Don’t Just Stand There

Satya — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:51:00 GMT

Short and sweet, Don’t Just Stand There is filled with useful advice for the father-to-be. He can read the entire book in less than an hour if he sets his mind to it! Written by Elissa Stein and Jon Lichtenstein – a husband and wife team of authors – Don’t Just Stand There offers everything from massage techniques and a list of what to say (and what not to say) to visualization exercises and suggested items to bring to the hospital.

Advice from the dad’s perspective, printed in an alternate color than that of the mom, is humorous and gives the book a down-to-earth tone. He reminds dad not to “go overboard with the ice chips” because mom “can use them as projectiles,” of course!

All humor aside, Don’t Just Stand There may be extremely helpful to women who have less-than-prepared partners, highlighting several details about the experience that even the most aware father should know in advance. Moms-to-be will appreciate the helpful prompts for dad in the back, including “To calm me down, I want you to say…,” “These people are allowed in the delivery room…,” and “Don’t ever say this...”

Overall, Don’t Just Stand There is a basic but helpful guide for any father-to-be looking to provide support for his laboring partner. Pick up a copy here.

Homebirth in the Hospital

Satya — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:22:00 GMT

Integrating Natural Childbirth with Modern Medicine

Homebirth in the Hospital is an engaging journey through birth stories of all types with only one similarity: the doctor in charge. The author of the book and primary caregiver in each birth story is Stacey Marie Kerr. Dr. Kerr has an incredible background for a medical doctor. Not only did she spend time on The Farm, a spiritual community founded by renowned midwife Ina May Gaskin – she actually lived there. During that time, Dr. Kerr learned the power of letting Mother Nature take its course in the birthing process. Her humble approach towards childbirth makes each story very touching.

Each story is incredibly unique. They range from all-natural births to c-sections, some with drugs and some with minor interventions, and women who had health problems to those who were in perfect health. There is even one very sad story of a baby that didn’t make it. Collectively, they give the reader a bird’s eye view of what twists and turns Mother Nature can throw at a woman in labor and the integrative solutions at hand. The way the doctor handles the births is wonderful and always seems so right, putting to shame many other doctors who treat pregnancy exclusively as a medical condition.

The stories in Homebirth in the Hospital are awe-inspiring and may leave you in tears of joy and grief as you share in these women’s most intimate moments. A very good read for first-time mothers interested in natural birth, it shows you that nothing is set in stone and even the a typical pregnancy can end unpredictably. The book provides the reader with insight into a woman’s intuition during pregnancy and labor as well as what to look for in a doctor. Homebirth in the Hospital is a captivating book that is rich with emotion and often difficult to put down.

Pick up a copy here.

mommymedia : delivery

Don’t Just Stand There

Homebirth in the Hospital