Customer Reviews

Water Birth: A Midwife's Perspective

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I had heard of and was considering a water birth for my first pregnancy. After reading Napierala's book I wonder why waterbirths are not everyone's choice. Now it seems a "no brainer." She gives wonderful detail on options, methods and benefits of waterbirths. She paints the picture of waterbirth as spiritual and gentle; the way a birth should be. Also included are moving birth stories. Plus a "how to build a tank" chapter for midwives. Excellent resource to show skeptical grandparents as well!

I became interested in water birth because I have back problems, and the only way I've been able to have a normal range of motion has been in the water. Being in the pool takes the pressure of gravity from the baby off my back, and warm water relaxes my stiff muscles. Water Birth gave me tons of detailed info, and thoroughly explained advice on the complete water birth process: the history behind it, how to make a tank, what problems may come up, and laboring in the water. The book isn't just a bunch of fluff that you could've just found by doing a net search. Yet it does contain beautiful stories that really draw you into the sacred experience while reading, which makes it interesting as well as informative. I bought this book in combination with Active Birth (revised edition). While Water Birth does outline some different positions a woman can try to help her labor progress, Active Birth focuses on this 10 times more, and has better diagrams to show what's happening inside a woman when she's going through the different stages of labor and pushing the baby out. I really needed these extra anatomical diagrams, lengthy explanations, and numerous positions so I could see how different positions would affect my spine. If you have a back problem as well, I'd suggest buying these two books, as they've complimented one another for me.

Read this book after attending my sister's water birth (which was amazing). This books sums it up quite well. It is detailed and realistic (not all births can be via water), and dispells the fear of water birth. How can water not be considered natural? A very good read if you are considering a water birth (which we are).

This book is an excellent resource for anybody considering a waterbirth, or anyone interested in the subject. It explores just about every aspect.. humans' connection to water, the benefits of water for a laboring woman, the impact of water on a just-born baby, generally accepted safe practices for a waterbirth, how to find a tub or build your own, what to have on hand for a waterbirth, and much more! It's amazing how much stuff this book covers!

If you are considering waterbirth, BUY THIS BOOK! If you are a midwife who practices waterbirth or is interested in doing so, BUY THIS BOOK! If you are going to be attending a waterbirth, BUY THIS BOOK! Hey, everyone should just buy the book to shut me up!

Filled with interesting historical insight to humans' connection to water. It is an interesting and captivating read, explaining the wonders of natural childbirth in water. It even describes in detail how to build your own birthing tub for home births! A must have for anyone considering waterbirth.

Great book for preparing for water birth! I hope all goes well for mine:) I loved all the pics and detailed info on positions and pushing etc.

Water Birth: A Midwife's Perspective is one of the few books entirely devoted to childbirth in water. Written by a Californian midwife who helped pioneer the contemporary interest in water births back in the 1980's and early 1990's, it is authoritative guide for those seeking a water birth as well as for birth practitioners. The author Susanna Napierala provides a wealth of personal experience and first-hand accounts. She also scrupulously cites her sources when discussing the history of the modern practice of water births and the benefits of laboring and/or delivering in water.

The one caveat for this book is that is was published in 1994, so the information it contains is slightly dated. While once considered experimental and viewed as suspect, the American attitude towards water births has changed. Many U.S. hospitals now have birthing tubs in their labor and delivery suites and offer the option of water births for low risk mothers, and a variety of birthing tubs including inflatable ones can be purchased or rented via the internet for those planing a home birth.

Many of the concerns raised by the author -- such as whether or not a women should be allowed to labor in water once her membranes have broken due to the risk of infection -- have been answered over the last quarter of a century. The standard practices described might have also changed or evolved, so check with your doctor, midwife, or doula if you have any questions.