Customer Reviews

Mothering Magazine's Having a Baby, Naturally: The Mothering Magazine Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I received this book as a gift and it has become one of my favorite prenatal books so far. I've read the book cover to cover because it was so extremely interesting and very comprehensive that I couldn't put it down! It covers all the questions I've had as a first-timer in a very thorough way. Even moms who've given birth before can learn alot by all the info provided by this book. Basically the book will discuss a topic such as episiotomies by explaining the history of them and how they originated, what your experience is and what the risks are, in what instances might they occur, how to avoid one (a list of things to do beforehand), and if you do tear naturally what happens next. I like how when it discusses what an Ultrasound is, it not only explains what it is, but how it works, what your experience will be like on the table, how safe it is based on studies available, how useful it is during pregnancy, and when it is unnecessary. This is how the book covers all the topics: in a very thorough way. Other highlights for me were the statistics provided with the supporting info. For example, it will say that you need 27mg of Iron and then will list food choices and serving sizes to achieve that. I love how remedies are always provided for common prenatal concerns such as nausea, poor self-image, labor fears, sexuality, post-partum, etc. The book discusses sexuality and then gives you a list of ideas to help with issues you may be experiencing. It also sprinkles a couple illustrations of stretches or poses that are helpful during pregnancy with directions. I also love the side boxes throughout the book that give little tips like how to squat, aromatherapy, pregnancy affirmations to say each day, natural soothers, etc.

It takes the fear out of pregnancy by providing so much useful and practical information for anyone who is planning on being pregnant, those that are supporting a pregnant partner, and those that are actually pregnant. I just can't imagine NOT having this book, it's an invaluable resource for me. I have too many questions and fears and this book seemed to answer them and calm me down.

Other books I highly recommend are the "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" (Goer/Wheeler) midwife perspective that discusses the pros and cons of typical medical intervention, and my weekly favorite "Your Pregnancy Week by Week" (2004, Dr. Glade Curtis OBGYN/Judith Schuler) And incredible book that tells what parts of the baby are developing each week, as well as an actual size illustration of your baby's size, changes in yourself, and other important info each week.

Diehard Mothering readers might think this book is a little too mainstream, but I think it's very valuable for people who are learning about the concept of natural childbirth and evaluating all their options. It gives a detailed analysis of the risks involved with everyday interventions and encourages birthing mothers to be fully informed before submitting to them. It offers suggestions for natural remedies, yoga postures, meditation, and natural comfort measures while in labor, and even mentions that you might use a midwife and birth at home. However, the book also assumes that you might feel more comfortable delivering in a hospital -- without making you feel guilty about that choice. I came away from this book feeling positive about being pregnant, not nervous or worried like after reading "What To Expect...". I think it does a good job of debunking many of today's obstetrical myths and gives new moms courage to ask questions. My first birth was totally natural, in a hospital. I just finished reading this a month into my second pregnancy. It validates the ideas I had the first time around and gives me even more resolve to pursue a drug-free, interventionless birth again.

I purchased this book from Amazon last November for the library of my local La Leche League group. I own a copy as well. (I also own Peggy O'Mara's other book: "Natural Family Living", which is wonderful.) In "Having a Baby, Naturally", Ms. O' Mara is very balanced and straightforward in her presentation of pregnancy and childbirth. I especially enjoyed the section explaining the types of tests women are presented with during early pregnancy. I have given this book to several expecting friends as a gift and plan to give it to my sister in the future. This book is included in La Leche League's recommended book list. I do own Ina May's book " Ina May's Guide to Natural Childbirth", which is also very good and highly recommended for someone planning a home birth. I am a longtime reader of Mothering Magazine. Fans of Mothering should be aware that "Having a Baby, Naturally" was written to appeal to a wide mainstream audience and not the relatively small segment of the population interested in alternative practices. I am the mother of twins born by C-section in 1997 and a child born naturally at home in late 2001. This book would have been extremely helpful to me in my first pregnancy and would have allowed me the information I needed to avoid an unnecessary C-section. The special situations section is extensive and the breastfeeding information is good. Overall, this is a great book.

