Spiritual Midwifery

by Ina May Gaskin

Paperback, 1980

Status

Checked out

Genres

Mind and Body

All Topics

Nonfiction

Publication

Book Pub. Co (1980), Edition: Revised, Paperback, 473 pages

Description

Spiritual Midwifery is considered by many to be the bible of the home birth movement. This classic book on natural childbirth introduced a whole generation of women to the possibility of home birth and breast feeding. At a time when higher levels of technology were the wave of the future, the home birth movement testified to the naturalness and normalcy of the birthing process-even the sacredness of it. Ina May Gaskin, the author, is a powerful advocate for a woman's right to give birth without excessive and unnecessary medical intervention. Now in its fourth edition, her voice is needed as much now as then. In today's climate of unprecedented numbers of cesarean sections and induced labor, knowledge of this birthing process enables women to make informed choices regarding their maternity care and delivery options. The birthing stories and section on care of the newborn are valuable to anyone about to become a parent. One of the highlights of this book is the collection of amazing birth tales that replaces misconceptions about childbirth with an awareness of the rights of mothers and babies to experience a conscious and loving process. Birthing tales from ladies who were babies in earlier editions of Spiritual Midwifery and stories of Amish women from a nearby community who were delivered by The Farm Midwives bring a fresh perspective. Also new to this edition is information on postpartum depression and maternal death along with updated information on the safety of natural childbirth, and the safety of popular practices such as labor induction and cesarean operations. Photos of ecstatic faces of mothers and babies permeate the pages. The section on instructions to midwives provides excellent clinical information for all health professionals who attend births. The stories and information in this volume will remain relevant to women for generations to come.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member mellowtrouble

the book that made me want to become a midwife - and one day i will. it's filled with amazing stories, a ton of good info that is surprisingly not too dated, and just a great atmosphere all over. definitely hippie, but in the best and truest sense. a great book!

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LibraryThing member MaggiRayne

This book is so hippie that it cracked me up. Some stuff they do that you wouldn't dream of doing today, i.e. drinking hard liquor to stop contractions that are too soon, but the stories and descriptions are great. The best part is how real they are talking about birth and labour--albeit with

hippie terminology--which is a hoot after all the other pregnancy books I've been reading.

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LibraryThing member ammichaels

This is one of the best books I read about childbirth. It was given to me by my sister, who had two healthy children, caught by midwives via natural childbirth.

Ina May Gaskin is a midwife who lives in a farm co-op in Tennessee and, with her fellow midwives, they have birthed over 2,000 babies. 95%

of the babies were born at home with no drugs. She has extremely rates of C-sections (less than 5%) and episiotomies.

I was also impressed by this book because it talks about pregnancy and childbirth not as a medical condition, but as a natural process, and more importantly, as a spiritual journey.

Yes, there's a lot of hippie language (I found it amusing) but what a wonderful book this is. I recommend it to all expectant mothers, especially those of you who want to really experience the joy that is childbirth. I was a little scared before, but now I am excited!

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LibraryThing member blog_antagonist

The Language is a little hokey...this book was originally written in the 70's. But if you can get past that, you will find a wonderfully empowering message. Ina Mae Gaskin is a pioneer in the field of modern Midwifery and the insight she shares in this book is invaluable, moving and inspiring.

LibraryThing member damsorrow

This book is divided up into thirds: birth stories, information for the parent, information for the midwife. This makes this book is fucking cool no matter who you are--someone interested in a very interesting cultural moment, an expectant parent, or someone (like me) who wants to take babies out

of ladies for a living.The other incredible thing about this book is that it really lays out to you, technical manual style, everything you would need to know to pinch-hit for a midwife, if not get started in midwifery yourself. Popular books these days don't really trust the public like that anymore (Ina May says "consult your friendly doctor" quite sparingly) and it's refreshing and exciting.

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LibraryThing member Voracious_Reader

My husband and I were of divided minds on this one. I was able to get past the sort of hippie-go-lucky language and tone of the book to the meat of it--namely, that childbirth is a wonderful natural process that can go much better for the mother when she is surrounded by supportive individuals who

are acting on her behalf and the baby's in a personal way rather than in a institutional, impersonal, intervention focused hospital. Obviously if a woman feels cared for and relaxed and at ease, anything, including childbirth would be easier to get through. My husband could not, however, get over the hippie nature of the book. While the book did not convince me to have a home birth, it did reinforce my intuition that the female body is made for birthing and that the focus of childbirth should be to support the body in doing what it normally does on the bodies' time table and in a way that works for that particular mother, rather than trying to hasten events with multiple medical interventions that carry with them side effects that may prolong labor and endanger the mother or child. The book is a collection stories from various individuals at a commune with topics concerning miscarriage, childbirth, postpartum depression, c-section, breach births etc... It's worth reading if you are unfamiliar with childbirth and would like read something that is insightful but not medical in an institutional way. It is female/human ability focused without being totally against medical interventions when they are needed; it just has the point of view that they're used far more than needed.

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LibraryThing member julierh

this classic is a must-read for pregnant women- especially those who, like me and most pregnant women, hear lots of birth horror stories and find themselves in need of positive accounts. ina may gaskin in known throughout the world for her impressive midwifery skills and for her superb outcomes

over the years in helping women give birth on her commmune in tennessee.

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LibraryThing member Tsoys

Vigorous babies, born at home without anesthesia to triumphant, energized mothers and fathers in a touch-filled atmosphere of love and support, are the goal of Spiritual Midwifery, a concept that brings dignity back to a "baby having." Gaskin's practical ethics maximize woman's sexuality for power

and control rather than pain and suffering, as the commune women testify in inspirational "Amazing Birthing Tales." The revised edition includes a larger midwife manual on pregnancy, labor, and delivery, including complications. Appended home delivery checklists and statistics on 722 midwife-assisted births at The Farm in Tennessee. Bibliography. Index. From The Booklist, "Alternative Press Scene", 9/15/1978, p161.

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LibraryThing member HomeBirth

Providing technical expertise for midwives, nurses and doctors, this book features information on labour, delivery, care of the new baby, and breast-feeding, all from a spiritual perspective.

LibraryThing member engpunk77

This book made me so excited about giving birth when I was pregnant! This book details the experiences of the women of "the farm" who became self-taught midwives from their extensive experiences helping each other deliver babies without medical intervention. This book empowers the pregnant woman to

rethink pregnancy, birth, and her body as well as gives practical and essential information about pregnancy, birth, parenting/caring for your infant, etc. You can have a natural childbirth! Read this book and become at peace and as one with your growing baby and experience the joys (really!) of childbirth as nature had intended!

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