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Ina May Gaskin
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Spiritual Midwifery Paperback – Illustrated, December 31, 2002

by Ina May Gaskin (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 1,096 ratings
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The original Spiritual Midwifery, published in 1976, introduced an entire generation of young women to the possibility of home birth and breast feeding. It also breathed new life into the all-but-vanished field of midwifery. This classic book on home birth is now in its fourth edition, with updated information on the safety of natural childbirth, new birthing stories, and the most recent statistics on births managed by The Farm Midwives. Ina May also provides new information about potentially dangerous techniques routinely used in hospitals during and after birth, as well as the latest findings about VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). Improved instructions for handling breech births are also given. Included are stories of working with Amish women, showing a different culture with a similar appreciation for natural childbirth. Photos, illustrations Over 540,000 copies sold!
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  1. Print length
    482 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Book Publishing Company (TN)
  4. Publication date
    December 31, 2002
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1 x 8.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1570671044
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1570671043
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ina May Gaskin is one of the Founders and the current president of the Midwives' Alliance of North America. She is a powerful advocate for a woman's right to give birth without excessive and unnecessary medical intervention.

Her clinical midwifery skills have been developed entirely through independent study and apprenticeship with other midwives around the world. Ina May and fellow Farm midwives were instrumental in the development of the rigorous Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) certification process.

Ina May travels internationally on speaking engagements and networking with other midwives and midwife alliances.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Book Publishing Company (TN); 4th ed. edition (December 31, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 482 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1570671044
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1570671043
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1 x 8.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 1,096 ratings

About the author

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Ina May Gaskin

Ina May Gaskin

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Ina May Gaskin is founder and director of the Farm Midwifery Center, located near Summertown, Tennessee. She has lectured all over the world at midwifery conferences and at medical schools, both to students and to faculty. The Farm is noted for its low rates of intervention, morbidity and mortality. Recently selected as a Visiting Fellow at Morse College of Yale University, Ina May also teaches midwifery, writes books and articles for medical journals and edits her quarterly journal, The Birth Gazette.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
1,096 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the stories in the book inspirational, empowering, and wonderful. They also appreciate the good information and diagrams. Readers describe the book as filled with amazing, entertaining birth stories that enrich and empower their understanding of birth. They say it's an easy, smooth read that sheds light on the true beauty of the birthing experience.

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Inspirational storiesInformation qualityBirth storiesReadabilityBeautyCalmnessValue for money
79 customers mention "Inspirational stories"79 positive0 negative

Customers find the stories inspiring, empowering, and wonderful. They appreciate the heartfelt wisdom and solid, grounded content. Readers say the book brings them courage and strength to have two natural births.

"...perceived surroundings and actions were all very informative and educational...." Read more

"...This book brought me the courage and strength to have two natural births.... I essentially enjoyed both pregnancies solo, although, I..." Read more

"...Great perspective on the emotions associated with birth.- Empowering stories of mothers and fathers working together to bring their little..." Read more

"......" Read more

75 customers mention "Information quality"71 positive4 negative

Customers find the book's information quality good. They say it's a wonderful resource for women preparing for childbirth and anyone who is interested in natural birthing. Readers also mention the second half of the book includes vital information regarding pregnancy and building confidence around birthing.

"...and intrigued me to learn and some of them are: the detailed anatomy of the pelvis, holistic treatment of many common conditions such as thrush,..." Read more

"...For me it was invaluable, the honesty and details of the many birth stories interwoven with the wisdom of Ina May helped me more than anything else..." Read more

"...I love it as good bedtime reading, a page or a story at a time...." Read more

"...wisdom, and a midwife guide in the back of the book which is helpful for the diagrams and preparing you for what types of things your midwife will..." Read more

30 customers mention "Birth stories"30 positive0 negative

Customers find the stories in the book amazing, entertaining, and an excellent overview of the reality of birth. They say the book is a fun and easy read that shows that completely natural birth is possible.

"...They assigned me to the doctor on duty that day. Both births were lovely. We went home the next day. My children are 16 and 17 this year...." Read more

"...This is a text meant to enrich and empower your understanding of birth, not explain the medical/biological processes...." Read more

"This book is a lot to take in, but shares countless stories of natural births and the comforting care that midwifery can be to a pregnant woman and..." Read more

"This book is full of positive birth stories that I found essential to my preparation for an unmedicated birth at home...." Read more

17 customers mention "Readability"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book beautifully written, easy to read, and a good preparation for an expectant mother. They also appreciate the smooth reading and comforting stories.

