Definitive guide for preparing to help a woman through childbirth, and the essential manual to have at hand during the event.
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Sep 29, 2011
Matt
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With SPOT on the way soon, I wanted to get some reading done so that I would know: a) what to expect, b) how to help, and c) what could happen. After finishing Simkin's book, I feel much better prepared for the numerous eventualities that could occur, and understand many of the nuances with pregnancy and labour.
Simkin explains things, both as an educator and a doula, in such a way that the father can undestand. Since I am not the one who is pregnant, it is easy to miss some of the fe More...
Simkin explains things, both as an educator and a doula, in such a way that the father can undestand. Since I am not the one who is pregnant, it is easy to miss some of the fe More...
Jan 01, 2012
Andrea
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This has definitely been added to my list of 'birth related books' recommendations. Although some parts can be a bit dry and medical jargon-y, I found irreplaceable information in it. Having a step by step guide to how labor usually proceeds really put me at ease. I am planning on having a natural birth in a birthing center, so a lot of the information on hospital procedures didn't apply; however, I feel comfort in knowing that if something were to go wrong and I needed to be transferred to a ho
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Feb 17, 2010
Eric
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This is my sixth childbirth that I am preparing to attend, so I guess I could say I am somewhat of an expert at being a birth partner!
If you are looking forward to a child birth and are wondering how to support the mother during the process, this is the book to get! It quickly tell you pretty much everything you need to know.
I especially liked this book because Penny Simkin covers the wide range of birth choices without coming off as judgemental. The only time she is c More...
If you are looking forward to a child birth and are wondering how to support the mother during the process, this is the book to get! It quickly tell you pretty much everything you need to know.
I especially liked this book because Penny Simkin covers the wide range of birth choices without coming off as judgemental. The only time she is c More...
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Aug 29, 2009
Zen
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Incomplete. This book begins with labor and ends with starting breastfeeding.
There is nothing in here about how to be supportive during the pregnancy. Imagine the book was called "The Marriage Partner" - would you think it was good if it only covered the sexual aspects of marriage and missed the practical parts?
Also, no section addresses what to do if the labor is to occur at home. another strange omission - if labor covered for 380 pages, then shouldn't More...
There is nothing in here about how to be supportive during the pregnancy. Imagine the book was called "The Marriage Partner" - would you think it was good if it only covered the sexual aspects of marriage and missed the practical parts?
Also, no section addresses what to do if the labor is to occur at home. another strange omission - if labor covered for 380 pages, then shouldn't More...
Jul 28, 2011
Margaretann
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Unlike most of the other baby books that I've bought or received that provide the week-to-week/month-to-month "this is what to expect from your body and how your baby is growing" information, this book particularly focuses on preparing for labor, the stages of labor and childbirth in great detail. Although written for the birth partner (i.e. the mother's spouse, significant other, doula, or trusted friend who will be assisting and advocating for her during childbirth) it's also a grea
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Aug 06, 2011
Oren
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This book has brought surprising awareness to the way births proceed. I've been constantly embarrassed, as the birth of my boy approaches, to realize my own understanding of birth has been largely shaped by movies and TV. That understanding has been drastically limited and aimed at only the last few minutes, out of hours/days, of the birth process.
If you really want to begin understanding how people come into this world after they've developed in the womb, read this book. Maybe yo More...
If you really want to begin understanding how people come into this world after they've developed in the womb, read this book. Maybe yo More...
Mar 17, 2011
Ashley
rated it:
This is a GREAT book.
I was my sister in laws birth partner when she chose to do it COMPLETELY natural.
We read Birthing From Within Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparationand The Birth Partner for some good Prep.
She did Great and I felt good about being there for her.
I HIGHLY Recommend this to anyone who is giving birth, or has a spouse/lifetime partner giving birth.
Amazing. More...
I was my sister in laws birth partner when she chose to do it COMPLETELY natural.
We read Birthing From Within Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparationand The Birth Partner for some good Prep.
She did Great and I felt good about being there for her.
I HIGHLY Recommend this to anyone who is giving birth, or has a spouse/lifetime partner giving birth.
Amazing. More...
Jul 04, 2011
Virginia
rated it:
Best book for a husband EVER! I had a home birth and was relying heavily on my husband to support me through my labor. My midwives were amazing but didn't show up until I was almost ready to start pushing. If it weren't for my husband knowing what to do to help me through the pain I probably would have given up. He walked behind me, let me drape across him when I needed to, rubbed my back, and just followed me around giving me encouragement. This book is so helpful even if you are having a
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Mar 16, 2011
Amy
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I borrowed this book from my midwives and finished it (well, all the relevant parts to me) tonight. It's a great book for gaining information on birth, even as the one who will be in labor. I was able to read it and identify with the parts concerning "what the mother will feel." With the book's help, I was able to really put a finger on what I felt so poorly about in my first birth experience. I'm hoping to encourage my husband to read the most key parts of the book b/c I really thi
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Jan 19, 2009
Julia
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I read this book in preparation for the birth of my second child; it was recommended by my midwife. The intended audience is a birth partner (pretty obvious from the title, eh?) but it is a great book for a mother-to-be as well. I thought it was much better preparation for childbirth than the chapters in many of the popular pregnancy manuals. I especially appreciated the detailed, extensive info on comfort and coping techniques. I read it first and then had my husband read specific chapters
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Feb 16, 2010
giles
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This is a good book to hold onto and open when you have a spare moment. I never read it thru all the way, but would randomly flip around to something that felt important at the time. I feel like i've probably read every page in this book at least 2 or 3 times each.
