Henna hands and rock

Resources

Books about Birth

I have all of these books in my library, plus others. Clients booking me on packages Silk, Velvet, Vintage Lace and Tapestry are welcome to borrow books and other items, such as slings, bengkung wraps and rebozos. 

  • Bump – Kate Evans My personal favourite. Packed full of witty cartoons and insight about birth. Radical and inspiring.
  • The Positive Birth Book – Milli Hill. Great book, empowering and up to date. Featuring visual birth preference tools by Kate Evans.
  • Spiritual Midwifery – Ina May Gaskin This classic sixties birth bible has inspired generations of women to have spiritual births.
  • Guide to Childbirth – Ina May Gaskin This has a more contemporary flavour than Spiritual Midwifery. Highly recommended.
  • Birthing from Within – Pam England A book packed full of great content. Highly recommended if you are arty and/or want to come to terms with a previous c-section birth.
  • Am I allowed? (AIMS) This a great little book, which outlines all your rights during childbirth. All of the AIMS books are evidence-based, clear and concise.
  • Breech birth (AIMS) All of the AIMS books are evidence-based, clear and concise. This one explores your options if your baby is breech.
  • Ultrasound, unsound (AIMS) Explores the safety of ultrasound
  • Vitamin K (AIMS) Explores the controversial issue of vitamin K
  • The second stage (AIMS) Outlines what happens during the second stage of birth. Particularly recommended if you’ve previously had a VBAC.
  • Birthing your placenta (AIMS) All of the AIMS books are evidence-based, clear and concise.
  • Birth after Caesarean (AIMS) All of the AIMS books are evidence-based, clear and concise.
  • Caesarean Birth (AIMS) All of the AIMS books are evidence-based, clear and concise.
  • Induction (AIMS) All of the AIMS books are evidence-based, clear and concise.
  • The Water Birth Book – Janet Balaskas A little dated, but still relevant and a good read for those wanting water births.
  • The Birth Partner – Penny Simpkin A good resource for partners

Books about Breastfeeding

  • The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding – La Leche League The only book you need about breastfeeding. A fantastic reference book and brilliantly written.
  • The Food of Love – Kate Evans More cartoons and wisdom from Kate Evans

Books to inspire your journey

  • Hello Baby – Jenni Overend. Beautiful picture book about home birth for children. I challenge you to read this without a tear in your eye. It’s a very emotional journey.
  • Blessing the Way – Jaine Rose Short illustrated booklet with warm and wise words from talented artist and writer Jaine Rose.

Websites for birth

There are loads of amazing internet resources that you can access completely for free. Here’s a list to get you going: 

http://www.sarawickham.com – Sara Wickham is a midwife, author and researcher, providing information, inspiration and illumination for midwives, birth folk, women and families. She works using a strong evidence-base. Highly recommended.

https://midwifethinking.com Well written and thought provoking blog by Midwife, Rachel Reed. Stimulating thinking and sharing knowledge, evidence and views on birth & midwifery.

http://evidencebasedbirth.com Educating and empowering parents so that they can make informed decisions about birth

http://www.aims.org.uk – Association for Improvement in the Maternity Services

http://www.midwifery.org.uk – Association of Radical Midwives

http://www.birthrights.org.uk – protecting birth-rights in the UK

http://spinningbabies.com – a great resource full of tips about how to get your baby in a great position for birth

http://www.homebirth.org.uk – packed full of inspiring home birth stories

Websites for breastfeeding

https://www.laleche.org.uk – a great resource full of all the information you need to know to help you with breastfeeding problems and to get you off to a great start.

http://kellymom.com – another great breastfeeding resource

http://breastfeeding.support – a personal favourite of mine. Fantastic website by Philippa Pearson-Glaze IBCLC

Articles and links

Gestational diabetes: http://birthwithoutfearblog.com/2013/06/21/gestational-diabetes-to-test-or-not-to-test/

Vaginal examinations: https://midwifethinking.com/2015/05/02/vaginal-examinations-a-symptom-of-a-cervix-centric-birth-culture/

Induction: http://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-inducing-labor-for-going-past-your-due-date/

When labour needs to start: https://magicalbirth.wordpress.com/2015/07/27/when-labour-needs-to-start/

Gentle caesarean: https://cambridgevbacfriends.wordpress.com/2015/04/23/rachels-story-of-a-gentle-caesarean-birth/

The birth pause: http://www.thebirthpause.com/p/the-birth-pause.html?m=1

The breast crawl: http://www.breastcrawl.org/science.shtml

Orgasmic birth: http://www.orgasmicbirth.com/birth-stories/orgasm-a-tool-for-birth/

The golden hour: http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/7-benefits-undisturbed-first-hour-after-birth/

Video: Sex like birth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZG0T7xHy6A&app=desktop

The ‘Which’ birth tool: http://www.which.co.uk/birth-choice/understand-your-choices

Resuscitation and the placenta: https://midwifethinking.com/2010/08/26/the-placenta-essential-resuscitation-equipment/

Your rights in birth: http://www.birthrights.org.uk/advice/your-rights/

Birth grief: http://wholewoman.com.au/birth/the-seven-stages-of-birth-grief

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