Customer Reviews

Unassisted Homebirth: An Act of Love

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I must admit, my first thought upon hearing that Lynn Griesemer was writing a book about unassisted birth was, "What more is there to say?" (I had also written a book on the subject). I soon learned there was a lot more to say! Lynn's book is full of interesting insights, tips, observations, suggestions, and stories about this most intimate "act of love." I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning not only how to take their own birth into their hands, but their own life as well.

I am profoundly thankful for this book. Although it came out right after the birth of my first child, I got some of the advance copies and immediatly recognized what a valuable resource this was going to be for couples interested in birth.
My husband an I choose to birth our babies peacefully, and safely by ourselves. I am thankful everyday for that desision. As a Childbirth Educator, I hear, of woman being abused and violated in Birth, of babies being hurt and isolated, and I am so sad that more families couldn't have found and read this book. Lynn does an excellant job of shareing the joys of couples homebirth. The incredible attachment that forms in the family when only the family participates in the rite of passage of birth. When the baby only sees his mother and father and feels their loving bare hands, he is welcomed in the way nature intended. God, nature, what ever, did not make latex gloves growing on trees, neither is it designed for us to have strangers at this most important time in the families life.
Lynn does the world a service when she makes this information available to the public. As Suzzanne Arms says, "Only when we change the way we treat eachother at birth, will we be able to change the violence in this world." More people would reap the benifits of a connected, nurturing, caring society if they were to read and implement "Unassisted Homebirth".
This book complete with examples, stories, suggestions, and ideas will be a valuable resource to the family seeking a connected birth and parenting experiece. I applaude Lynns work, as I'm sure It will help to change our cultural beliefs about birth being a dangerous event fraght with pain. She tells quite correctly I might add, that Birth can be perfect, safe, joyful and attainable, when we give birth in the way we were intended, simply with the one person in the world that we concieved with!

I have a lot of the same views. Childbirth is a natural function of women's bodies, not a crisis situation to be treated with interventions. I have seen the same situation in my state regarding midwives. I have had the same bad experiences with hospitals and doctors who do not respect women's rights in childbirth. My unassisted homebirth was by far one of the most wonderful things I have ever experienced. It was so different than my hospital births, so much more peaceful. It drew my husband I closer to each other and the Lord and we were able to bond instantly with our child. I did give myself excellent prenatal care before embarking on this journey and had one ultrasound to ensure everything was looking good. This was my 4th birth and lasted only 20 minutes. What a remarkable difference when compared to my hospital births!

The only thing I did not like about the book was that it did not give more information on how to handle the more common problems at birth such as the cord around the neck, meconium, etc. For that, I recommend Spiritual Midwifery and internet research.

Lynn Griesemer's Unassisted Homebirth: An Act of Love is a good resource for anyone determined to have a DIY birth (Do-it-Yourself birth). Additionally, labor support doulas, childbirth educators, and midwives can find useful information between the covers. While, of course, Griesemer's position is pro-homebirth, she fairly and consistently advises readers why they may not be candidates for unassisted homebirth. However, even though she discusses both sides, the book is clearly written for those who have already decided to give birth at home without a midwife or medical caregiver present. Griesemer makes some excellent points about the values of unassisted homebirth: empowerment, woman- and partner-centered (husband-centered) birth, and the effectiveness of labor support. The author also provides a few pages on labor doulas. She explains that some DIYs prefer to have someone other than their partner for support in attendance. In her view, the most logical choice would be a labor doula. Griesemer makes a good case for labor doulas pointing out how effective they are in reducing length of labor. I especially enjoyed the questions and answers throughout the book. Griesemer sent out questionnaires to families that experienced unassisted homebirths. Their answers ranged from the practical to the metaphysical-both of which are quite enlightening. My favorite section of this book appealed to my romantic side and I feel it is noteworthy. Griesemer's strongest reason for affirming and promoting homebirths is one of unity and love. She states, "Both partners conceived the child together and it seems logical they should both embrace the birth, the beginning of their parenting journey together. Traditional birth experiences pull a couple apart rather than strengthen their unity." Birth and sex are intimate experiences, both with similarities. Griesemer asks, if sex is intimate and private, shouldn't birth be?