it lays the whole labor process out in a pretty straight-forward way, which i appreciate. i especially like that it tells you what a mother might feel during certain phases of labor, what a doula might be doing, what a SO c More...
it lays the whole labor process out in a pretty straight-forward way, which i appreciate. i especially like that it tells you what a mother might feel during certain phases of labor, what a doula might be doing, what a SO c More...
Jan 17, 2009
Gina
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I really enjoyed this book from the perspective of a birth attendant, but think it would be useful for the mother. Expectant women often have a hard time getting their partners to read "their" books, and I like the fact that this is directed toward the partners and support people. It is equally useful for Dad, Grandma, Doula, Partner, or Friend. The book is really an overview of birth as much as it is a book about supporting the laboring woman, so that helps educate those reluctant bir
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Jan 28, 2011
David
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I would say this was a "helpful" book, but since my wife has not given birth yet, how would I know if it was helpful? At the very least, it seemed helpful and I feel like I know more than I did and am better prepared to help my wife give birth. The first few chapters were a bit irritating as I was not sure if I was reading a book or an advertisement for doulas. That aside, I found the book quite educational and very thorough. At the very least, it is a good reference book and I am
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Oct 11, 2009
Andrea
rated it:
Preparing for my doula training...
Fantastic! Incredibly detailed information on labor and delivery ~ vital for any birth partner or birthing assistant! Covers everything from pre-labor preparation to positions, relaxation and support techniques, medications, potential complications, and so much more. An excellent resource for ANYONE who plans to be present at a birth!
Note (re: a couple of the reviews below): this is NOT a pregnancy book! This book is specifically about la More...
Fantastic! Incredibly detailed information on labor and delivery ~ vital for any birth partner or birthing assistant! Covers everything from pre-labor preparation to positions, relaxation and support techniques, medications, potential complications, and so much more. An excellent resource for ANYONE who plans to be present at a birth!
Note (re: a couple of the reviews below): this is NOT a pregnancy book! This book is specifically about la More...
Aug 04, 2011
Rachael
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Very informative. I can see why some people would want to buy a copy to have as a reference while preparing and for the birthing itself. There was a ton of information that was laid out in a clean format. Easy to understand language and quite a few illustrations/drawings. It covers so many areas and seems to have a variety of women that the book is written for. There were many ideas I took from this book that I hope to discuss with my husband, doctor, and whomever might be joining us on this lit
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Nov 27, 2011
Shirari
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This book is an extremely detailed guide for anyone who wants to be able to help a woman in labor, which seems like a useful skill, given that half of us humans can and do bear children! It's very empowering to learn how a woman can bring a baby into the world, given the right kind of support. To gain this knowledge is to feel more in tune with other human beings and our origins and capabilities, and to feel less powerless in the face of what seems like suffering (it does involve pain) but is in
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Apr 20, 2011
DellaDea
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When the time comes for me, I want my husband there by my side. Neither of us have ever had experience with childbirth, directly or indirectly, and I was interested in a book that would explain birthing options and possible interventions with minimal bias from the perspective of someone assisting a birth. I saw the previous edition of this book at the local library and decided to check it out.
We were very pleased with the language in this book, easy to understand but not dumbed-down. More...
We were very pleased with the language in this book, easy to understand but not dumbed-down. More...
Sep 16, 2011
Tim
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Okay, so I didn't completely read this book cover-to-cover. I probably read about 75% of it, but I finished all of the parts that seemed relevant (at least for THIS pregnancy) and I'll be keeping this around as a reference if/when a second pregnancy rolls around.
This is a great resource for any birth partner who really wants to be involved and supportive - or even just wants to understand what's going on. Some parts were repetitive and slow, but some repetition is good in case people More...
This is a great resource for any birth partner who really wants to be involved and supportive - or even just wants to understand what's going on. Some parts were repetitive and slow, but some repetition is good in case people More...
