Resources - Pregnancy / Childbirth

• Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth - The classes stress the importance of Healthy Baby, Healthy Mother and Healthy Families. We attract families who are willing to take the responsibility needed for preparation and birth. Find a Bradley instructor near you.
• Lamaze International - Find a Lamaze instructor near you.
• Waterbirth International - Founded in 1988, Waterbirth International was created to facilitate maternity care reform by helping parents and practitioners institute policies for the use of warm water immersion during labor. Our chartered purpose is to ensure that waterbirth become an "available option" for all women in all birth settings by 2015.
• ¨ Baby on the Way by Martha Sears, William Sears, Christie Watts Kelly - From Publisher's Weekly: "Physical and emotional realities of pregnancy are likened to things a child can understand. Morning sickness, the authors explain, is similar to 'the way your tummy feels yucky when you eat three slices of birthday cake and ice cream.' Sidebars throughout suggest things siblings can do to prepare for baby's arrival, such as visiting the doctor with their mother, or asking her 'what it felt like when you were growing inside her.' An endnote offers tips to parents and suggests additional resources. What Baby Needs, from the same team, helps siblings adjust to having the new baby in the house."
• ¨ Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin - "A great book! The first half features a variety of birthing stories and the second half features the 'practical side of natural birthing.' A fascinating read!"
• ¨ The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer - "Gives the pros and cons to a variety of standard medical interventions. A perfect gift for the mom-to-be who wants to understand the 'hows' and 'whys'." Read the Introduction and Chapter 7: The Slow Labor: Patience is a Virtue.
• ¨ Obstetric Myths Versus Research Realities by Henci Goer - "Book Description: This book is an attempt to make the medical literature on a variety of key obstetric issues accessible to people who lack the time, expertise, access, or proximity to a medical library to research concerns on their own. This compact, accurate, yet understandable reference is designed for people without medical training and organized for easy access." Read the Introduction or an excerpt from Chapter 14: Episiotomy.
• Create your birth plan at BabyCenter: This interactive website that contains a ton of information on a variety of standard medical procedures and medications. You can learn about your options and create a birth plan all on one website.