June 2009 - Posts

• Spiritual Midwifery

  If you’ve ever wondered how birth occurs when conducted with a hands-off approach, this book is for you. Ina May Gaskin describes many exhilarating birth stories, most of them at home and with little medical intervention. Gaskin, a renowned midwife in the birthing community, has a resilient belief in a woman’s natural ability to give birth and has spent her life devoted to helping women have safer, more enjoyable birthing experiences. Though it is written as a guide for midwives, the information is valuable to any expecting parent. After getting a firm view of how a natural birth can occur in a variety of circumstances you’ll be left feeling empowered to deliver without fear. The book also covers common pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, breech birth, multiple births, stillborns, genetic deformities, stalled labor, cord prolapse and much more. The book is a gem of birth stories that evoke the whole spectrum of emotions. You’ll read birth stories that have heavy partner involvement and are filled with love and a sense of the divine, even when things take a turn for the worse. Surely though, there are some parts that will leave the reader with raised eyebrows, like the woman who was told to drink alcohol to prevent early labor. Some may have heard of this author and may feel it’s too “earthy, crunchy” for them or simply unbelievable, but to so easily dismiss this book would be a mistake. This book is refreshing for its heart-open approach of letting nature take its course and contains basic lessons about birth that every pregnant woman should know but is rarely ever told. Pick up a copy here. Posted Jun 29 2009, 08:37 AM by Satya with 1 comment(s) Filed under: pregnancy, giving birth, midwifery, The Farm, birth stories, Ina May Gaskin, spirituality, home birth, natural birth, Spiritual Midwifery

• Perfect Hormone Balance for Fertility: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Pregnant

  If you’re in the dark about what is causing your infertility I highly recommend this book by Dr. Robert Green, an experienced and sought-after reproductive expert. In addition to understanding the treatment of infertility as a physician he’s also been on the patient side with his wife, which makes his writing so much more personal. Green’s book leaves you with no stone unturned. The book is written as if the author is your doctor, guiding you through each possibility. He begins at the first step, which examines your basic lifestyle and provides information on how it could be affecting your fertility. He then identifies physical factors by giving the reader information on each hormone and organ needed for conception. He includes handy charts for the reader to fill out and evaluate their own situation. These charts accompanied with the basic information about physical factors allow the reader to slowly deduce what their problem may be. Green is persistent in the idea that “less is more” in regard to fertility treatments. He focuses primarily on what is often the root of the problem: hormonal imbalance. The hormonal imbalances he’s seen in his experience have often been treatable through diet and exercise. He emphasizes how stress, environmental toxins and weight and diet issues all contribute to fertility in ways that most doctors don’t address before putting a patient on the road to expensive treatments. He also delves deep into each fertility disruption such as endometriosis, PCOS and sluggish sperm with recommended treatments. This book gives the reader a feeling of hope and viable options in how to deal with their infertility and optimizing conception. Dr. Greene believes that couples do not seek help for their fertility problems out of fear of failure. It is for those couples that this book was written and those couples that will benefit most from its information and message. Pick up a copy here. Posted Jun 22 2009, 10:00 AM by Satya with 1 comment(s) Filed under: books, infertility, preconception, fertility, trying to conceive, diet, hormone balance, hormones, fertility treatments, fertility diet, Dr. Robert Green

• Dunstan Baby Language DVD

  This two-disc DVD set, full of fascinating and useful information about the Dunstan Baby Language, is presented in an informal and low-tech format, perfect for teaching new parents how to evaluate their baby’s different cries to determine his or her needs. Dunstan Baby Language founder Priscilla Dunstan was inspired to better understand her son Thomas’s various cries when he was a colicky baby. She began recording his cries, discovered patterns and successful settling methods and wanted to share her discovery with other parents. She found that every newborn uses five distinct sounds that signal hunger, tiredness, need to burp, lower wind/gas and discomfort. For example, the sucking reflex makes a sound of “neh,” meaning the baby is hungry. The videos provide plenty of examples of the sounds babies make from many different infants, making recognizing them in your own infant easy. The videos are filled with testimonies from mothers who were amazed at how well they could suddenly understand their baby’s needs based on their cries. The second disc features a group of women using the Dunstan Baby Language with their babies to demonstrate how easy it is to learn and use. The Dunstan technique seems very effective but may take some time to understand the mixed signals some babies send; however Priscilla provides easy tips on how to decipher these mixed sounds. In addition to the technique, Priscilla also gives lessons on methods of burping, feeding, holding and more. This is a great DVD for a rental; however, because the Dunstan language consists of just a few “words” you may find you only refer back to the DVD for Priscilla’s helpful lessons. Pick up a copy here. Posted Jun 15 2009, 09:01 AM by Satya with 3 comment(s) Filed under: DVD, babies, communication, Dunstan, Priscilla Dunstan, Parents, Baby Language, Dunstan Baby Language

• The Working Woman’s Pregnancy Book

  If you just read the title of this book and pass it over, assuming it is written only for working moms, you would be sorely mistaken and miss out on a thoroughly informative and enjoyable book. The book covers everything you need to know about preconception, pregnancy and caring for your newborn. In addition, Greenfield covers working while pregnant, maternity leave, breastfeeding and other topics thoroughly and offers lots of helpful information and tips. Greenfield is a medical doctor but reading this book is like having a conversation with your best friend who happens to have a lot of experience having babies. She writes in such a way that you really feel like you are being guided and supported through each point. To add to this abundant feeling of camaraderie, she peppers the book with quotes from other women who juggle career with motherhood. These quotes were one of my favorite features of this book, giving the reader a view into a variety of experiences, making you feel as if you are among a strong sisterhood of on-the-job pregnant women. The book is a long but enjoyable read and Greenfield presents every woman’s experience with respect and fairness. Whether you are getting ready for your homebirth or are scheduling your c-section, this book can help you prepare for all aspects of having a baby. A must read! Pick up a copy here. Posted Jun 08 2009, 09:47 AM by Satya with 2 comment(s) Filed under: books, pregnancy, pregnancy at work, The Working Woman's Pregnancy Book, career woman, working woman, Marjorie Greenfield

• The Down’s Syndrome Handbook: A practical guide for parents and carers

  For parents of children with Down’s Syndrome, this book is an all-encompassing guide to the challenges and hope of raising an affected child. Dr. Newton covers every part of a Down’s Syndrome child’s life and each decision that his or her parents must make. Beginning with a concise description of the nature of Down’s Syndrome and theories about its origin, the author has a personal and clear voice. He considers the emotional, social and physical implications of this disorder on the child and parents and empathizes but isn’t afraid to share the harsh truths of raising a child with Down’s Syndrome. As Down’s Syndrome children suffer higher rates of leukemia, diabetes and other diseases, they face compound problems which the author covers thoroughly, as well as ways to treat them. However, the author makes it clear that a relatively normal existence can be achieved and gives examples of extraordinary feats of individuals with Down’s Syndrome. He also gives examples of individuals who were able to live independently, despite the common misconception that Down’s Syndrome sufferers are dependent on others for life. The book covers so much; care of babies, education, emotional and sexual development, integration into society, laws and organizations, and experimental treatments. Although Dr. Newton is British and the book covers organizations and laws in the U.K., American and international parents of Down’s Syndrome children will still gain valuable insight and information from it. And its short length makes it readable for even the busiest parent. Pick up a copy here. Posted Jun 01 2009, 09:26 AM by Satya with 1 comment(s) Filed under: books, parenting, diabetes, down syndrome, special needs children, leukemia