The midwives at Natural Beginnings Birth Center believe in education and informed decision making. Many people ask us what resources we recommend for pregnancy information and birth preparation so we thought we would compile a few here on our blog. Most of these books are helpful even if you are not planning an unmedicated birth. We encourage all expecting moms to have a basic knowledge of labor and birth and some coping measures just in case pain relief isn’t immediately available. We also encourage partner preparation!
MOVIES:
The Business of Being Born
**This movie can be viewed with a Netflix subscription or rented on Amazon Video.
AUTHORS AND BOOKS:
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Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth
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Birth Matters: A Midwife’s Manifesta
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Spiritual Midwifery
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Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding
**Ina May’s books contain very powerful birth stories that are excellent reading especially for those desiring an unmedicated and/or birth center birth.
Barbara Harper
Gentle Birth Choices
**Barbara Harper is a water birth expert and teaches water birth practice world wide. We are fortunate to have been able to train with her when we opened NBBC.
Sarah Buckley
Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering:A Doctor’s Guide to Natural Childbirth and Gentle Early Parenting Choices**Sarah Buckley is a physician in Australia who has studied natural birth practices from many different points of view. She encourages informed decision making in all choices regarding birth and early parenting.
Penny Simkin
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Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn(4th Edition): The Complete Guide
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The Birth Partner **The Birth Partner is great for partners and anyone who is going to be present at the birth to help you labor.