Mothering Magazine's Having a Baby, Naturally: The Mothering Magazine Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth

by Jackie Facciolo (Illustrator), Peggy O'Mara, Wendy Ponte (Contributor)

A comprehensive guide to safe and natural childbirth explains the full range of conventional and alternative options as recommended by leading health organizations, covering such topics as prenatal testing, labor pain, and breastfeeding in an easy-to-understand format. Original.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Health, Childrens

368 pages, Paperback

First published August 5, 2003

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Should be titled "the hippy guide to childbirth".

Perhaps I misunderstood the title. I was looking for information on unmedicated (ie - "natural") birthing, but there was not much information in the book about this topic. This was a very basic book that touches on many topics but doesn't go in depth. No information here is new after reading the Bradley Method book and Pregnancy Week by Week. I'd recommend reading these two books instead. Book also has several herbal recipes for massage oils and lotions that I found worthless, but YMMV.

Book makes several wrong and/or derogatory statements. Says that stretchmarks can be prevented IF YOU USE THEIR SPECIAL LOTION RECIPE. Bullshit. Stretchmarks are determined by the elasticity of your skin, which is genetic, and no lotion will change that. Also makes the assumption that mothers will stay home with the baby and breastfeed; no other options are discussed. Babysitters are frowned upon. Completely minor things such as pubic shaving during birth are completely blasted for being non-natural. Several pages devoted to saving the environment by not using disposable diapers. You should never buy baby food in a jar due to all the preservatives, only make your own food. Blah blah blah. Virtually no practical advice for working mothers. If I was living in a commune somewhere, this would be a great guide.

In case you're curious, my goals are to: have an unmedicated birth, breastfeed during maternity leave, pump when I return to work (and put the child into daycare - gasp!). I hope to use cloth diapering while at home, but will likely use disposables while out of the house for ease of use. (And of course daycares won't honor cloth diapering because of the biohazard.) I plan on making my own baby food as time permits, but will certainly supplement with store-purchased food.

I also found the layout and presentation boring. I rarely even notice such things in books, but this one was just enormous page after enormous page of complete text. Few pictures or side bars to break up the text, which makes for monotonous reading.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just skimmed most of this one, didn't read it in depth. I felt the info was not unique to this book, that it covered the same basics as every other book on this topic just a tad heavier on the mystical.

I do not believe in mystical superstitions and am not pro-abortion so those were huge star deductions for me.

The reading style is pleasant and the chapters are well-organized--one of the more well written books on this subject. There are also lot's of "recipes" for massage oils, aromatherapy, etc. So it wasn't a total dud.

In my opinion, If you've already read more than one book on natural pregnancy and childbirth, most of this book will be of no use to you.

[Annette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading to find quotes for the book I am writing. It is fertile.

SPOILER! IF you don't give birth to your baby in a 100% natural way and breast feed the child til he's 18 years old, you're a failure!

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good information and encouragement here. Some sketchy/out of date info with regards to vaccines and crib bumpers that I sideyed pretty hard. Book was slightly alarmist about routine medical procedures, possibly scaring women about things they might have no choice to go through, or making them think they don't need them when only a doctor can say if you do. Plus had some extra hippie stuff that I wasn't into, but it was usually included as insets that I could easily bypass. Not bad overall.

[Vesper Stamper · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only regret is that this book isn't 3 times as long. Goes into the baby's (and mom's) development, just like What to Expect, but with 150% more "brain", sensitivity and respect for the *mother's* choices. Lots of great suggestions for natural remedies as well as decision-making. Mothering Magazine (of which O'Mara is the editor) is hands-down the best parenting magazine out there. It stands to reason that this book would be an excellent resource. Common sense.

[Leahjoypro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, another book I wish I had read when I was pregnant with my 1st child, rather than my 3rd, but a good read none-the-less. Although the book claims to portray all sides of each decision a pregnant/new mother makes, it definitely leans heavily toward natural choices. Being as I slant toward natural choices as well, that worked for me. I skimmed over most of the homeopathic stuff b/c that just wasn't for me.

[Tonya Jenusaitis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative, but not overwhelming. Gives you a lot of history on culture and changes as well as ways to incorporate tradition into your birth and pregnancy. I borrowed it from my midwife's office and will be copying a dozen or so pages to keep for myself. The end has a few chapters for fathers. My husband is reading that now.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative, backed by legitimate sources, and it probably helps that I trust mothering magazine to give good info. All the recipes were a bit much for me, but I wouldn't change it. It's not a birthing book, it's about pregnancy- during and a little after. Even has something for the dads and those who are unfortunate enough to lose their child. I found it to be a good reference book.

[Caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were some useful bits of information in this book. Unfortunately they were scattered indiscriminately among recommendations for homeopathic remedies and slightly condescending statements about breast feeding and cosleeping without any context or indication that the statements were controversial.

[Malia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very opinionated. Fortunately, I agreed with a lot (not all) of their opinions and had already done my research to get to those conclusions. But be prepared for spouted opinions and not a lot of backup information.

I got some good information out of it that I hadnt seen elsewhere, such as exercises to prepare for labor, the breech tilt, which I almost had to use, etc.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't actually read the whole thing because I have read a lot of pregnancy books (and have had 2 other pregnancies) and just wanted to skim and read the sections on managing pain in labor. Those sections and the chapter with birth stories were fine, nothing special. Prefer other books like "Mindful Birthing" and "Birthing a Better Way."

[Kelly Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every woman who's about to have a baby or thinking about one day having a baby should read this book! It has a wealth of information to help you through the childbirth experience, which is an experience that unfortunately Americans have learned to fear rather than embrace and even savor.

[Mindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

found myself seeking answers in this book for many many months, through two pregnancies/births. i was always impressed with the straightforward nature of the content, whether or not i agreed with all of it (i usually did).

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Comprehensive but not in depth natural pregnancy/birth book. Some information is wrong (honey recommended for postpartum nipple cream, moms of preemies pumping to bring in their milk don't need to pump during the overnight hours).

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"'She broke the bread in two fragments and gave them to the children, who ate with avidity. 'she hath kept none for herself,' grumbled the Sergeant. 'Because she is not hungry,' said a soldier. 'Because she is a mother,' said the Sergeant.' - Victor Hugo, Les Miserables"

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book with drawings of birthing positions. This book has a 2 page spread of all of them together which is nice. A good book too with lots of info to answer last minute questions as you get close to the birth. I enjoyed this book.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference book.

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has given me such a great perspective especially since I am going for the natural birth--it is so much less pessimistic than "What to Expect When You're Expecting"

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book has some great ideas in it. a little hippie for me. but i've been able to filter. i'm getting a lot out of it. definitely some things to go "back to" before the big day - LABOR, that is :)

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very helpful book with good information

[Zen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good basic info but not memorable.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had issues with some of the statements of fact in this book...I'm beginning to think I'm not really an essential oils and raspberry leaf tea kind of girl.

[Devon Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A-w-e-s-o-m-e. A great book from the best parenting magazine. Very nonbiased but informative. Everyone needs to read this before getting pregnant, or while you are.

[Kathleen Case]

how did I never know that Mothering Magazine has a pregnancy book??? Now I need to get pregnant again just so I can read this......

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great information, mostly practical stuff.

[Kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Informative, but not captivating.