Home Birth: A Practical Guide [Paperback]

Nicky Wesson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 4, 2006

A perfect balance of practical information and personal stories, Home Birth is essential reading for couples considering the alternative to a hospital birth. Childbirth educator Wesson shows how having your baby in your own home can be the most fulfilling thing you’ll ever do. While some information is UK-based, much of the book is also relevant to US readers.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"I owe Nicky Wesson a huge debt of gratitude. The first edition of this book led me to have three magical home births and changed the course of my life. I am CEO of the National Childbirth Trust now because of the passion for birth that was woken in me. Read carefully - Nicky's book could change your life too." Belinda Phipps NCT

About the Author

Nicky Wesson is a leading British childbirth educator and founded the London Homebirth support group. She has written six books on pregnancy and childbirth, including Labor Pain and Alternative Maternity.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Pinter & Martin Ltd; 4 Rev Upd edition (December 4, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1905177062
• ISBN-13: 978-1905177066
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #562,529 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Empowering Stories, Detailed Info (UK Based), November 7, 2007

By 

ddfris (USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Home Birth: A Practical Guide (Paperback)

Excellent details about all aspects of home birth, as well as encouragement for those choosing to birth in hospital settings. The history of home birth is included in a well-researched chapter, which is more comprehensive than other books. Many empowering stories and details are within. This book was written in the UK - so there are minor details (such as the common home use of the Tens Machine, and gas/oxygen) that differ from homebirth in the United States. However, it is an excellent resource from which moms-to-be will gain more insight into natural birthing. It is GOOD to get ideas/stories from various sub-cultures around the world - we are all unified as women in birth and learn a great deal from sharing with each other.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Okay if you are in the U.S., much more helpful if you are in the UK, August 5, 2008

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Elizabeth (United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Home Birth: A Practical Guide (Paperback)

A lot of this book is about navigating the option of homebirth if you are U.K. based. Which could be really helpful if you are in the U.K. but not as much if you are U.S. based. However, even if you are not in the U.K. the stories are great - there are a range of stories (and, honestly a lot of them - maybe a tad too many) about home births, how they went, what people struggled with, what worked well, and so on. It gives you a good sense of the range of experiences that women have with labor and birthing. It is reassuring in the sense that it shows that home births can go beautifully, can have challenges, and, for most families profiled, seem to be a choice they really were glad they made. There is some more practical information - what to have at the birth, what to expect, how to deal with challenges (or rather, stories about how people dealt with challenges), and so on. It is a nice supplemental book - and one of the few out there primarily about home birth - but I would suggest Mothering Magazine's Having a Baby, Naturally as a better key book on pregnancy and birth. They cover home birth to some extent. The Sears books on pregnancy and birth, while a little more doctor-focused/a little less natural than I tend to (with little or nothing on home births), are also very good basic books to start with.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Book!, August 1, 2011

By 

supper mom - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Home Birth: A Practical Guide (Paperback)

I absolutely loved this book. it not only has up to date info but is easy to read. It has a lot of woman's stories and experiences. I loved how this book does not try to convince you to have a home birth. the author discusses the concerns of home birth. the reasons why women choose home birth and if you choose to have a home birth how to go about doing it. I give it 5 stars! definitely a book I will read many times.