Journey into Motherhood: Inspirational Stories of Natural Birth (Paperback)

by Sheri L. Menelli (Author) "BEING PREGNANT brought me renewed vitality, but as every mother knows, there comes a time when you have had enough of being pregnant..." (more)
Key Phrases: birthing ball, unassisted childbirth, birth ball, Mother's Guidance, Additional Thoughts, Ina May Gaskin (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"...I highly recommend it." -- Gurmukh, Director, Golden Bridge Yoga and Author

"...these inspiring stories of natural childbirth show that childbirth can and should be safe, empowering and beautiful." -- Penny Simkin, founder of DONA and co-author of When Survivors Give Birth: Understanding and Healing the Effects of Early Sexual Abuse on Childbearing Women

"women and girls need to hear these stories and know that natural birth is full of magnificent, life-changing wisdom." -- Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom and The Wisdom of Menopause

Product Description
Journey into Motherhood is filled with proven secrets and techniques for pregnant and birthing women, including:

• How you can experience painless labor

• Insights and advice from women who’ve been there

• Options for easing labor and delivery—including yoga, doulas, hypnosis and water birth

• A resource guide to childbirth classes, magazines, websites and audios/videos.

As a childbirth educator, Sheri Menelli came face to face with the effects of childbirth "horror stories" on expectant women. Fear and anxiety about labor and delivery are passed from woman to woman. These emotions make it difficult for women to have a positive labor and delivery experience

Childbirth does not have to be painful and frightening. The culture of fear surrounding childbirth in the U.S. is shifting, and women are eager to share their inspiring stories of wonderful birth experiences.

This heartwarming collection offers 48 true stories of natural birth, told in the mothers’ own voices. As diverse as the women who wrote them, the stories include hospital births, home births, unassisted births, emergency deliveries, births attended by young siblings, outdoor births and more.

Journey into Motherhood will guide you to have the kind of birth that YOU want. No matter what kind of birth you choose, this book is for you.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 356 pages
• Publisher: White Heart Publishing (October 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974785326
• ISBN-13: 978-0974785325
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #523,649 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Changing The Way Women Think About Birth, November 16, 2004

By	Dawn Thompson "Doula Dawn" (Encinitas, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Not just as women, but an entire society, we need to stop scaring the day lights out of women who are venturing into this beautiful journey of motherhood. My hope for this fantastic book is that every pregnant woman read it. That we stop convincing them to read "What to expect when...." This is the kind of book that will prepare woman for a fantastic birth whether they choose medication or not. As a labor doula, it is now on my list of required reading for all of my clients. Please join me in encouraging all pregnant families to have this book on their night table.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent resource!!, December 9, 2004

By	Mothering Natured - See all my reviews

This book is wonderful. Genuine birth experiences which inspire, encourage and uplift. These stories show the many ways we might attain the birth experience each of us seeks, they illustrate the differences each of us needs, and they make clear the fact that our bodies CAN birth without intervention. The natural, rather than standard, birth experience is celebrated time and again within this book. These stories are not the same tale, repeated over and again, in different voices. There is a rich array of experience here and each affected me in it`s own way. Many of the tales left me in tears, rejoicing with Mothers and Fathers I'd never meet. Each also shares personal wisdom gained and resources beneficial in their journey, offering all of us the opportunity to find what we need as we expand our knowledge and reach deeper within, seeking our own empowered birth and the legacy created with each.

For Mothers and Fathers, birth attendees, first timers or the multi-experienced, this book offers so much for every one of us!

What a beautiful way to convey the strength of a birthing woman and how natural and healthy the entire process is.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You have to buy this book if you're pregnant!, November 22, 2004

By	Lisa Druxman (San Diego CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I could not put this book down! I tried to "save" a story to read each night during my pregnancy but always read more! EVERY pregnant woman should read this. It will remove all fear of childbirth and will actually get you excited about this amazing rite of passage in to womanhood. There are so many ways for babies to come in to this world. I know after reading this book that my baby will enter in a calm and ready environment! If you're pregnant, don't even think of not reading it! I've read it all and this is my favorite!