"...The reading is smooth and comforting and the stories are so varied, but all so empowering...." Read more

"...I also liked her section for midwives. I found it very easy to read and understand and I'm sure I will refer back to it often...." Read more

"I read this every night, a few stories at a time, and I love it. Written well, never gets boring, super interesting, and very dated (in a good way.)..." Read more

"...The pictures, photos and diagrams make it easy to read and glance through, the beautifully described experiences are motivating and overall,..." Read more

10 customers mention "Beauty"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book beautiful and eye-opening. They say it gives great visualization ideas. Readers also mention the photos are archival and fascinating.

"...It most broadens the mind in the area of holistic treatment as well as catches the reader off guard from our current stylistic approach to birth as..." Read more

"...She paints a beautiful picture of what can happen when a mother is fully supported and able to labor and deliver on her own with respectful support..." Read more

"...The photos are archival and fascinating. If you like this book, buy a birth story - the documentary about the farm midwives...." Read more

"...It normalized the whole idea of birth in my mind and gave me some great visualization ideas." Read more

4 customers mention "Calmness"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book calm and peaceful. They say it provides strength, support, and calm assurance. Readers also mention the reading is smooth and comforting.

"...The words in this book sent me strength, support and calm assuredness. If they could do it, so could I!..." Read more

"...The reading is smooth and comforting and the stories are so varied, but all so empowering...." Read more

"...our babe now going on four n so different from others: a deep sense of calm n peace like a buddha...." Read more

"...May's Guide to Childbirth before my planned home birth and felt very calm and prepared. I love this book." Read more

4 customers mention "Value for money"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book timeless and a good purchase.

"...This was a really good purchase and I almost read the whole thing in a week...." Read more

"...for my daughter in law, it came in the alloted time and was a resonable price. Everything was fine with this purchase." Read more

"Great book and great price" Read more

"Timeless and priceless..." Read more

Love the note🥰
5 out of 5 stars
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I just received the book and was happy to see a note attached. I can’t wait to start reading and learning more about being a midwife. Thanks for the well packaged book and speedy delivery.
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Top reviews from the United States

WO
5.0 out of 5 stars Mind Broadening
Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2012
Verified Purchase
I rate this book a 10. I would and have encouraged others to read it. I personally thought I was open-minded to the alternative choices of the process of birth yet this book expanded my vision and thought-process of the event of pregnancy and birth even broader. Anyone considering the art of midwifery or doulaship usually is holistic in nature. These people are the ones I would most consider suggestion of the book. It most broadens the mind in the area of holistic treatment as well as catches the reader off guard from our current stylistic approach to birth as well as everyday living both socially and intimately.

I learned many things from this book about birthing, about living, about thought process, about God's provision, about intimacy with one's mate and their involvement in birth and much more. The one thing that stands out is loose lips on your mouth means loose lips between your legs. That may be a vulgar way of putting it but when speaking of birth it is not. Technically it is not the vaginal lips that will be loose but rather the cervix but it gives the correct implication; looser = easier delivery. Another lesson is no complaining! This was a hard concept to swallow in that I am a) pessimist and b) knowledgeable first hand on the pain of childbirth. Ina May gives details of birth experiences on the precision of the birth changing in correlation to complaining verses positive attitude/environment. There is much more detail that I learned and intrigued me to learn and some of them are: the detailed anatomy of the pelvis, holistic treatment of many common conditions such as thrush, yeast infection, low iron, cramps, swelling, the encouraged participation of the husband, and most importantly that it is NATURAL and OKAY to want to have a birth the way one wants!

