how women experience giving birth in hospital. Hélène wanted to consider questions about birth because this is such an important event in women's lives. For over 10 years since then, she has divided her time between teaching and participating in research projects. (She is currently on the Board of the International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization.) She also regularly gives talks at conferences around the world. This means that you not only get the benefit of advice from a woman who's been through both a caesarean and a VBAC, you also get taken through the most up-to-date research (now updated for the 2nd edition). Serious information is presented in an upbeat, readable style. Comment from a consultant: "As a professional who is concerned about the risk in the caesarean rate I would like to suggest that all women who have anything to do with caesareans read this book. The author has collected research data and precious accounts, which will help women make an informed choice as to how to give birth to their babies." Feedback from a midwife: "Hélène Vadeboncoeur offers women an important tool to support them if they choose to give birth vaginally after a previous caesarean." Comment from a reader of the original, French edition: "This book is a response to questions. It will serve to demystify fears and inspire confidence."

Birthing Normally After a Caesarean or Two (2nd British Edition) (Fresh Heart Books for Better Birth)

An international collaboration of lecturers, practitioners and researchers. Each chapter considers a topic relevant to normalizing maternity care. Topics include: routine interventions • epidurals • physiological third and fourth stages • longer labors and approaches to monitoring / intervention • most effective models of care • birth centers • home birth • mental health • doulas • reasons for intervention • links between research and practice • harmonizing models of birth • caseload midwifery • including 'normality' on medical training courses • the symbolic value of birth • developments in China, the UAE, Brazil and other countries where dramatic changes are taking place (e.g. in sub-Saharan Africa) • the 'natural' cesarean • individual agents for change • intrapartum best practice • ways of supporting women laboring without pharmacological pain relief • water birth • VBAC • the role of regulatory bodies • ways of publicizing your work • communication for best results • review of progress and pointers for future research. Questions and extracts provide stimulating reflection and seminar material. For midwives, obstetricians, family doctors, doulas and other maternity caregivers. "I strongly recommend this book to midwives, obstetricians, doctors and hospital administrators. It carefully reviews the scientific data." Marsden Wagner-who was director of Women's and Children's Health at the World Health Organization for 15 years, before his retirement.

Promoting Normal Birth: Research, Reflections & Guidelines (American Edition) (Fresh Heart Books for Better Birth)

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