Customer Reviews

The Joy of Natural Childbirth: Fifth Edition of Natural Childbirth and the Christian Family

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If so, read this book! The late Helen Wessel studied the Scriptures in their original language, and discovered the truth about Eve's "curse". The first half of the book is written as a story, about a young Christian couple expecting their first baby. There is alot of information to be picked up in the story, and even more follows in the second half of the book.

Part 2 has such chapter titles as "Childbirth Through the Centuries," "Childbirth in the Bible," "The Medical Model," "Family Sheltered Birthing," "Birthing God's Way," "The Joy of Natural Childbirth," and "The Joy of Breastfeeding." One of these chapters alone makes the book worth buying. All of them put together makes it a must-read, even if you are not planning an unmedicated birth.

I read this book when I was pregnant with my second child way back in 1970. After having a medicated birth I knew their had to be a better way. With the help of books like this one, plus Grantly-Dick-Read's Natural Childbirth. I had a wonderful birth experience with my second and third child. After eons of being taught that we must suffer as part of the curse its great to learn and realize that it is labor; hard work. Very helpful book and a great inspiration. God is awesome. Men may think they've got it made by not having to have babies but to me it was an truly awesome, spiritual experience that I wouldn't trade for a million $$.

How should Christians view childbirth? Is "natural childbirth" some fad started by hippies and humanists? Should Christians use midwives? These were questions that were being batted around by a group of us fairly new mothers back when I was pregnant with my second baby. I wish I'd had this book then. It presents a Biblical view of childbirth...a view that tells us that childbirth can indeed be joyful. Is this pie-in-the-sky stuff only for "earth mothers" or women who delight in "toughing it out" or being martyr-like during labor? Not at all! I have had the sort of joyful birth that this book describes and teaches. If you want to be inspired and taught on a practical level about childbirth and its significance for Christian families, this is a must read.

Although some of the experiences chronicled in this book are "too good to be true" it was a most valuable read for me. I wish I had read it sooner!! The relaxing techniques really helped and the key for me was welcoming a coming contraction rather than tensing against the pain which I did with my first two children. Having had natural childbirth for all three of my children, with no pain medication whatsoever, and having read this book before my third child, I found it worth its weight in gold! Had I not read this book, I wouldn't have managed the 4+ hours at 9cm.

This book was revolutionary in my life. After a difficult first labor, this book helped renew my mind as to how God created childbirth to be. By using the relaxation techniques from this book I had a relaxed, pain-free delivery. Quite a change from the 26 hours of labor, and 4 hours of pushing I endured with the first one. I awoke with my water breaking, went to the hospital and delivered three hours later. The format made it fun to read, and educational at the same time.

This is one of the books I read when preparing for the births of my children. It assisted me in having 3 joyful, unmedicated births!

If you are looking for one of the best books on pregnancy or if you are afraid of giving birth, then this is the book for you. This is very well written and she does a great job eliminating fear that comes with pregnancy, labor and delivery. She explains what your body does and how to avoid unnecessary pain and heartache. Whether or not you are looking for a natural pregnancy and delivery, you will not be sorry you read this book. Some how it's true that with knowledge fear dissipates. Alot of the time we are afraid of the unknown and we don't even know what we don't know.

If you could only get one book, it would be this one. It is no longer in print, so make sure you get a copy if there is one available. In my opinion, the 5th edition is the best one and easiest to read.

as a side note, Helen Wessel explains how the Hebrew in the Old Testament translated the word pain incorrectly when referring ot the curse of pain during childbirth. Even if you aren't a Christian, it's still a common belief that we are cursed with pain during delivery...