The book Birthing from Within by Pam England and Rob Horowitz was recommended to me from more than one source, but I am going to be cautious about recommending it to others if my opinion is ever solicited. I say that because it's more about pregnancy and childbirth as a spiritual sort of journey, and that's not what I was expecting from it, or felt that I needed at the time when I read it. I had trouble relating to the passages about expressing attitudes towards the birthing process via art (drawings, paintings, pottery) or vocalizations. I did find the passages about how much more empowering childbirth is other cultures quite interesting, though. I'm not sure if it's been updated recently because while it does talk some about hospital births, the information seemed a little archaic and I can't recall if a single positive hospital birth was portrayed. While I am the biggest skeptic about positive hospital births (which makes me a hypocrite *blush*), I do believe that they are the right choice for some moms and this book may be a little off-putting if the reader hasn't done any recent research or discussed the subject in detail with their caregivers.
Perhaps then you will not be interested in the link I was about to send that gives you step by step instructions on how you can use the placenta and its associated ... fluids ... to create lovely paintings (I kid you not). Hmm.
Posted by: Chris | March 23, 2004 at 12:06 AM
Eww! Why on earth are you looking up things like that?
Posted by: laura | March 23, 2004 at 05:04 AM
I must say that I had the best hospital experience and a really wonderful, natural hospital. But I can see how many people would have a not so much a warming nice experience. Good luck in your choice and if I find material I will send it along! But I think a Doula isn't a bad idea, but I had my mom, which was a great choice for me.
Posted by: Jaime | March 23, 2004 at 08:33 AM
I'm glad that you're so positive about your hosptial experience, Jaime - makes me feel more optimistic :) It's terrific that your mom was able to lend her support ... sometimes I wish that we lived closer to my folks!
Posted by: laura | March 24, 2004 at 12:17 AM