Mind over Labor: A Breakthrough Guide to Giving Birth (Penguin Handbooks) [Paperback]

Carl Jones (Author), Marian Thompson (Foreword), Emmett E. Miller (Foreword)

Book Description

Series: Penguin Handbooks | Publication Date: February 2, 1988

In his breakthrough book, Jones introduces a new, highly effective method of childbirth preparation using mental imagery. He shows expectant parents how to prevent the pain and fear associated with childbirth.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"This book will show you how to create the kind of birth you want," writes Jones, author of After the Baby Is Born, etc. He compares childbirth to lovemaking in terms of the potential joy for the woman and claims that the key to a "safe, happy birth" is mental imagerythe art of creating vivid pictures in the mind to help the woman "surrender" to the "pleasure" of childbirth. Mental-imagery exercises include thinking of a "Special Place," such as a favorite beach, or envisioning the child in the womb and asking "what he or she needs." Jones stresses the importance of a mellow labor environment and subtly promotes the idea of delivery at home or in a childbearing center, but he fails to spell out the risks of a nonhospital delivery. His goal of a well-informed, positive-thinking pregnant couple is admirable, but his insistence that attitude can overcome virtually any problem is questionable.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (February 2, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140467629
• ISBN-13: 978-0140467628
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #444,871 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful for childbirth, January 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Mind over Labor: A Breakthrough Guide to Giving Birth (Penguin Handbooks) (Paperback)

I found the relaxation and meditation exercises in this book to be wonderful preparation for childbirth. I read the book and practiced the techniques before having my first child (which I was able to do without drugs) and I plan to buy a copy so that I can read it again before the birth of my second child in several weeks. I will definitely use the techniques again this time whether I have drugs or not.

Although not all of the exercises and imagery examples worked for me, some of them did and the book helped me develop some of my own which were quite effective. The book also gave me the confidence that I needed to attempt a drug-free delivery by giving me a way to deal with the pain rather than simply worrying about it.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I REQUIRE this for ALL my students!!, September 7, 2001

By 

Nicole S. Tengwall (Annapolis, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mind over Labor: A Breakthrough Guide to Giving Birth (Penguin Handbooks) (Paperback)

I teach natural childbirth classes and I acutally buy this book for all of my students! I don't think you can just read this once or twice and breeze through labor, but if you practice (at least once a day for 3 months before), it WILL have a positive effect on yoru labor/birth. So many women say, "Yeah, I read it and it didn't work for me." You have to wonder how much time they acutally put into it. I also love his views on the place of birth. I think one reason why so many women say this doesn't work is because they are giving birth in places that do not truly support natural birth. If you are the least bit uncomfortable with you birthing environment--your labor will probably be affected in a negative way! I always tell my students, if you could not have an orgasm at your place of birth, then it is probably not the right atmosphere!! You need to be able to let go and surrender to birth--not try to "fit" into some pre-determined model of labor/birth (like at most hospitals). GREAT book and I highly recommend it!

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A father overcame his own fear with this book, August 31, 2000

By 

Erling Mork (Oslo Norway) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mind over Labor: A Breakthrough Guide to Giving Birth (Penguin Handbooks) (Paperback)

My wife is shortly planning to give birth naturally, and believes strongly in mind-body connection. It seems the "only" father books out there are the humorous kind that ridicule the process. I have been full of anxiety about the birth, but this book helped me see that it is a natural process, and has relieved my own fears. I also believe the less anxious I am, the less stressed my wife will be. I am an amateur actor, and know a bit about relaxation techniques, so I recognize the approach and know how good it can be for one's body. This book also gives the father/partner good ideas for mental imagery techniques to use both before and during the birth.