A Book Review- Ina May Gaskin’s Guide to Childbirth
A Book Review
Ina May Gaskin’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
I will be honest, when I found out I was pregnant with my first baby I was one of those women with the “give me all the drugs”, “cut it out” attitude. Don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with pain relief medication or elective caesarean sections, however I just want to share with you how Ina May Gaskin’s Guide to Childbirth really showed me just how misinformed and uneducated I was about childbirth. It is important for me to share this message and book with women everywhere because they too may be uneducated and misinformed just as I was and this book could change the total outcome of your future birth/s.
I recommend this book to everyone I know. I talk about it so much that even my husband knows who Ina May is (brownie points to him). I have read it at least once with all 4 of my pregnancies and I dare say I will read it again one day. You can see from the photo just how loved my copy of Ina May Gaskin’s Guide to Childbirth is.
Ina May Gaskin’s Guide to Childbirth was recommended to me by my midwife when I was roughly halfway through my first pregnancy. She said “if you’re feeling any fear towards your birth read this book”.
Naturally I was a little fearful as I had no idea what I was in for but once I read this book there was no fear at all. I was not scared of labour and birth one little bit, actually I was very confident and better educated on the physiological process of birth. I have since learnt about the fear-tension-pain cycle which is where fear creates tension which creates pain which creates more fear, and it is just a continuing vicious cycle. I am very grateful for my midwife recommending this book because there was not a spec of fear in my birth space and I hope the same for you.
The book is divided into two parts, the first part is birth stories predominantly told firsthand and the second part is a more in-depth look at the physiological side of birth. The birth stories are mostly short and they are all very unique with something different to learn from each story. The majority of stories are all positive, except for a couple of exceptions. From reading the birth stories I learnt so many different relaxation techniques to apply during labour which I found very beneficial for all of my labours. I also learnt some unexpected practices a birth partner can do to help during labour such as breast stimulation and kissing (who would’ve thought).
When I read these birth stories of other women, I feel connected to all women who have ever birthed (and will birth) and I draw strength from this feminine energy. I can tap into this energy during pregnancy and labour and know that I am not alone, and I am powerful, my body is powerful. It is this positive mindset and strength that you may also discover when reading this book that can have a huge impact on your own birth story.
Once this book has you feeling all empowered and confident and there is no fear to be felt anywhere, it will educate you on the physiological birth process. We all know that babies grow in the mums belly and come out the vagina (excepting caesarean sections) but do we really know what happens to our bodies during pregnancy and labour? I was certainly blissfully unaware until I read Ina May Gaskin’s Guide to Childbirth.
The mind-body connection in childbirth is extremely powerful and yet many women know nothing about it. Not only do we need to prepare our body for childbirth but we especially need to prepare our minds. If we have a fearful or negative approach to childbirth, that will reflect in our labour and birth. If we are confident and positive, then our labour and birth is much more likely to be a positive birth experience. Ina May gives examples that she has witnessed of how the mind can affect the body during childbirth and labour. She also expresses how the environment, and the people present can affect your mindset and therefore your labour and birth so it is important to really think about who you would like present and what sort of setting/environment you would like for your birth.
Ina May talks about hormones and their roles during pregnancy, labour and birth and you may be surprised to know that the same hormones that helped make the baby are the hormones that are needed to birth the baby and that is why kissing during labour can be beneficial.
Throughout the book there are photos of women smiling and laughing during labour and birth, something you would not expect to see. Did you know labour and birth can be pain free, even orgasmic? Well Ina May has written a whole chapter on this topic complete with photos and stories. If an orgasmic birth story doesn’t leave you feeling pumped for your own birth then I don’t know what will.
Ina May Gaskin is well known for her “Sphincter Law” and the “Gaskin Manoeuvre”, both of which are explained in this book and are extremely helpful to know.
Also covered in this book is prenatal care including descriptions of what different prenatal tests are for and how they’re conducted (not all of these are relevant to the Australian Healthcare System). Inductions is also covered and explains what each one involves, leaving you more educated to make your own informed decisions regarding induction.
Of course, labour is discussed and different techniques for pain relief and comfort are shared, some of these you would never have dreamt of (like blowing raspberries). Ina May talks about the importance of skin-to-skin contact and postpartum rest and recovery.
There is a chapter on choosing a care giver, providing you with questions to ask potential care givers to make sure you choose the right one for you and your family.
There are many references and statistics throughout the book to support Ina May’s findings. She is so full of knowledge and I am so grateful she has written books to share that with us all. I believe every pregnant woman (and even partner) should read this book prior to birth. I have had 3 great birth experiences so far and I put much of that down to the things I have learnt from Ina May Gaskin.
.
My Name is Stevie, and I am a qualified doula who has trained at the Doula Training Academy. If you would like more information about my doula services, please contact me.
0434 383 373 [email protected] www.gentlelotusdoula.com.au https://www.facebook.com/gentlelotusdoula/ https://www.instagram.com/gentlelotusdoula/
