Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

I wasn't intending to review any of the pregnancy/birth/childcare books i was reading, but wanted to add my notes for this one. It's not complete trash, but if you're wanting an unmedicated hospital birth, this might rub you the wrong way, as it did to me.

Stuff i found helpful or encouraging:

• Reinforcement of the fact that moving around during labor and using alternative positions can be beneficial.
• Listening to your body for cues to push may lead to a more successful birth and less risk of tearing.
• Actionable breathing and vocal tools to use during labor.
• General insistence that you are strong and capable of an unmedicated birth if that's what you desire.

Not so great:

• Comes across super discouragingly of pain medication, or any medical intervention as well as hospital birth in general. I think it's one thing to educate on the pros and cons, but this stance is not that. It trends towards fear-mongering, too.
• I had to grimace at too many instances of her reminding that we can decline any recommend medical procedure. I know what i want, but i certainly don't know more than my doctor and value her expertise for the safety of my baby and myself.
• I had the updated version, but it still felt outdated. Some of the things she laments that hospitals don't support were included in my intro paperwork as standards of care.
• The Farm gives mega cult vibes.

Get it from the library or secondhand.

I learned about the author's issues after getting it used, but before reading it, for what it's worth.