A yoga instructor and mother of five shares a revelation: Childbirth doesn't have to be painful, stressful, or degrading. In this age of the epidural epidemic, when birth is treated as surgery or illness, "Choosing Waterbirth" details how to make childbirth a positive experience, both empowering and beautiful. Bertram, who chose the waterbirth method for each of her children, gently explains how this natural, harmonious, healthy, and low-pain birth method allows women to reclaim the dignity and sacredness that is the true essence of the birth experience.
Choosing Waterbirth: Reclaiming the Sacred Power of Birth
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Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Bertram, a mother of five and a yoga instructor, recounts each of her labor and delivery experiences using the gentle and natural method of water birth. Intended as an illustrated manual from pregnancy to birth to recovery, the book includes sections on prenatal yoga postures, techniques for birthing in water, choosing a home birth, breast feeding, and parenting a new baby. This intensely personal work is imbued with a spiritual perspective relative to both the physical and psychological aspects of motherhood. While the text offers expectant mothers encouragement and reassurance, a list of additional resourcesDassociations, centers where water birthing is available, books, tapes, and web sitesDwould have been useful. As water birth becomes more mainstream, public libraries may wish to include this book in their wellness collections. (Photos not seen.)DDeborah Anne Broocker, Georgia Perimeter Coll., Dunwoody
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"This quietly passionate work pulses with a vital, heart-warming inflection that makes it an essential on parenting, midwifery..." -- NAPRA ReView Nov/Dec 2000
Essential reading for parents to be. --Science and Medical Network, Network No.74, December 2000
Essential reading for parents to be. --Science and Medical Network, Network No.74, December 2000
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Customer Reviews
“ Every woman contemplating pregnancy, whether interested in water birth or not, will find a wealth of information and encouragement in Bertram's book. ”
“ Waterbirth is a good book to read that gives you information for having a water birth and other birth related subject matter. ”
“ Very easy to read. ”
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Lakshmi Bertram has given birth to five babies, all under water. She shares her experiences in Choosing Waterbirth, a book filled with practical advice and encouragement.
Bertram knew from the beginning that she wanted home births, maintaining that "most births do not actually require doctors or hospitals or fetal monitors or forceps or episiotomies or drugs." She researched birthing methods carefully, learning about water birth shortly before her first child was born. She learned that not only did water make birthing easier and less painful for the mother, it also provided "a kind, loving, and gentle entry into this world" for the baby.
In water birth, the mother immerses her lower body in a tub of water heated to body temperature. The baby is born into the water. The baby continues to receive oxygen from the umbilical cord. It is then brought gently to the surface and handed to the mother. Babies will not try to breathe until the air hits their faces and are in no danger of drowning.
Bertram emphasizes that giving birth is a natural process for women and that, if left to their intuition, they have the ability to deliver healthy babies. Having a baby does not have to the overwhelming and frightening experience that modern methods have led women to believe. She provides lots of encouragement for women who want home births, even if they choose not to have a water birth. Alternatively some hospitals and birthing centers have water birth facilities available. Each woman must do what she feels is best for her and her baby.
For those who do choose waterbirth, Bertram provides a wealth of information on where to find birthing tubs (she purchased her first one at an animal feed store!), midwives and other attendants, and birthing centers. She also details exactly the things to expect about birth in general, and water birth in particular.
A long time yoga practitioner and certified instructor, Bertram includes a section on how expectant mothers may use yoga for relaxation and for strengthening and stretching the muscles that will be used during childbirth. The detailed instructions are accompanied by pictures.
The final section of the book is entitled "Practice," and in it Bertram has included pictures of her "water babies" and notes from her journals on their births. She says she hopes "to give women a different view of what birth can be." Her experiences helped make childbirth "a part of the joy of having children instead of a traumatic ordeal that had to be gone through in order to get children."
Sandra McLanahan, M.D. , in a preface to Choosing Waterbirth says "Lakshmi's book provides inspiration and support for women to learn to turn away from excess interventions, to return to the innate wisdom of the body and its natural resources." Every woman contemplating pregnancy, whether interested in water birth or not, will find a wealth of information and encouragement in Bertram's book.
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By J. Matteis
Format:Paperback
This book supports women who are looking to give birth to and parent their baby au naturale.