Feb 22, 2011
Melissa
rated it:
This book is amazing, amazing, AMAZING! I can't recommend it enough. It's the most practical, useful book i may have ever read in my life. The entire thing is pure advice, tips, and insight to what you will experience, generally speaking (the most common ways women progress through labor, etc). The book is written for the birth partner (aka, dad [although she does a very subtle, PC job of saying at the beginning, this could mean lover, gay partner, boyfriend, parent, etc]), but is clearly for th
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Oct 31, 2007
Mia
rated it:
I read this book as a part of my doula training, and have given a copy to every pregnant woman I have known since.
This book was invaluable to me in understanding the actual process of giving birth. So many pregnancy books concentrate on what not to do or lift or eat, what to ask at doctor appointments, what to eat, drink, think, how to sleep, etc. and never actually tell you what the end of the road will be like. This book breaks down the phases of labor - what will happen, how mom m More...
This book was invaluable to me in understanding the actual process of giving birth. So many pregnancy books concentrate on what not to do or lift or eat, what to ask at doctor appointments, what to eat, drink, think, how to sleep, etc. and never actually tell you what the end of the road will be like. This book breaks down the phases of labor - what will happen, how mom m More...
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Mar 25, 2011
Sarah
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I read this in preparation to assist in my sister's labor- and since I saw it next to Amanda's "to-read" pile, and since I know several women who are excepecting this year, I thought I'd throw out a recommendation. It is geared toward husbands and "labor companions" like myself. It focuses a lot on natural childbirth but is useful no matter what. It goes into the complications that can occur, types of massages you can give, etc. and I felt a lot more confident having read
Feb 02, 2011
amy
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This book was recommended to me by my midwife, and has been one of the better pregnancy/birth books I've encountered. Though intended to guide and inform your husband/birthing coach, I found it incredibly helpful myself as I consider and prepare for the process of giving birth. Informative about all the options without being judgmental, the book is full of practical advice for preparing for and making it through labor, delivery, and even breastfeeding.
Aug 26, 2009
Sarah
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This is an excellent resource for fathers/birth partners, but should also be read by pregnant or planning-to-be-pregnant women. It is encouraging and very informative, without feeling like the author had a specific agenda (like-yes, you must have natural childbirth) other than to help women and their birth partners through the process of having a baby. Basically it was the DONA training in book form. I would recommend it as a top birthing book.
May 17, 2009
Evelyn
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Once I was pregnant I sought out all sorts of resources to learn more about what I should expect with labor and what I should know so that I could be an informed and hopefully wise birther. I read lots of outdated and opinionated books that were actually pretty useless. I found this book two or three weeks before my due date and devoured it. Helpful to dads but incredibly good for moms too. It was, by far, the best resource I laid my hands on!
Nov 09, 2009
Robin
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This is on the required doula training list, so I hoped it would be deeper than it is. The birth and labor part are written for people that haven't ever had a child, I've just read so many books that it's dissapointing. I'm working on the medical section (the last one in the book) maybe it will be better. And for the record, I'm not planning on being a doula, just day dreaming about being a midwife.
Read medical section- seriously lacking- to bad
Read medical section- seriously lacking- to bad
Jan 08, 2012
Rick
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This book, which came highly recommended by a couple we know who had a baby about four months ago, was scarier for me that any horror story I've read in years. While the book contains loads of useful information, it also contains descriptions of everything that could possibly go wrong in a pregnancy save a meteor striking the delivery room. Nonetheless, we'll probably take the book in with us to have as a reference guide.
Jul 13, 2009
Gwenthehare
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This book was actually selected by Jerry as his choice for learning to be a good birth coach. As it turns out, it is also required reading for my Doula certification.
It is so far, very informative and calming.
Exactly what is needed by those who will be reading it.
What I love the most?? All the tips and tricks given in the book for good birthing positions, comfort measures and calming techniques for getting mama through.
It is so far, very informative and calming.
Exactly what is needed by those who will be reading it.
What I love the most?? All the tips and tricks given in the book for good birthing positions, comfort measures and calming techniques for getting mama through.
Oct 18, 2009
Joseph
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I can't say strongly enough how indispensable this book is to both partners and mothers. After and with Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth, for me this is the book to read if you're going to be involved in a birth. It has played about the same role for me that the Boy Scout Handbook did when I started camping. Life is easier if you know the taut line hitch; same with the techniques and info in this book.
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May 04, 2009
Sharon
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This is an excellent book for an expectant mother, not just for a birth partner. I had no use for the cheerleading that most books give about what a beautiful experience it is and how it's all worth it, but I did want an outline of what I'd go through emotionally as well as physically, and how to cope. SO much good information here. If I could only recommend one childbirth book, this would be the one.
Sep 28, 2010
Christine
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I am expecting my third child and was recommended this book by a friend. I felt like it was one of the best most straightforward books I've read regarding labour and delivery. I liked how the author explained many different coping strategies for labour. I've had two babies and had never thought of or heard of some of the positions mentioned in this book. I'm looking forward to trying some new things this time around. It would be an excellent read for a supportive birth partner but I think i
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