The Nurturing Touch at Birth: A Labor Support Handbook [Paperback]

Paulina G. Perez (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1997

The heart of this book centers around the supportive care given to the laboring mother and details the labor support techniques useful when caring for the laboring woman. The topics include let's talk about pain, trusting relationships, the value of education, communications skills and tools, relaxation, affirmation, visualization, touch and massage, aromatherapy, music therapy, visualization,breathing techniques, focusing, rituals, therapeutic use of water, reflexology, acupressure, reflexology, maternal positioning and other strategies and techniques like the birth ball, lunge, dangle, towel pull, pelvic circles and use of rebozo.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A wealth of information & many techniques that some of our "seasoned nurses" may have never even seen! Thanks Polly! -- Grand Island, Nebraska August 23, 2006 Lana McCoy RN,CD

A wealth of information & many techniques that some of our "seasoned nurses" may have never even seen! Thanks Polly! -- Grand Island, Nebraska August 23, 2006 Lana McCoy RN,CD

Great refresher for'veteran' nurses-wonderful tool for the new to OB nurses. A new primer for OB nursing!! -- National Naval Medical Center Bethesda MD Aug 23, 2006 Theresa Hart, RNC MS

In this little handbook, experienced doula, childbirth educator, and author Paulina Perez has gathered in one place the collective experience of many, many birth attendants. The book contains a compilation of numerous tips and hints on how to support women through the hard work of giving birth, including relaxation and visualization techniques, touch and massage,position changes, how to talk to women in labor, and a variety of strategies and teechniques for pain relief. An extensive list of additional resources, including books, videos, and labor support tools appears at the end of the book. The book will be a valuable library addition for inexperienced doulas and childbirth educators. -- Birth

It provides concise literature review- supports evidenced-based, professional nursing practice. A "Must read" for all nurses working with laboring moms! -- WI Birth Center Milwaukee, WI August 23, 2006 Nancy Rogers, BSN,RNC Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Paulina Perez is driven to promote "the courage, bravery, boldness, and tenacity that is deep inside all women" during labor and birth and emphasize the supportive care provided by caregivers. In the forward, Phyllis Klaus explains that " one of the primary tasks of a supportive caregiver is to find out where the mother is and take her where she wants to go." This handbook will assist anyone providing care during the birthing experience. The information is not explicitly directed at any one type of caregiver, although the implied focus is primarily on intrapartum nurses and professional labor assistants. This book provides many tools to the caregiver for building the trust that is essential to the professional relationship with the laboring woman. The author begins by describing the labor process and characteristics of pain. She then presents the bulk of the information: a collection of methods, techniques, and tools that can be used to attend to the support needs of the mother. The final chapter discusses strategies for inplementing these labor support techniques into all types of birth sites. -- Mother Baby Journal

Polly has given us the concise and definitive guide to the comfort measures we can provide to the laboring mother. From the "caring heart" symbol appearing on the cover and throughout the pages, to the resources list at the end, The Nurturing Touch At Birth: A Labor Support Handbook is an invaluable tool for doulas. At the beginning of every chapter are inspirational and empowering quotations that remind us of the far-reaching dynamics of labor support. There are photo illustrations within the text, and a lovely poem at the end. This book is a pleasure to read and is, in itself, a valuable tool. It is through, yet concise enough to be a quick reference. May I suggest it should be a permanent addition to anyone's birth bag. --DONA Newsletter

Great refresher for'veteran' nurses-wonderful tool for the new to OB nurses. A new primer for OB nursing!! -- National Naval Medical Center Bethesda MD Aug 23, 2006 Theresa Hart, RNC MS

In this little handbo --The Journal of Perinatal Education

The Nurturing Touch at Birth is both a teaching and resource tool for beginning & experienced childbirth educator instructorsm doulas, and L&D staff and administration. It is not just a book of techniques and strategies; rather, it describes how to accomplishe change, work with difficult people, gain support, and develop good communcation and trust.

