Across time and place, pregnancy and childbirth rank among the most transformative physical and psychological events in women's lives. Women's childbearing experiences depend not only on their own biology and psyche but also on the nature and quality of care they receive. The nature of the prevailing obstetric care model in the early 21st-century United States has been described as "high-tech, low touch," highlighting its emphasis on using medical technology, as opposed to non-technological care and support, to control unproblematic physical processes on the argument that this approach improves maternal safety and comfort. However, it should be noted that reasonably reliable national data fail to show significant maternal or newborn health gains corresponding to recent, dramatic rises in hospital obstetric procedures such as labor induction, labor acceleration, and cesarean delivery. In this context where medical intervention, necessary or not, assumes an increasingly central role in the childbearing equation, questions of what mothers expect to happen in labor and delivery and how their subsequent birth experiences meet those expectations become paramount. Global numeric indicators cannot capture the quality of women's reactions to childbirth itself, particularly as maternal care shifts in response to consumer interests it presupposes, offering options for comfort, care, and even the possibility of foregoing the labor process altogether. This work reflects the critical need to document early 21st-century U.S. mothers' own words on what they expected to happen in childbirth and later, how labor and delivery went and how it met their expectations. Among this book's most important contributions is its inclusion of extensive interview material drawn from 75 diverse women who spoke freely on their childbirth expectations and subsequent experiences. By itself, the interview material lends an important, though at times unsettling, insider perspective on how labor and delivery can unfold. The narratives also provide a maternal view on how those charged with their care respond during this physically and emotionally demanding transition. In addition, the book provides a timely analysis of scientific data on contemporary maternal care procedures, making plain why so many refer to 21st-century mainstream obstetric care as "technocratic." The scientific data serve as an excellent backdrop for more extensive coverage of the maternal interviews, organized around the distinctions mothers made related to the childbirth pathway on which they anticipated traveling such as natural childbirth in a hospital, planned cesarean delivery, or planned vaginal birth after cesarean. The pathways are in turn discussed in terms of their relationship to an underlying technocratic, humanistic, or holistic maternal care philosophy. The book is targeted towards an academic readership, including scholars and medical professionals with interest in women's health, women's and maternal mental health, women's reproductive health, reproductive technology, medical humanities, medical anthropology, narrative studies, pregnancy, and childbirth.

Two midwives present the What to Expect When You're Expecting for homebirths--with a Foreword by Dr. Christiane Northrup. Birthing is a miraculous time when you and your baby will work together to bring about life. As you finally cradle your precious newborn in your arms, you should know deep in your soul that every decision that brought the two of you to this special moment was yours. More families than ever are choosing to birth at home. Midwives Jane E. Drichta and Jodilyn Owen answer questions about the kind of care, support, and information you need as you investigate whether this option is right for you. Birth can be an empowering and positive experience, and this book provides gentle guidance, with high regard for your wisdom and ability to successfully navigate your prenatal care, birth, and early mothering. Enriched with real birth stories from new mothers, The Essential Homebirth Guide offers thoughtful, compassionate advice on a wealth of birthing topics, including: - Building a supportive homebirth community - Caring for yourself and your baby from your pregnancy through the postpartum period - Communicating about your birthing plans with your midwife, your partner, and your family and friends - Deciding whether homebirth is safe for you - Educating yourself about common pregnancy-related issues - Preparing your home and your family for the big day

Based on the wisdom and practical advice of the well commended Rachel Waddilove, it provides a place to journal your experiences, your memories and to track your baby's development. More than just a beautiful record book, this book contains checklists, charts, and practical advice for you to refer to at every stage of your story.

"This book is empowering, informative, and made me believe in affirmations "

-Abby Sher, author of Amen, Amen, Amen and Breastfeeding Mom

Part self-help guide, part nursing companion, I Can Breastfeed: Visualizing Your Way to Breastfeeding Success off ers help in preparing for the arrival of a new baby. Learn to use visualization and affirmations to build confidence and foster a successful breastfeeding relationship with your baby.

Based upon her experience as a lactation consultant, midwife, and mother of two, Kristina Chamberlain, CNM, ARNP, IBCLC, provides practical advice for the new mom and the working mom. Gain confidence on a variety of breastfeeding topics:

Benefits of breastfeeding
Expectations for the first two weeks of your baby's life
Proper breastfeeding positions and latch
Common breastfeeding obstacles and how to avoid them
Appropriate birth control while nursing
Preparations for going back to work

I Can Breastfeed provides ten visualization exercises and over forty affirmations that will motivate you to believe that breastfeeding is not only the normal but the very best way to feed your baby.