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11th out of 59 books
—
39 voters
Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering: The Wisdom and Science of Gentle Choices in Pregnancy, Birth, and Parenting
An authoritative guide to natural childbirth and postpartum parenting options from an MD who home-birthed her own four children.
Sarah Buckley might be called a third-wave natural birth advocate. A doctor and a mother, she approaches the question of how a woman and baby might have the most fulfilling birth experience with respect for the wisdom of both medical science and t...more
Sarah Buckley might be called a third-wave natural birth advocate. A doctor and a mother, she approaches the question of how a woman and baby might have the most fulfilling birth experience with respect for the wisdom of both medical science and t...more
Paperback, 0 pages
Published
January 28th 2005
by One Moon Press
(first published 2005)
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Parts of this book I loved, and other parts I did not like or connect with. What I loved about this book is that the grand majority of it presents the research surrounding childbirth and many of the common interventions used in childbirth. I really appreciated the way the author did so, as many of the other books I read would say something as truth when perhaps there was research on it, but there was no citing of or attachment to that research. This drove me absolutely nuts, as I then didn't und...more
Good book for doulas and mothers, with a broad overview of risks and benefits of things we take for granted in our childbirthing culture. I was already a natural birth advocate before reading this, and feel scientifically reinforced now. Attachment parenting seems pretty straight forward, although I learned about ways in which my sister and i were reared during infants which were misguided, such as letting us 'cry it out." apparently the reason babies stop crying is because they become so stress...more
Love this book! She discusses a lot of the medical options surrounding birth, from prenatal tests to labor medications to peri/postnatal care. The best thing is that she cites a lot of good research. It's very hard to tell sometimes whether the things people are telling you about birth choices are true or not -- there is so much emotion involved. It's nice to be able to see where she is getting her conclusions from! Because of that, this is one of the most helpful books I've read on pregnancy &...more
Before anyone asks, let me clarify -- no, I'm not pregnant, but I am fascinated by the topic (for one day), especially after reading "Birth." I picked up this book as an alternative to the medicalized history recounted in Birth. I wanted to read and enjoy a contemporary accounting of natural childbirth. This was not the right book for that purpose. I really wanted to like this book, but after reading the first fifty pages and scanning the rest, I found it to be surprisingly ahistorical and negat...more
Dec 02, 2012
Jennifer
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
pregnancy-parenting
I've read better books. The author presents as being research based, and yes she references many articles, but the book was very biased. I prefer it when authors present both sides or at least go through benefits, risks etc. it's to easy to form an opinion and find research to support that and that seems to be what the author has done. Even if most of what she author recommends is what I hope will be my birth exeriece, the approach she takes is to hokey new wave for me. This book presents the ki...more
This was hard to rate. I might have given it two stars, but it did have really good information. The writing was strange--at some points, the author takes us on a New-Age journey, and at others she sounds just like physician she is, giving us risks of epidurals, ultrasounds, etc.
I must admit that I didn't read the second half of the book--the part on gentle mothering. I feel pretty satisfied with my own method of caring for babies...and it does not include breastfeeding until my children are sev...more
I must admit that I didn't read the second half of the book--the part on gentle mothering. I feel pretty satisfied with my own method of caring for babies...and it does not include breastfeeding until my children are sev...more
Wow. I keep coming across some crazy books on this whole labor and delivery thing. This one actually "strongly recommends against" getting any ultrasounds. An epidural is okay, but ultrasound, heaven forbid. The only reason I gave it 2 stars instead of one is because there was some good information on things like gestational diabetes and post term inductions. Otherwise, weird. She says that giving birth and having sex are pretty much the same thing, since they involve a lot of the same hormones....more
Mar 16, 2008
Beatrix
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
women who are pregnant or trying to conceive
This was one of my two favourite pregnancy and birth books, read in the lead-up to the beautiful natural birth of my son last year. Buckley's professional experience as a general practitioner and personal experience as a homebirthing/freebirthing mother of four combine to make this book unique. This book is packed full of information about "routine" interventions which should help any mother-to-be to make truly informed decisions about pregnancy and birth care, whichever careprovider she chooses...more
I had a hard time relating to this author, who seemed to encourage risky and unsafe birthing behavior by sharing her own home birth stories, at least one with no one besides her family present. Her assertation that her children remembered their births also made me suspicious. She does include some good information about the risks of inducement, ceasareans and other interventions. But, all-in-all, I found her a little over-the-top and too New-Agey to be for-real.
May 14, 2010
Alison
added it
I have read this book before but read it again now for a school assignment. I love the way she blends research and statistics with personal anecdotes. Her birth stories are an amazing addition to an already fabulous book. This book is great for giving reasons for and against and alternatives to things like ultrasound and birthing choices and also parenting choices like cosleeping and breastfeeding. I will read it again and again I'm sure.
From amniocentesis to ultrasound and from epidurals to cord banking there is a lot of information in this book about the risks or advantages of various medical interventions in pregnancy, labor or delivery. It gets three stars because I really didn't like Buckley's writing style. She's redundant and a bit preachy. Still if you're curious what the possible risks are for medical interventions this is a good book to read.
One of the best pregnancy / birth / parenting books I've read in awhile. Got it out from the library on recommendation from someone else with a naturally-minded parenting philosophy, but was impressed at how well researched and scientifically backed up all the chapters were, including the controversial ones. To some extent, the book was preaching to the choir (at least with me) but I enjoyed it all the same.
This is overdue at the library and I'm only halfway through. I'm not engrossed enough to renew it and keep reading.
