Painless Childbirth sounds very alluring but it might not be what you think. The books’ author, Giuditta Tornetta mostly encourages the reader to sort through their issues and find a spiritual center. While Tornetta emphasizes that no belief in God is needed for her techniques, her strong sense of God fills the pages. Tornetta is a doula and clinical hypnotherapist and her book is a strong reflection of herself. At times, her writing will make you feel like you’re being hypnotized or meditating. She tells stories of spiritual births, of pregnant women working out issues under hypnosis, and shares her own pregnancy and painless birthing experiences.

At no time, however, will you get a step-by-step guide to a painless childbirth. You will find a couple techniques for hypnotism, ideas for dealing with subconscious issues, and some techniques for enduring childbirth, but she focuses primarily on advocating that a painless childbirth has more to do with mindset and involves a strong sense of spirituality. For example, she refers to contractions as “hugging” the child out.

The book contains very little information about fetal development and almost no information about problems you might encounter. Each chapter is devoted to a month of pregnancy, but the writings in each chapter are not necessarily based on that specific month; in other words, the information can seem scattered. Tornetta begins each chapter with a description of the ruling chakra for that month and closes the chapters with a prayer. If you’re looking for a practical, medical book to accompany you throughout your pregnancy then this is not it. However, if you are looking to deepen the spiritual experience of having a child or sorting through personal issues while pregnant, you would get a lot out of this book. Pick up a copy here.