This book is a definite must-read for any woman that is thinking of conceiving a child or who is already pregnant. This book is not "on the fringe", despite its slightly shocking title. ;) It is a book for all women (and the men who love them) about how to go about getting a birth that is satisfying for the couple, as well as ensuring the most safety for mother and baby. It is a real book that tells the truth about what you're really gaining, and missing, when you leave the OB and the midwife knocking at your door.

One thing I really appreciated was the chapter devoted to men's experiences of birth. This is a topic not covered in many other books, and definitely not in this kind of detail. Every woman knows that it's one thing to talk to a woman about birth, and a total other thing to talk to a man about what they want. It is their baby too, and this book is written for the couple.

I will be buying this book for all my pregnant friends to read!

I have mixed feelings about this book. It is really one lady's perspective. I bought it because I too had problems finding someone to attend my home birth. I am severely chemically sensitive and so giving birth in a hospital is actually more likely to cause me life threatening complications than a birth at home. I just don't want to take the risk. So as my husband and I realized that we might have to do this ourselves I ordered this book and I'm glad I did. We have completely come around to the idea that even if there was a good practitioner (doctor or midwife) available we would still want an unattended birth and this book might help you understand why we might come to this conclusion. It is worth reading if you are thinking about it.

This author prevents few verifiable facts, so if that is what you seek you won't find much here. BUT what I found most valuable about this book is the non-tangable. The author strikes to the heart of the matter and brings up some points that I would not have thought about as benefits to having a private husband and wife only birth. I don't agree with all her points or her reasons behind them, but the book was still enjoyable. My husband and I both read this book and discussed it and found that we very much agreed with certain of her perspectives on how this experience would enhance our relationship.

If you are considering an unattended birth this is a great book to read - especially the testimonies (and I don't typically like testimonies in books like this). She does belabor her predudices, so just be prepared to skim those sections that you disagree with.

If you are already convinced you want an unattended and are looking for detailed information on how to recognize problems and what to do if they develop or what supplies to have on hand this isn't the book you are looking for, though it might be enjoyable to you for other reasons. The only thing I found for this is the two volume set "Holistic Midwifery" by Anne Frye. They are huge and expensive, but invaluable and, I think, understandable to the lay person.

I really wanted to like this book as there are so few books out there on the subject but it is definitely not for everyone. I enjoyed the unassisted birth stories from other couples & there is definitely some good food for thought on medical interventions & the medical community's mindset & motivations but the author's Christian point of view (quite a conservative one) rubbed me the wrong way. I don't think we need to bag teen mothers, homosexuals, single mums etc as deviants. Also, her insistance on the crucial role a husband plays in childbirth didn't sit well with me. I mean, I'm sure the baby will come out without him. It is perhaps my own bias but I think the birth is more the woman's domain than the man's & the author's husband's insistance that she couldn't photograph or video her birth or it would lessen HIS pleasure in it annoyed me. (Hello? Who's having this baby??)
So I would wholeheartedly recommend Laura Shanley's 'Unassisted Childbirth' over this book if you are buying just one. But if you are not offended by a narrow Christian definition of 'how' people should be & an insistance on the pedestal-like position of the male partner this book does have some good stories. It's not a 'how to' manual, though.

This book is wonderful resource for parents searching for an alternative to the fear-based obstetricly managed birth culture today. Lynn Griesomer does an excellent job of presenting the pros and cons and reasons for and against this contravertial method of birthing. Most importantly it really addresses the philsophy and phycology behind ones motivations for this type of birth. I applaud Lynn's fantastic work on unassisted homebirth and all that that book has done for the unassisted community and beyond.

I am pregnant with my first child, and after reading a lot of books on the subject of childbirth, I had the feeling that the medical establishment controlled my pregnancy and birth, and that my husband was a mere bystander at the whole process. This book has shed a lot of light on how I could HAVE OPTIONS other than hospital birth, and how natural and joyful the bringing of another human being into this world could be. Without the fuss and hassle of giving a performance of good behaviour and compliance to cultural rules. A truly inspirational book for mums-to-be !

Lynn Griesemer's UNASSISTED HOMEBIRTH is a refreshingly honest and empowering book. This is wonderful, bold stuff that deserves wide attention. Yes, we can reclaim our lives and that begins with parents birthing their children without people who make their living in the technological childbirth industry. I highly recommend expectant couples to take to heart the truthful message and information in this important book."