The Alexander Technique Birth Book

by Ilana Machover

The authors show how women can prepare for pregnancy and childbirth by using the Alexander Technique. By achieving an overall improvement in balance and movement, a mother's experience of childbirth can be transformed, with numerous benefits to her own health and her baby's development. As well as explaining how many of the health problems associated with pregnancy can be traced back to faulty posture, the authors show how the technique can be used to achieve a more natural birth, reducing the need for medical attention. This text is fully illustrated, with practical easy-to-follow photographs, and its publication aims to meet the great demand for information about natural childbirth techniques.

204 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1993

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, there is lovely advice in this book for approaching birth with acute bodily awareness (specifically the Alexander Technique). But if you have never had an Alexander lesson, or don't plan to, you'd get only minimal benefit from it. I would be happier if I were reading this and still having regular AT lessons--comments like "Your teacher will show you how to..." abound. It does serve as a solid refresher, though, for one who has a couple years of lessons in her past. Also, amusement bonus: *ridiculous* outfits on the pregnant models--basically unitards with blouses underneath? It's inexplicable.

[Laura Stiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great overview of the Alexander Technique (simple movesments to ease physical strain). A little slow starting, but half-way through it was a GREAT description of childbirth along with cooping techniques.