One of the first tasks that I recently completed in preparation for a natural VBAC was to read the book Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation
Birthing from Within is extremely empowering! Regardless of your birth plans and hopes, this book offers you a non-intimidating way to explore your feelings about childbirth. In addition to making birth art, it offers opportunities to journal, read poetry, examine birth customs from other times and places, think about family birth traditions, create rituals, and consider new perspectives.
England and Horowitz provide excellent advice on pain coping techniques, and they spend time simply exploring assumptions about pain. In addition, they offer an extensive amount of material for fathers and partners. There is entire section of the book devoted to information for partners, and there are also opportunities for role playing, as well as information on a subject that many childbirth preparation guides seem to ignore – babyproofing your marriage.
I love the underlying message of Birthing from Within: We’re not here to tell you how to give birth; we’re just helping you examine your deepest thoughts and feelings about childbirth and how they may help or hinder your childbirth preparation process. Even though I used Hypnobabies to prepare for Baby’s birth and have read extensively about natural birth, this is the first time I was able to identify my real fears and what would actually be most helpful to ME. Birthing from Within facilitates self-expression, and this seems to magically enable a new sense of confidence and self-awareness – two things that I think are invaluable to any woman preparing for childbirth, regardless of the kind of birth experience the woman is looking for.
I wrote to the lovely people at Birthing from Within to let them know how much of an impact this book as had on me, and they were kind enough to send me a couple of exciting gifts – and the best part is that there is a gift set for me and a gift set for one lucky reader located in the U.S. or Canada!
Please enter below for a chance to win a copy of Pam England’s new book, Labyrinth of Birth – a book for new parents looking to “explore ceremony and personal growth during the childbearing year” – as well as a copy of Pam’s CD: Pain-Coping Practices for Parents.
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{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
excellent information – wish this had been written in the 70s.
I’m so glad you wrote about this, Charise! Birthing From Within was the first natural childbirth book I read, and it really set the tone for my entire pregnancy. I LOVE it. I did hypnobabies as well, but the “fear clearing session” didn’t really help me identify issues in a concrete way like BFW did. I am so incredibly grateful I read it, and so glad to know Pam England has a new book. I had no idea! Perhaps it can be my Birthing From Within for this pregnancy
On another note, I’m hopelessly stubborn and uncooperative, so I didn’t actually do any of the suggested art or activities, just read the book. You’ve inspired me, and I think I may have to take it out and give those things a chance this time around.
Melissa recently posted..You Call that Prenatal “Care”?
I read this book too, and it was amazing! It really helped me to be confident about my birth and helped me realize how connected you can be with childbirth. I want this new book and CD so I can lend them out to women who take my birth education classes!
Gaby @ Tmuffin recently posted..Tips for Breastfeeding a Toddler
Birthing is definitely an “inside” job, no matter from what direction you come at it. When I had my second child, I had done a course called “Hypnobirthing”. It made a huge difference in my experience – which ended up being beyond words. I felt as if I was wrapped in sacred space when my daughter was born. You may not feel as if you are an “artist”, but birth is a kind of art, and a primal one. I hope that your VBAC is a wonderful experience for you…
Twitter: amccrenshaw
January 14, 2012 at 12:25 am
I have a stepdaughter who is expecting in May. She hears nothing but the typical B.S. about birth from friends and relatives. I try to put alternative information in her path but, due to a rocky relationship, I think that doing any more might have her doing the exact opposite of what I recommend just to spite me. So far, the Web links I’ve sent her and books I’ve given her have been accepted. She’s even asked me for more information on a few subjects. I’d love to win these and give them to her!
Alicia C. recently posted..Teaching Children Critical Thinking Skills
I think that while the content of such a book is obviously great insight into how to be ready for the birth just having such a book and reading it really helps with the “feeling prepared” which goes a long way to relaxing you!
The main reason I ant to win these is because my first birth was very traumatic and ended up with a c-section. This time around I want to do everything in my power to have a beautiful birth.
I think winning these will help me with that goal 
Twitter: mamagatzemeyer
January 14, 2012 at 3:59 pm
I would love to have these resources for my next birth. For my first, I certainly did not really do any mindfulness activities to see what it mean to me. This is something I really regret. I also love that partners are involved in these resources. I love the idea of children and childbirth strengthening marriages!
Amy G recently posted..Watch Her Grow…
Twitter: laurdavieshotmail.com
January 18, 2012 at 3:22 pm
I find these topics very interesting.
I’m interested in this book because I’m expecting my first child.
I’m very interested in winning these prizes because I’m 31 weeks pregnant with my first child
I have always been interested in this and would love to learn more!
Marci recently posted..Fascinating Garden Memoir
i want to win because I’m due in a couple of weeks and I want so badly to do labor without any medications but I need to learn more about how to cope
sarah at realtorsd.com
for one of my besties!
Pregnant with my second, hoping to go natural this time! these would really help. (your rafflecopter wouldn’t let me enter my twitter for some reason?)
Id like to win this because I want another baby.
would love to win because I am reading all i can to get ready for this big life moment!
I probably can’t have more than 1 baby and so I want to make that one count – really experience the whole process.
I have had 5 children naturally with no meds or intervention, and am always on the lookout for natural pain relief methods and different ways of laboring
for a friend of mine due in aug with her first child
tcogbill at live dot com
I really want to win this for my best friend. She is expecting a little girl in June & would love to be able to give these to her
farrah_jo@yahoo.com
I have a friend who I think would really enjoy and benefit from reading this. Thanks!
I’m pregnant and need to win, any information I can get would be wonderful.
I would like to win this because I think natural childbirth is a wonderful empowering thing. There is a lot of fear surrounding childbirth nowadays, even though it is a natural process.
i would like to win to learn more!
would love to share this with my clients
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