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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
informative
slow-paced
I appreciated the birthing stories section even though most of them come from such a specific context and from a specific demographic from a specific time period (thin, white, cis hippy women in the 1970s). I particularly enjoyed hearing about how important the father is during birth and the importance of affection between the parents during labour.
The second half (final third?) of the book is specific medical advice for midwives. I'm not a midwife, and if I was I don't think this would be my first go-to source, but I still read through all of it and learned quite a bit.
The second half (final third?) of the book is specific medical advice for midwives. I'm not a midwife, and if I was I don't think this would be my first go-to source, but I still read through all of it and learned quite a bit.
I didn't really read the whole thing, but I don't think I'll get back to it any time soon. I think this is a great read for aspiring midwives or aspiring moms. The first half is filled with birth stories and Ina May's history as a midwife and the second half is about how to midwife (spiritually). :) I wish I had time to read the rest but I just don't! Plus it's too heavy for the T... So I'm marking it as read for now but I'm not counting it toward my 50.
This book is divided up into thirds: birth stories, information for the parent, information for the midwife. This makes this book is fucking cool no matter who you are--someone interested in a very interesting cultural moment, an expectant parent, or someone (like me) who wants to take babies out of ladies for a living.
The other incredible thing about this book is that it really lays out to you, technical manual style, everything you would need to know to pinch-hit for a midwife, if not get started in midwifery yourself. Popular books these days don't really trust the public like that anymore (Ina May says "consult your friendly doctor" quite sparingly) and it's refreshing and exciting.
The other incredible thing about this book is that it really lays out to you, technical manual style, everything you would need to know to pinch-hit for a midwife, if not get started in midwifery yourself. Popular books these days don't really trust the public like that anymore (Ina May says "consult your friendly doctor" quite sparingly) and it's refreshing and exciting.
I loved this. Even if you don't come away with any concrete advice, just the mere understanding of how much mindset and mindfulness of the process and act of giving birth will do wonders. And it translates to so many areas of ones life. It was fun to read about this community of women.
Such an awesome bunch of hippies and a great collection of 'psychedelic' and 'telepathic' birth stories! If these don't inspire you to the possibility of an amazing birth, I'm not sure what will!
A great book for people who are wanting information about home birth (and childbirth in general) as well as people who want to read really wonderful birthing stories. Rather than presenting horror stories like so many sources tend to do when it comes to childbirth, Spiritual Midwifery looks at childbirth in a refreshingly positive way. The stories are honest and open, and there is such a great range in stories.
This is the book that took away my fear of birth - a fear engendered by our male-centric society that emphasizes the pain of childbirth and ignores the glory of bringing your child into the world the way nature intended.
this classic is a must-read for pregnant women- especially those who, like me and most pregnant women, hear lots of birth horror stories and find themselves in need of positive accounts. ina may gaskin in known throughout the world for her impressive midwifery skills and for her superb outcomes over the years in helping women give birth on her commmune in tennessee.