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Reviews
Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation by Pam England, Rob Horowitz
teamgerker's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a must have for women desiring a natural childbirth experience.
ladyaylesworth's review against another edition
4.0
This book has helped me understand my options and the alternatives that exist for women giving birth. I'm now considering using a midwife rather than the OBGYN I've been seeing for years. My OB may be the best for regular checkups and the clinical side of things, but I'd like a more personal and natural approach to childbirth.
mikaelaw's review against another edition
4.0
Read this back in my days of being a doula, and revisited it recently as I wrote my own guide. I love Pam England's approach and artistic invitations throughout the perinatal period. Highly recommend to folks moving through pregnancy.
emilyb_chicago's review against another edition
2.0
There were a couple of really good chapters in this book, but I found most of it to be too vague. I was really looking for something that would be a guide to give me ideas and paths that I could use to work through what I'm expecting to be a painful thing. The book talked for the first 8 or so chapters about ensuring that you have a good memory of the birth rather than providing ideas on how to make the birth something that was good.
I'd suggest folks reading this should skip through most of the beginning and middle and head straight to the end where they start providing concrete advice. There's also a section for fathers that was worth reading.
I'd suggest folks reading this should skip through most of the beginning and middle and head straight to the end where they start providing concrete advice. There's also a section for fathers that was worth reading.
tophat8855's review against another edition
5.0
I thought I had already reviewed this, but I guess not.
Very hippie-ish in the realm of using art as a way to explore your feelings about pregnancy, birth, motherhood.
Very middle-of-the-road in terms of using medication in labor and what to expect labor to feel like.
I would like to take a class. Maybe next time.
Very hippie-ish in the realm of using art as a way to explore your feelings about pregnancy, birth, motherhood.
Very middle-of-the-road in terms of using medication in labor and what to expect labor to feel like.
I would like to take a class. Maybe next time.
gosia_maria99's review against another edition
4.0
Could have done without all the sections on painting and creating art to prepare for birth, but was surprised by how much helpful I found some of the introspective questions about fears and fantasies of birth we hold close and need to let go. Unlike Gaskin whom I read right before this book, the authors write plenty about how the reality of birth is tough and painful and often unexpectedly so, even while it's usually within the mother's capability and strength. A little old-fashioned (the discussion of episiotomies always dates these books!) but I'm glad to have read it.
caryart's review against another edition
4.0
Writing this review after having given birth I have a different perspective than when I read it pre-labor.
Then: I thought it was a nice way to conceptualize the process and think through what I was going through. I did some of the exercises and enjoyed them.
Now: I highly recommend going through some of these exercises while pregnant with your first baby. Not because they'll make your birth all that much better, but because taking/making the time to really think about yourself and what you're going through is a beautiful way to honor what's happening. And after your little peanut is born, everything is just different. It's not like what people told me... that "you just won't have time for yourself anymore;" I mean, you can always make time for the things that are truly important. Rather, you just don't think about yourself the same way anymore. Something chemical happens and it's a different time. Both ways of being are amazing and awe-inspiring. But this book is a really nice way to honor who you are pre-baby.
Then: I thought it was a nice way to conceptualize the process and think through what I was going through. I did some of the exercises and enjoyed them.
Now: I highly recommend going through some of these exercises while pregnant with your first baby. Not because they'll make your birth all that much better, but because taking/making the time to really think about yourself and what you're going through is a beautiful way to honor what's happening. And after your little peanut is born, everything is just different. It's not like what people told me... that "you just won't have time for yourself anymore;" I mean, you can always make time for the things that are truly important. Rather, you just don't think about yourself the same way anymore. Something chemical happens and it's a different time. Both ways of being are amazing and awe-inspiring. But this book is a really nice way to honor who you are pre-baby.
tlctbr's review against another edition
4.0
This book wasn't really my style, but I think others would find it really insightful.
onlycastles's review against another edition
1.0
I'm pretty sure this book is specifically meant for survivors of sexual or previous birthing trauma; it makes more sense in that context. Otherwise, it is incredibly insulting to medical workers and mothers-to-be who feel more comfortable going with a hospital birth or who aren't new-age enthusiasts. The whole thing can basically be summed up with: if you have a hospital or remotely medical-type birth, you're going to have a bad time.