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8th out of 74 books
—
66 voters
The Birth Partner
by
Penny Simkin
Fully updated and revised, this guide covers the time from the last few weeksof pregnancy through the early postpartum period. Includes new information onwater birth, labor aids, and epidural anesthesia. 35 illustrations.
Paperback, 2nd edition, 337 pages
Published
May 14th 2001
by Harvard Common Press
(first published 1989)
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This is the book I would recommend to all moms and their partners when preparing for labour and birth. This book offered the best concrete suggestions for the birth process is and is full of excellent exercises, tips and techniques for mentally, as well as physically, preparing for labour.
This book is very accessible. It avoids medical jargon, or explains terms thoroughly when they are introduced. It is perfect for introducing both mothers and their birth partners to the labouring and birthing e...more
This book is very accessible. It avoids medical jargon, or explains terms thoroughly when they are introduced. It is perfect for introducing both mothers and their birth partners to the labouring and birthing e...more
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 feelings, emot...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 feelings, emot...more
THE best labour and childbirth book I've read to date. While this one is very much for the support person, not the labouring mother, I think mothers, father, doulas, grandmothers-planning-on-being-at-the birth, and labour and delivery nurses would all benefit from reading.
I particularly appreciated the very balanced perspective Simpkin takes on "natural" birth versus medicated birth versus planned induction or c-section. I think she comes as close as anyone could to presenting an unbiased perspe...more
I particularly appreciated the very balanced perspective Simpkin takes on "natural" birth versus medicated birth versus planned induction or c-section. I think she comes as close as anyone could to presenting an unbiased perspe...more
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...more
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 critical is when she points...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 critical is when she points...more
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 there be an entire section (if not a ch...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 there be an entire section (if not a ch...more
view all 4 comments
Jul 28, 2011
Margaretann
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone planning on having a baby
Recommended to Margaretann by:
Anna
Shelves:
baby-and-parenting
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 great reference...more
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.
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.
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 hospi...more
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 think it will be...more
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 and...more
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 can be doing,...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 can be doing,...more
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 birth-book re...more
This book did a good job of providing preparation for the actual labor and birth of our little girl. Unlike most books directed at dads-to-be, this book did not avoid any of the nasty details or possible complications that one would rather not think of. While the author did have very biased views about certain methods and procedures, she did a good job of explaining the pros and cons of all choices in all situations. This book raised a lot of questions that my wife and I will be able to bring up...more
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 sure we will r...more
An absolute MUST-HAVE for any woman pre-labour. I read this book cover to cover, as opposed to the other pregnancy books I owned. I wanted to know EVERYTHING about birth before it happened. This book has all of the information you could possibly want before giving birth. Read it, have your partner read it, and anyone else who will be labouring with you. Super informative. I didn't get the birth I wanted, even slightly, so I'm so thankful that I read the chapter(s) on C sections as well, so at le...more
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 labor and delivery through...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 labor and delivery through...more
Aug 04, 2011
Rachael
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
pregnancy,
non-fiction
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...more
Nov 27, 2011
Shirari Industries
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
EVERYONE
Recommended to Shirari by:
Kate Finn
Shelves:
gender,
kids-and-families
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...more
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 hunt and pi...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 hunt and pi...more
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...more
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 may feel, how...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 may feel, how...more
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 it.
My dear former student, now friend (and long-distance doula) Cory Unruh-Hardy sent me this book to help me prepare for the impending birth of our granddaughter. I will be coaching in the room . . . even if it turns out to be a "Cesar," as she calls it (which it might, since we found out this week the baby is breech again). This book is invaluable for excellent advice about pregnancy, labor, birth, and breast feeding. I highly recommend it for anyone who needs to help support a new mother or fath...more
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.
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.
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!
Apr 30, 2013
Miss Theriault
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
baby-parenting
I bought this for Jamie when we first found out we were having a baby and we have both been working our way through it. A lot of it is repetitive information found elsewhere, but the language and the format are simple and make this a pretty quick read. We both agreed that the labor positions and advantages section was was the best part of the book - easily photocopied to take to the hospital or birth center for reference, too!
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
Even though the intended audience is the birth partner, I found that reading this as a mom-to-be was very helpful in understanding the labor process, my potential emotional responses, and how I can expect my husband to react. I'm not passing on the book to him, and I'm hopeful he'll find it as helpful as I have!
Also, I think the author did an excellent job of portraying all sides of an issue without making me feel like I will be a horrible mom if I do/don't do something mentioned in the book....more
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“Try not to take it personally if the mother criticizes you or tells you to stop doing something that you expected to be helpful. Just say, “Sorry,” and stop doing it. Don’t try to explain why you did it or express frustration with her. She is really saying that labor is so difficult right now that nothing helps. You are the safest person for her to lash out at. Later, she will probably apologize.”
—
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