The opening is pretty interesting - very New Age granola-ish birth and pregnancy stories. Then Buckley dives into various medical interventions at birth, which is good - it's nice to get a doctor's perspective that is both expert and pro-natural birth - but not very compelling. If I had more time with the book, I'd probably be willing to pick through it some more ... it cites many u...more
The opening is pretty interesting - very New Age granola-ish birth and pregnancy stories. Then Buckley dives into various medical interventions at birth, which is good - it's nice to get a doctor's perspective that is both expert and pro-natural birth - but not very compelling. If I had more time with the book, I'd probably be willing to pick through it some more ... it cites many u...more
I found it hard to rate this book as it covers some really interesting topics and is well referenced but it is also quite biased and skewed towards natural birth methods. I would suggest reading it before 8 months. After that it can make you feel guilty about your choices and frustrated at a book that seems so scientific but ignores research which doesn't fit with the authors beliefs.
I liked the second part of the book better (Gentle Mothering). The first part was about Gentle Birth, and a lot of it is repetitive of other stuff I've already read (I guess that's when you know you have overdone the birthing books). I agree with some of her philosophies, but others are a little too much for me. I don't intend to have a lotus birth, even though I do want to delay cord clamping, and I do intend to breast feed, but probably only for a year, not seven (or even four). I am still som...more
This book is a really interesting combination of a complete hippie book (the author asks her children why they were or were not so anxious to com eout of the womb), and a really interesting review of scientific study of much of the standard birthing procedures. It might be a little dense, but it certainly leaves you feeling informed.
Easily one of the best birthing and parenting books I've read because it includes the essentials with all the research. It is a bit wordy and technical which makes it a long read. I can see how it can intimidate some new mothers. It is a great mix between the research of The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth and the imagery/intuition of Birthing From Within that adds the element of Attachment Parenting which is needed in a birth book. I loved it!
Oct 10, 2011
Jo
added it
Clearly she is passionate about her beliefs. So passionate she does get repetitive, though dome of this must be due to the book being a collection of articles.
I enjoyed learning a lot and would recommend this book to any parent to be who was interested in going a very natural (almost 'tribal') path.
I enjoyed learning a lot and would recommend this book to any parent to be who was interested in going a very natural (almost 'tribal') path.
This book's content was completely unexpected. Rather than a list of suggestions for how to ease your baby into the world, this was a textbook-style review of scientific studies regarding various decisions parents can make during labor and postnatal periods. It was interesting reading, for what it was, but I certainly didn't find it to be a "guide" to anything.
This pregnancy's reread - I definitely skimmed more this time, having already made many of the decisions that she provides great information about. But still helpful - particularly in reminding me about the incredible way that a woman's body is created in order to birth a baby (particularly the exquisitely timed hormonal cascade that culminates in delivery).
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This book was instrumental in the choices that Nik and I made regarding my pregnancy and how and where Eliana was born. I wou...more
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This book was instrumental in the choices that Nik and I made regarding my pregnancy and how and where Eliana was born. I wou...more
Some very interesting statistics, although this is no balanced view. If you agree with the author to start with, then you'll love the many, many non-U.S. based studies cited.
But, if you don't already agree with her, I don't find this a compelling argument.
But, if you don't already agree with her, I don't find this a compelling argument.
I read this before and after having Rhett and it was so good. Disclaimer, it's totally hippie, but that said, it had some really really good ideas, not all, but a lot of good stuff and informative. I'd strongly suggest reading it if you're having a baby.
Very in-depth look at natural birth. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and wish the author could be at the birth of our baby girl! If you'd like to know all the ins and outs of labour & delivery, the way it was supposed to be, i.e. no interventions, then this book will provide that for you. She also explains all the hormones that are released and when, which provide natural pain killers/highs to get you through each stage.
It was very interesting!
It was very interesting!
Because the author is a doctor, it is often a very scientific blend with her earthy, natural viewpoint. I learned a lot of things that helped me make important decisions on our baby's birth day! I recommend it to all pregnant women!
One chapter talks about the controversial 'lotus-birth' - final chapters go into respectful parenting. A good collection of Sarah's essays and articles for other publications, not a super-smooth cover to cover read.
Feb 07, 2010
Alissa
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
motherhood,
nonfiction
I skimmed through this in my quest to learn more about natural childbirth. I found parts of it to be interesting, but some of it was more medical than I would've liked. I didn't really learn anything new.
A great book for educators, mothers, and midwives to understand the simple concepts of how womens bodies best birth, recover and mother. I use her key messages in every antenatal class I teach.
This is a collection of essays, and best as a supplemental book to other birth/baby books, as it does not cover enough topics to give a complete educational preparation. It was good for me as a childbirth teacher to get all the references to the research; the subjects were very well researched.
Oct 06, 2012
Jen
marked it as to-read
I have read the first chapter or so and skimmed the rest. This seems like a good resource which admits it's bias. It is written by a doctor nad has a foreword by Ina May Gaskin.
After receiving some very strong recommendations to read this, I was a bit disappointed with the first two essays. However, her review of the research on ultrasound scans, undisturbed birth, epidurals, and attachment was rivetting! Definitely worth reading to learn more about not only the risks of interventions, but also the beautiful natural design behind the process of birth.
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Sarah J Buckley is a trained GP/family physician, an internationally-acclaimed writer on gentle choices in pregnancy, birth, and parenting, and mother to Emma, Zoe, Jacob and Maia, all born gently at home, 1990 to 2000.
Sarah's writing critiques current practices in pregnancy, birth, and parenting from a scientific as well as a personal viewpoint. She encourages us to be fully informed in our decis...more
More about Sarah J. Buckley...
Sarah's writing critiques current practices in pregnancy, birth, and parenting from a scientific as well as a personal viewpoint. She encourages us to be fully informed in our decis...more
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Jun 29, 2010 06:24am