Let me start by saying this is not a BAD book. If you are looking for an introduction to Natural Birth, this is a good beginner's guide. HOWEVER ~ having been a reader of Mothering magazine for a number of years, I expected something a bit more earthy, natural, and... well, RADICAL. This book is not it. It does discuss a wealth of topics, and as an alternative to some atrocity like the ridiculous "What to Expect..." guides, this is great, and I encourage you to read it ~ as a jumping off point for something a bit more Natural, like "Prenatal Yoga and Natural Childbirth," by Jeannine Parvati Baker.

I walked away from this book disappointed, and with the distinct suspicion that Peggy O'Mara watered down her views simply to appeal to a wider audience.

i'm almost through reading this and i have to say, i'm very disappointed. this is not what i expected from Mothering magazine at all.

it strikes me as only a slightly more natural approach than What to Expect When You're Expecting... still a good resource, but not as natural or alternative as i wanted or expected.

in the siblings section, it advises that siblings should be allowed to hold the newborn immediately. nope, sorry, not going to do it ~ immediately after birth (and the hours following) are, for me, strictly mama-baby bonding time. *nobody* will be holding my new sprite but me, unless there's an emergency. i'm not going to hand her off to my nearly-4-year-old son to hold just so *he* can bond with her and to lower the risk of sibling rivalry... there are better alternatives than this.

in the nutrition section, it relies on the USDA food guide pyramid ~ as a Mothering reader, i'm suprised the nutrition guidelines weren't based on something far healthier, such as the traditional Meditteranean diet.

in the childbirth section, every single illustration showing how the baby comes out of the mother depicts the mother laying down almost on her back, despite the repeated assertions that women should deliver their babies in an upright position. there is also no mention of unassisted childbirth, even though many women now are choosing to have their babies unassisted.

these are just the biggest issues i have with it (so far anyway). i plan to re-read it anyway to see if i'm taking too much out of context but, for my impression upon reading it once through... i have to say, i wouldn't recommend it.

I've read 3 other books about natural birth and so far this one is the best. I plan to have my baby naturally but I don't want to be influenced by bias opinion about hospital birth. This book gives me clear idea about what to expect, positive and negative of each subject. It covers a lot of different topics and very easy to read. The birth stories and the little tips that you'll find here and there are very helpful. In overall, this book feels more updated compared to Ina May's book, which I think is good book but quite uncomfortable to read in some parts. If you plan to just read one book, get this one. I got this from the library and plan to buy a copy to keep, reread and have it with us during labor.

This book was recommended to me by a friend who had a baby a year ago. As it's my first pregnancy, i found this book to be so helpful along the way. I love that it's broken down my trimester. It provides so much information from what questions to ask to what the medical studies really say about the safety and neccessity of various treatments. I also enjoy the yoga and fitness components in the book as well as the aromotherapy and body oil suggestions. It's definately a great book for those expecting who want to know all the facts to make a decision about how natural they'd like to make their birthing experience. I'm going to see my doctor today and can't wait to get a bunch of questions answered!

GREAT book!! Highly recommended for anyone who'd like to learn more about their options in childbirth. For a natural health promoter such as myself, I thoroughly enjoyed reading and learning... not pregnant yet, but plan to be in the future and this helped inform me of what to look forward too and the choices that I have.

I'm hosting a mom's group now and we're all sharing this book. I've studied many and this is the best, most clear and comprehensive book about pregnancy and delivery that I've found. It even discusses the what ifs, dangers and downsides.

This was the first book I bought for my first pregnancy, and I was disappointed that it did not cover many details about pregnancy that a new mom wants to know about. Each trimester is just one short chapter. It seems to be more focussed on the family after the birth. Suggesting eating raw eggs took me back a bit too. Spend your money on Ina May's Guide to Childbirth instead. This book just wasn't that helpful to me.