The Birth Book Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth
by Sears, William; Sears, MarthaFormat: Paperback
Pub. Date: 1994-02-01
Publisher(s): Little, Brown Spark
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Summary
In The Birth Book: Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth, William and Martha Sears, authors of The Baby Book and creators of the concept of "attachment parenting," here turn their attention to the birth experience. In this helpful resource guide, the Searses cover the gamut of possibilities, and teach readers what they need to know to take control of their own birthings. The Birth Book is divided into three parts: "Preparing for Birth," "Easing Pain in Labor," and "Experiencing Birth." You'll find details about vaginal births; cesareans; VBACs; water births; home births; best birthing positions; drugs; pain; how to design your own birth plan; the humor, chemistry, and sexuality of birth; and pages and pages of birth stories.
Author Biography
William Sears, M.D., is the author of more than 30 books, including Dr. Sears' L.E.A.N. Kids, which he wrote with Sean Foy.
Table of Contents
| A Word from Dr. Bill and Martha | p. xi |
| Preparing for Birth | p. 1 |
| Our Birth Experiences--What We Have Learned | p. 3 |
| Our Eight Births: Martha's Story | p. 3 |
| Ten Tips for a Safe and Satisfying Birth | p. 10 |
| Birth--Then and Now | p. 15 |
| Birth Before 1900: Home, Sweet Home | p. 15 |
| Birthing Practices 1900-1950: Birth the American Way | p. 18 |
| Birthing Practices 1950-1990: Women on Top | p. 22 |
| The 1990s and Beyond: What's Ahead | p. 25 |
| What You Can Do | p. 27 |
| Choices in Childbirth | p. 28 |
| Working Out a Birthing Philosophy | p. 28 |
| Choosing Your Birth Team | p. 30 |
| Choosing a Birth Place | p. 38 |
| Choosing a Childbirth Class | p. 50 |
| Getting Your Body Ready for Birth | p. 59 |
| Assuming the Right Pregnancy Posture | p. 59 |
| Good Body Mechanics | p. 60 |
| Best Birth Exercises | p. 62 |
| Eating Right--For Two | p. 69 |
| Tests, Technology, and Other Interventions That Happen on the Way to Birth | p. 75 |
| Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM) | p. 76 |
| Ultrasound | p. 80 |
| Pitocin (Oxytocin) | p. 84 |
| Active Management of Labor (AML) | p. 86 |
| Episiotomy | p. 88 |
| Screening Tests for Birth Defects | p. 94 |
| Cesarean Births | p. 102 |
| Why So Many Cesareans? | p. 102 |
| What Happens in a Surgical Birth? | p. 104 |
| When Cesareans Are Necessary | p. 108 |
| Ten Ways to Avoid a Cesarean | p. 109 |
| Must Breech Babies Be Delivered Surgically? | p. 113 |
| VBAC--Yes, You Can! (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) | p. 117 |
| Why the Worry? | p. 117 |
| What Are Your Chances? | p. 118 |
| Different Births--Different Feelings | p. 123 |
| Easing Pain in Labor--What You Can Do | p. 127 |
| Why Birth Hurts--Why It Doesn't Have To | p. 129 |
| Why Birth Can Hurt | p. 130 |
| Understanding Pain Management | p. 132 |
| Fear--Labor's Foe | p. 134 |
| Strategies for a More Comfortable Labor | p. 137 |
| Relaxing for Birth | p. 141 |
| How Relaxation Helps Your Labor | p. 141 |
| Releasing Exercises | p. 143 |
| Using Your Imagination | p. 146 |
| A Potpourri of Relaxation and Comfort Tips | p. 150 |
| Water for Birth | p. 152 |
| Touches for Birth | p. 157 |
| Breathing for Birth | p. 160 |
| Easing Birth Pains--How the Doctor Can Help | p. 166 |
| The Trade-off | p. 166 |
| Narcotic Pain Relievers | p. 167 |
| Epidural Anesthesia | p. 170 |
| Questions You May Have About Epidurals | p. 172 |
| Experiencing Birth | p. 183 |
| Best Birthing Positions | p. 185 |
| Why Birthing Positions Make a Difference | p. 185 |
| Finding Your Best Birthing Position | p. 187 |
| Labor and Delivery | p. 195 |
| Prelabor Signs | p. 195 |
| If Your Labor Drags | p. 202 |
| If Your Labor Stalls | p. 204 |
| What to Do When Your Water Breaks | p. 206 |
| What to Do When You're Overdue | p. 208 |
| Labor Begins | p. 210 |
| The Second Stage of Labor | p. 219 |
| The Third Stage of Labor | p. 225 |
| Composing Your Birth Plan | p. 231 |
| Why Make a Plan? | p. 231 |
| A Sample Birth Plan | p. 234 |
| Sample Birth Plan in Case a Cesarean Becomes Necessary | p. 236 |
| Birth Stories | p. 237 |
| Queen for a Month | p. 258 |
| References and Additional Reading | p. 260 |
| Index | p. 263 |
| Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved. |
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