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An international collaboration of lecturers, practitioners and researchers. Each chapter considers a topic relevant to normalizing maternity care. Topics include: routine interventions ¿ epidurals ¿ physiological third and fourth stages ¿ longer labors and approaches to monitoring / intervention ¿ most effective models of care ¿ birth centers ¿ home birth ¿ mental health ¿ doulas ¿ reasons for intervention ¿ links between research and practice ¿ harmonizing models of birth ¿ caseload midwifery ¿ including 'normality' on medical training courses ¿ the symbolic value of birth ¿ developments in China, the UAE, Brazil and other countries where dramatic changes are taking place (e.g. in sub-Saharan Africa) ¿ the 'natural' cesarean ¿ individual agents for change ¿ intrapartum best practice ¿ ways of supporting women laboring without pharmacological pain relief ¿ water birth ¿ VBAC ¿ the role of regulatory bodies ¿ ways of publicizing your work ¿ communication for best results ¿ review of progress and pointers for future research. Questions and extracts provide stimulating reflection and seminar material. For midwives, obstetricians, family doctors, doulas and other maternity caregivers. "I strongly recommend this book to midwives, obstetricians, doctors and hospital administrators. It carefully reviews the scientific data." Marsden Wagner-who was director of Women's and Children's Health at the World Health Organization for 15 years, before his retirement.

This book is for any woman considering a vaginal birth after one or more previous cesareans. What are the risks? What are the advantages? What is the best choice in your particular case? The author, Hélène Vadeboncoeur, takes you through the research and also gives you a glimpse into other women's experiences through the use of first-hand accounts. It was, in fact, the author's experience of two very different births (one a cesarean, the next a VBAC) that inspired her to get a PhD. In her thesis she explored how women experience giving birth in hospital. Hélène wanted to consider questions about birth because this is such an important event in women's lives. For over 10 years since then, she has divided her time between teaching and participating in research projects. (She is currently on the Board of the International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization.) She also regularly gives talks at conferences around the world. This means that you not only get the benefit of advice from a woman who's been through both a cesarean and a VBAC, you also get taken through the most up-to-date research. Serious information is presented in an upbeat, readable style. Comment from an obstetrician: "As a professional who is concerned about the risk in the cesarean rate I would like to suggest that all women who have anything to do with cesareans read this book. The author has collected research data and precious accounts, which will help women make an informed choice as to how to give birth to their babies." Feedback from a midwife: "Hélène Vadeboncoeur offers women an important tool to support them if they choose to give birth vaginally after a previous cesarean." Comment from a VBAC mom: "This book can help you heal the inner scars that every cesarean leaves behind. It'll also help you prepare and inform yourself to make a different journey with your next birth."

This book is for any woman considering a vaginal birth after one or more previous caesareans. What are the risks? What are the advantages? What is the best choice in your particular case? The author, Hélène Vadeboncoeur, takes you through the research and also gives you a glimpse into other women''s experiences through the use of first-hand accounts. It was, in fact, the author''s experience of two very different births (one a caesarean, the next a VBAC) that inspired her to get a PhD. In her thesis she explored how women experience giving birth in hospital. Hélène wanted to consider questions about birth because this is such an important event in women''s lives. For over 10 years since then, she has divided her time between teaching and participating in research projects. (She is currently on the Board of the International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization.) She also regularly gives talks at conferences around the world. This means that you not only get the benefit of advice from a woman who''s been through both a caesarean and a VBAC, you also get taken through the most up-to-date research (now updated for the 2nd edition). Serious information is presented in an upbeat, readable style. Comment from a consultant: "As a professional who is concerned about the risk in the caesarean rate I would like to suggest that all women who have anything to do with caesareans read this book. The author has collected research data and precious accounts, which will help women make an informed choice as to how to give birth to their babies." Feedback from a midwife: "Hélène Vadeboncoeur offers women an important tool to support them if they choose to give birth vaginally after a previous caesarean." Comment from a reader of the original, French edition: "This book is a response to questions. It will serve to demystify fears and inspire confidence."

A book for pregnant women who are thinking about giving birth at home or in a birth centre. The book is beautifully illustrated throughout with photos taken by the professional photographer and doula, Patti Ramos. As research discloses the risks of intensively managed hospital births, increasing numbers of women and men are considering alternatives. This new, updated edition of Sheila Kitzinger's pioneering work is highly informative, yet sensitively written, and supported by comments from other women and professionals. A social anthropologist and mother of five, Sheila Kitzinger, the author, is also the author of 23 books, published in 20 languages. A long-time champion of freedom of choice in childbirth, she is uniquely placed to advise and support women who are making decisions about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and motherhood.

A book for midwives who would like to explore how best to help women cope with pain and fear. This book contains information about the physiological and psychological functions of pain; cultural influences on the experience of labour pain; elective caesareans, which are supposedly a simpler alternative; advantages and drawbacks of using pharmacological pain relief; information and ideas on how to transform labour pain into an experience of strength and power. While the book provides information on a very wide range of pain relief options and the emphasis is on maternal choice, it also presents many convincing arguments for normal physiological birth. It can therefore make a contribution to helping reduce the rate of unnecessary caesareans and help midwives improve rates of maternal satisfaction. Forewords by Dr Trudy Stevens and Dr Hélène Vadeboncoeur.

A book for pregnant women who would prefer to give birth with as little intervention as possible, so as to make things as good as possible for both themselves and their babies. The 'countdown' takes the reader through 10 key topics, and all discussion of issues is supplemented with birth stories and comments from all kinds of women and professionals too. The tone is practical, reassuring and even inspirational because the many positive birth stories show how it's possible to have a really happy, healthy experience of birth.Contributions come from Janet Balaskas (the woman who realised we're better off not lying down when we give birth!), Michel Odent (pioneer of water births) and Bill Bryson (the travel writer)... as well as from many other experts and 'ordinary' but extraordinary mothers, who made this book possible. The advice is based on current research evidence and in any cases where the evidence is controversial the research and relevant issues are discussed in an optional extra 'notes' section at the back of the book. There is a comprehensive Glossary of pregnancy terms and a user-friendly Index, so as to make it an optimally useful book in all sense of the word. In short, this is a handbook which could make a real difference to a pregnant woman's experience and also to that of her baby. A comment from an antenatal teacher: "What every woman will want to know, put simply and clearly." A comment from a midwife, perinatal researcher and adjunct professor (Betty-Anne Daviss): "Sylvie has created a prescription for healthy birth in a 10-step approach to keep parents focused on what is important in a potentially disastrous birth environment... She has... provided us with a book that encapsulates anything you wanted to know about keeping your birth normal and healthy..." And a comment from a mother: "Had a very late night Friday as I could not put your book down. Wow!"

Are you going to have a baby soon? Are you apprehensive? Do you want to find out what birth is like without drugs or unnecessary interventions? Do you want to know what couples do to make healthy labours easier, quicker and safer? Does your partner perhaps need some reassurance?Reading through the true accounts in this book will give you a clear idea of what to expect. Even better, it''ll help you understand what you need to do in advance to make sure your own big day goes as smoothly and as safely as possible - for everyone involved. You probably don''t need telling... that means less worry, less pain and more confidence as you move towards the time when you become new parents - for the first, the second, or the umpteenth time.