I only disagreed with the supernatural spiritual aspect of the book. The spirituality of emotions and perceived surroundings and actions were all very informative and educational. The spirituality of beliefs from beyond that effect us here I looked over or replaced them with my own beliefs using discernment where needed.
13 people found this helpful
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gr8fulgirl
5.0 out of 5 stars The strength of all the births before you...
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2011
Verified Purchase
....This book brought me the courage and strength to have two natural births....
I essentially enjoyed both pregnancies solo, although, I never felt alone. I always felt like I had the experience's of all those strong women and the loving aura of each of their births tucked into my collective conscious. The birthing memories of all the women throughout the ages who've been giving natural births, beginning in caves, came through to me in their stories. The words in this book sent me strength, support and calm assuredness. If they could do it, so could I!
My story: I had my babies in remote southern oregon. So remote that the midwife wouldn't commit to my care. I went through my pregnancies with no prenatal care, Lamaze, etc, and few other woman to talk with. Instead, I had and a handful of books, namely: What to Expect When Your Expecting, and SPIRITUAL MIDWIFERY. (I did go to clinic a few times to have my vitals checked, as per recommendation by the WTEWYE book, blood pressure, blood sugar, etc). On the day that labor started, we drove to the hospital, walked in and I said, " Im having a baby". They assigned me to the doctor on duty that day. Both births were lovely. We went home the next day. My children are 16 and 17 this year.
My advice, from my own experience, not found in a book: In the days before the labor starts, your body will begin to ramp up energy you will need for the birth and days after. It will be tempting to use that energy to fly into maximum nesting mode, or hike across town or rearrange the furniture in the whole house,etc, but resist, you'll want to be awake and strong for the birth. I didn't understand that for my first birth, and I used up this special energy all weekend, falling into bed exhausted at midnight Sunday. I immediately felt contractions and was convinced that my baby would come in hours, so we drove to hospital, by then I was so tired that I couldn't really muster up the strength for the strong contractions needed to guide the baby out. The labor went on for 23 long hours, and a pinch of pitocin in the last hour(so no, not 100%natural). For my second birth, I conserved energy towards the end. My labor pangs began, again, as I laid down in bed after a long day. I decided to get a little sleep before going to hospital this time. To my surprise, I slept through the night. This happened again the next night, and by the third morning, I woke to labor pangs and felt refreshed and ready to have a baby. In I went to the hospital and within hours I had an easy birth and a big bouncy baby boy! (And the aura in the room really did turn purple, just like one of the stories in the book says it did for her!)
21 people found this helpful
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shkbclimber
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended for Expecting Parents
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2024
Verified Purchase
This is my number one recommendation for expecting parents, a read that I think the men can really get into also, or that couples can read together. For me it was invaluable, the honesty and details of the many birth stories interwoven with the wisdom of Ina May helped me more than anything else I read when it came time to birth my babies.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Derwisch
5.0 out of 5 stars Frauenbuch
Reviewed in Germany on March 9, 2024
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Gute Gemeinschaft
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Erely Rubio
5.0 out of 5 stars Léanlo si buscan un parto natural
Reviewed in Mexico on January 27, 2019
Verified Purchase
No saben cómo me ayudó este libro. Incluso en trabajo de parto use muchas cosas que leí en este libro lo cual pensé que iba a ser imposible y no iba a recordar nada. Es cierto que debemos regresar a los partos naturales dentro de lo posible y entender cómo funciona el cuerpo con la mente de la mujer.
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Tayla
5.0 out of 5 stars A great positive and informative birthing book
Reviewed in Australia on March 13, 2024
Verified Purchase
A bit hippyish- but great to get you in a positive birth mindset (especially the birth stories). Love Ina Mays books.
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Georgina Tapias
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantástico
Reviewed in Spain on July 30, 2017
Verified Purchase
Un libro fantástico y muy especial. Creo que Ina May trajo este libro al mundo con el mismo amor y respeto con el que ha traído a cada uno de los bebés a los que ha ayudado a nacer.
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arikara
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the definitive books on natural childbirth
Reviewed in Canada on May 11, 2014
Verified Purchase
This book was originally written in 1972 by a midwife, who is a lifelong advocate for, and practitioner of natural childbirth. It contains dozens of birth stories, most are uplifting but a few are sad. The book also contains sections of helpful information for the parents as well as information and instructions geared towards the midwife including development of the baby, examining the pregnant mom, instructions for normal and difficult births, and lists for supplies. It is written in easy to understand plain English and profusely illustrated with photos, drawings and diagrams. The language and photos in the book are a product of its time - the early 70’s - and as such it uses fun “hippy” words and phrases throughout.

As a new doula, I found the book to be inspirational because it is so totally different from the modern allopathic approach to pregnancy and birth in the hospital, and its use of pharmaceutical drugs and interventions. The more natural approach of keeping the parents, especially the mother, calm and in a loving state of mind makes the labour and delivery so much easier. The midwives in the book turn the pregnancy and birth experience into a wonderful and spiritual event by maintaining a loving supportive environment for women while giving birth by the use of simple techniques such as encouraging cuddling, “smooching” and loving during labour or the “rushes” as they call the contractions.

The philosophies in this book are what I plan to use in my own practice as a doula. From qualities of love, acceptance and gentleness, to the more mechanical things to do to help the mother, such as encouraging her to keep her lips loose to help to loosen the lips of the vagina. And little phrasings to tell her such as, “things are progressing as they should”, “don’t worry, there is lots of room to stretch down there”. “Don’t think of it as pain, think of it as an interesting sensation that requires your complete attention.”

I loved this book. I found it informative and inspiring in its illustrations of how wonderful an experience natural childbirth can be.

***This review is an excerpt from a project that I completed for my doula course***
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