The Nurturing Touch is easy to read, easy to follow, in logical progression and well organized. This book is Lamaze Int's Philosophy of Birth, Perez covers all aspects of this and the book represents the philosophy that knowledge is power and that knowledge is "empowering, not overpowering." The book gives the mother and caregiver tools to feel empowered and supportive.

Reading The Nurturing Touch was enjoyable and I highly recommend that this book be required reading for childbirth instructors.

Springfield, MO Sheila Bowles, BSN, LCCE, FACCE --The Journal of Perinatal Education

From the Author

The following is manna to the ears of the author-Paulina Perez. "This clearly written handbook is easy to read and contains "everything you always wanted to know" about supporting women through the labor and birth process. The techniques are immediately usable. Even the most experienced labor support professional can learn some surprising new techniques. I was happy to discover techniques I was able to use immediately! Thank you, Polly, for your leadership and commitment to women, families and all of us who support a beautiful birth with positive birth memories. " Joy Grohar, Certified Nurse Midwife 1996 AWHONN president Practice Director, Mercy Hospital and Medical Center Chicago, Illinois

"This is one of the most comprehensive books on childbirth available to birthing professionals. It is "one-stop shopping" for the knowledge and skills that can be used to provide support during the entire birthing process. There are tips, tricks, and information that can be used for a wide variety of women with differing plans for their birth in any setting. Touch at Birth not only teaches how to provide support for a woman giving birth, but provides encouragement and strength to birthing professionals. You don’t only get the "how-to’s" with this book, you get the "what’s" and the "how-comes" as well! Nurturing It takes the whole spectrum of care for a woman during labor and birth and turns it into a rainbow." Julie Holden, RN, BSN, MA Clinical Resource Specialist Melrose-Wakefield Hospital

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Cutting Edge Press (May 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964115980
• ISBN-13: 978-0964115989
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #368,341 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for Doulas!, July 9, 2002

By 

Katrina MacLeod (Chester County, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Nurturing Touch at Birth: A Labor Support Handbook (Paperback)

This book helped me help one of my doula clients recently, and I am so grateful Polly Perez wrote it! My client decided on an epidural and while she and her husband took a nap I decided to read through the Nurturing Touch at Birth.I had just purchased it the day before and was eager to learn from it. Well, I happened to read about the knee press and how to do it... Guess what? The mom woke up after a 45 minute snooze and had terrible back pain but was not allowed out of bed. So her husband and I did the knee press until the pain passed. Worked like a charm.
Thanks for writing such a great book Polly Perez!
Katrina MacLeod
birth doula
Chester County, PA

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Nurturing Touch at Birth: review, September 4, 2006

By 

Carol J Craig, RNC, MSN (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Nurturing Touch at Birth: A Labor Support Handbook (Paperback)

This book is an indispensible part of any labor & delivery unit, especially one that supports mothers in their choices of birth experiences. I have used this book in orientation of new labor & delivery nurses with great success. It really opens the eyes of the orientee to other options than a 100% epidural rate. I would highly recommend its reading and application to every labor & delivery nurse.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Nurturing Touch at Birth: A Labor Support Handbook, August 28, 2006

By 

Susan J. Weekly - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Nurturing Touch at Birth: A Labor Support Handbook (Paperback)

In this age of high-tech birth, it is refreshing to have a book that addresses what Polly Perez describes as "the soul in the birth room." Perez emphasizes the importance of empowering the birthing woman during her experience of labor and birth. This means that the supportive caregiver will listen to what each individual woman wants and needs, and then, help the woman achieve a labor and birth experience that is uniquely her own.

In this handbook, the mother and the caregiver will find a large variety of helpful nonpharmacologic techniques to address the physical and emotional needs that may be encountered during labor and birth. Together, the woman and the caregiver work as a team to employ the techniques that are most beneficial in meeting the woman's needs.

The importance of continuous labor support is well documented and this handbook provides a wealth of information regarding how to provide that support to laboring women. It is a must-have book for anyone providing support to laboring women!