Birthing From Within by Pam England & Dr. Rob Horowitz
Albuquerque, New Mexico: Partera Press, 1998.
ISBN 0-9659873-0-2
This book will help any woman prepare for labour physically and emotionally. The author has years of experience as a nurse-midwife, childbirth educator, and mother. Pam's early vision was "parents learning through interactive, creative participation, in a spirit of fun and curiosity." She has developed processes which help women "discover and validate their own knowledge." It is an amazing experience just to read this book!

What Karen has to say about this book:
I was absolutely blown away by the concepts in this book. It was like I already knew it in my heart, but Pam and Rob conceptualized it and explained it so I understood it in my head! Meeting Pam in person and participating in her Level One weekend workshop was a life-changing experience. The non-judgemental approach she advocates is empowering women around the world. With her help, we are now offering childbirth preparation based on these methods and getting an outstanding response from parents.
A Journal Designed by Pam England to accompany the story telling of Inanna's descent, Initiation, & Return.

Inanna's Descent, Initiation, and Return Journal by Pam England
Clear acetate overlay on a 4-color cover. Selected portions of the ancient story are written on the fragmented tablet; the majority of these are excerpted from the translation by Samuel Noah Kramer and Diane Wolkstein in their book, Inanna: Queen of Heaven and Earth . It can be purchased from the Birthing From Within website.

What Karen has to say about this book:
This is a beautiful journal that can be used in a group class or individually. The pages are thick enough to paint in, draw, or journal with a pen. Pam has great suggested processes that accompany each section of the myth of Inanna's descent. I was very surprised when I saw the quality of this book in person. That doesn't come through in pictures!

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
New York, New York: The Berkley Publishing Group, 1999.
ISBN 0-399-52517-3
Includes clear, comprehensive information on cesareans, inducing labor, IVs, epidurals, home births, midwives and obstetricians, hospital births, birth centres, alternatives to high-tech birth.
"The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth puts the power of the latest scientific findings on childbirth into the hands of women to help them discern the facts from the myths and make informed decisions about their maternity care."
Maureen P. Corry, MPH,
Executive Director, Maternity Center Association

What Karen has to say about this book:
This book offers the reader is an incredible amount of information on medical interventions so that the reader feels informed enough to participate in the decision-making. Goer uses the latest research to inform us of the pros and cons of every procedure, every test, and suggests low-tech alternatives when available. She devotes a full chapter to Cesarean, Breech Baby, Induction, Eating and Drinking in Labor, Electronic Fetal Monitoring, and much more. After reading this book, armed with so much knowledge, I really wish I had the opportunity to birth my second child over again! This is a thought-provoking book and a must for anyone having a hospital (and probably a high-tech) birth.

Birth Reborn; Dr. Michel Odent; BirthWorks Press, 1994.
ISBN 0-9642036-9-3.

Dr. Odent summarizes the approach to birth used at Pithiviers Hospital as well as the positive outcomes they have had. He explains why they don't use interventions routinely and when he feels they are necessary. Their aim has been to "intervene as little as possible." Odent is trying to show that birth doesn't always need to be managed and should be recognized as an "emotional and sexual experience." Dr. Michel Odent is a birth pioneer, an Obstetrician and self-declared midwife, a birth advocate, and researcher. He was the head of the Pithiviers Maternity Unit for 20 years in the 1960's and 70's, and is one of the founders of BirthWorks in the United States. He founded the Primal Health Research Centre in London which focuses on long-term consequences of early experiences.

What Karen has to say about this book:
A great concept that struck me was the whole idea of actively involving the mother in the first bath for baby if she wants. Routine procedures in Alberta involve a nurse washing the newborn in the nursery, usually away from Mom. Dr. Odent shows how empowering this simple act is for a new mother to gain confidence by doing it herself, bond with baby, and she is usually the most gentle with baby as well. I think it is a great idea for the Mom to give the first bath herself. I would certainly recommend this book to parents so they may shift their view of their own roles in labor/birth and learn about birth "management" options that make sense. Hopefully parents will also take this book to their caregiver as Odent suggests.