Choosing Waterbirth did so much to prepare me psychologically for the road ahead, as a first-time mom planning for a non-medicated waterbirth. I read so many books that attempted to enlighten me as to what to expect from natural birth, and how to prepare for it psychologically, but could never quite 'get it'. Well this one took the cake. The author described the process in such a way that I felt like I was there going through it myself. Because she described first-person her five stories of waterbirths, she was able to take it on a very deep and personal level, which allowed me to imagine that I was her as I was reading her story. I could never get a clear picture of what to expect when reading other natural birth/ water birth books, but this novel format finally gave me the understanding I wanted. In the end, I was able to feel this woman's strength as she pushed through the pain, which gave me courage rather than fear of the pain in my own birth experience. This book also thoroughly covers the 3 stages of birth, described in a way that I could get a good understanding of without having ever gone through the process myself.
There's also an extensive chapter on prenatal yoga, with easy-to-follow pictures to learn the excercises, and guidance on relaxation and breathing techniques. She also tells you how to 'set the mood' for the occasion; how to choose and dress up the environment for maximum comfort.
The books ends with post-partum help: supportive information on breastfeeding, infant massage, and co-sleeping with your baby.
The information was obviously intended more for the birthing mother rather than the midwife/birth assistant. It covers many details and specifics that are important to the mother...attaining a tub (not building your own), finding a waterbirth center, who should & shouldn't consider waterbirth, and several resources to look into to 'make it happen'.
I thought this book complemented Water Birth by Napierala very well.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By nem
Format:Paperback
I expected more information about, um, waterbirth---tips and techniques for getting the most out of laboring and birthing in water, positions to try, safety information, etc. Instead, this is a pretty generic childbirth book by an author who used water for her children's births. She does provide her own birth stories, but these offer no practical information for a reader's own waterbirth. I suppose that if you didn't realize the water should be warm, that would be a tip---but who doesn't know that? Bizarre. On the plus side, I liked the yoga routine she suggests. Otherwise, I got nothing out of this book & I'm glad I borrowed it from the library instead of buying it! (On a side note, the more childbirth books I read, the more I realize that they all say the same thing! You really only need one good one; I recommend Ina May's Guide to Childbirth.)
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful & Educational
I think this is a book every pregant or soon-to-be pregnant woman should read. It dispells a lot of doubts and fears that society teaches women about delivering at home and in... Read more
Published on September 1, 2010 by Mary
5.0 out of 5 stars
helped me so much with my home waterbirth
Beautiful book, wonderful stories and insight about natural child birth. Absolutely worth the read if you are considering a home waterbirth.
Published on February 14, 2010 by E. Columbus
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Book
As we plan a home water birth this book was full of great stories and information. An easy read.
Published on May 17, 2007 by M. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful and Inspiring
As a first time mom, I really found this book to be a nice read that I really enjoyed. It was very readable and not clinical or hard to read like many other childbirth books. Read more
Published on February 20, 2007 by Meagan Johnson
2.0 out of 5 stars
This book is not for everyone
After reading the great customer reviews and the description of the book, I was really looking forward to getting my hands on it. Read more
Published on October 12, 2006 by Laura Cade
5.0 out of 5 stars
Choosing Waterbirth : Reclaiming the Sacred Power of Birth
This book is wonderful! I was really hoping for a waterbirth for my first child, however she decided to come too early for me to have it at the birthing center. Read more
Published on November 16, 2001 by Christen Cox
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Introduction to Waterbirth options.
This book is clearly written and very positive. She is not a medical professional nor a midwife but after 5 waterbirths certainly has enough experiences to tell about! Read more
Published on June 3, 2001 by "xoche"
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Book!WaterBabys x5!:)
This book ROCKS! Successfull Mom of 5 WaterBabys tells all!:) Foward by Awesome French MD/OB Michael Odent~ Father of modern Waterbirth movement in France~ A Must Read for any... Read more
Published on March 17, 2001 by TigerLily333
4.0 out of 5 stars
Choosing Waterbirth reviewed by Linda Rose
As a birth doula and prenatal yoga teacher I am always looking for another great book and I found this one to be just that. Read more
Published on October 21, 2000 by Linda Rose- Coates
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 4
books:
- Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin on page 13, and Back Matter
- Active Birth by Janet Balaskas in Back Matter
- Birth Reborn by Michel Odent in Front Matter
- Birth without Violence: Revised Edition of the Classic by Frédérick Leboyer on page 24
