October 8, 2007 1:50 PM
VBAC - labor and delivery - book recommendations
Dear readers, this is where I must rely on you. Since it's been 14 years since I've given birth and many more years since I read about it, you are in a far better position to answer this question than I. Kim said I could run this here - especially hoping that maybe someone out there with a similar story might have some extra encouragement/advice:
Hi Barbara,
I have written to you in the past (I heard you speak at McLean Bible Church and have since read your books and shared them with many!!!) and thought, who better to ask for recommendations than someone who's given birth 9 times?
I am preparing for the birth of our 3rd child next month. I had a c-section the first go round (which was medically unnecessary) and had a V-BAC the second time. I had hoped to have as natural a delivery as possible, but my water broke prematurely and I didn't go into labor until 12 hours later. Because my doctor was worried about the risk of infection, we augmented labor with pitocin and I labored for 10 hours fairly intensely with a posterior positioned baby (all back labor) until I could no longer stand it and requested an epidural. Our son was born a few hours later.
I have been trying to mentally prepare for this birth but all of the books out there seem a bit "hokey" in terms of relying on "my power within," etc. I am looking for any books that are written by believers that focus on God's design for and God's amazing miracle in bringing a life into this world.
Thanks for any suggestions you may have.
Blessings,
Kim
Posted in Pregnancy, birth and labor | Permalink
Comments
Amy at Amy's Humble Musings has talked a bit lately about childbirth, books that help (and books that don't:), and all that good stuff. Start here:
http://humblemusings.com/category/mothering/babies/
Posted by: Valerie@Consider It Done | October 8, 2007 2:06 PM
I haven't read too many books on the subject, but I read The Birth Book by William Sears before giving birth to my daughter and will plan to read it again closer to my due date this pregnancy. It is also highly focused on having the most natural experience possible.
Right now I am reading Dear Lord, I Feel Like a Whale by Jane Bullivant. It is a good devotional for pregnancy (a product I haven't really seen much of so far) focused on finding the Lord's hand in your pregnancy. I haven't finished it, so can't give it a recommend yet but I am enjoying it.
Julia
Posted by: Julia | October 8, 2007 2:21 PM
I would recommend looking for *Naturally Healthy Pregnancy* by Shonda Parker. It is from a Christian perspective and has considerable information for all through pregnancy and after. (Although it's focused on home birth, it certainly was useful to me even though I had hospital births.)
Also, most of the core Bradley method books, while not from a Christian perspective, are straightforward and not New-Agey in approach.
Posted by: Queen of Carrots | October 8, 2007 2:26 PM
Just a note. I checked out the Naturally Healthy Pregnancy book. It looks great. Unfortunately it is out of print and copies are running for 46.75 at amazon.
Posted by: Julia | October 8, 2007 3:21 PM
Rather than reading a book or books. I would reccomend using the services of a midwife. Preferably a lay midwife since nurse midwives are part of the "system". But they are fine too.
I had all three of my children at home and all were wonderful experiences. My midwife only had my best interests in mind and nothing else mattered. That was her job. Taking care of me and my baby. My midwife had assisted many moms in the hospital. Especially with VBACs. It seems doctors and hospitals want to pigeon hole these moms and they need an advocate to speak for them.
If you can't find or afford to hire a midwife. Consider a doula. I have heard they are wonderful as well.
My two cents.
Polly
Posted by: MamaLady | October 8, 2007 4:36 PM
I wish I could reach out and hug you, sweetie. I can TOTALLY relate to you trying to mentally prepare for this pregnancy, as back labor is not easily forgotten.
I had back labor with my first (3 years ago) and is no joke! I gave birth to another son (also in the posterior position) three weeks ago with NO back labor, all "front" labor. After having back labor, the "front" labor was a piece of cake!
I don't have any book suggestions, but I know that I dreaded this labor thinking about the first. I just wanted to give you some hope that this time can (and probably will) be different.
I pray that you have an easy labor and quick delivery.
Posted by: Nicole Dugger | October 8, 2007 4:43 PM
In preparing for the natural labor and birth of my first baby almost a year ago (she turns one this week!), I read "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer and "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way." My husband and I also took a Bradley childbirth class together, which was indescribably helpful. Those aren't Christian books per se, but they also avoid the "power within" approach of other, more New Age birthing books I came across. A friend is pregnant with her first, and I was at her house yesterday and looked at her copy of the Sears' Birth Book. I wish I had read that as well, and I plan to read it before I have another baby.
Posted by: Becky Miller | October 8, 2007 7:20 PM
I second the Doula suggestion. My first "natural" birth was an all out back labor, too, and I wish I had used a Doula. Even if you won't go with a midwife, a doula's main concern is your comfort. They aren't too expensive, and some will do it for free because they are in training. And they go into hospitals all the time.
Take a look at the DONA website.
And my fav birth book is called Giving Birth by Catherine Taylor. Our library has it.
Posted by: bonnie | October 8, 2007 7:54 PM
Funny. I just came from Amy's Humble Musings... so this is a repeat! As a Christian doula, I can't add much to the list already suggested.(The Sears book is good, as is anything by Penny Simkin). There are many books about birth out there,and most contain nuggets of God's truth about the amazing way he created our bodies to birth. In a great many, though, you will have to sift out the nuggets from the various spiritual frameworks laid over top of them. I heartily second the recommendation of using midwifery care, along with the support of a sensitive doula! A blessed birth day to you =)
Posted by: maria | October 8, 2007 11:34 PM
I would recommend the book, "Supernatural Childbirth". I had 3 sections then a VBAC in the hospital and natural birth at home. With my next baby I labored at home but ended up a repeat section due to a complete uterine rupture. I went on to have 2 more scheduled sections and then another VBAC in the hospital. I attribute it to being in God's word and reading books like "Supernatural Childbirth". May God give you courage and wisdom!
Sharon
Posted by: Sharon | October 9, 2007 3:36 AM
I would highly recommend "The Joy of Natural Childbirth". Can't remember the author's name and I've donated my copy to the library, but it's an excellent book written from a Christian perspective. We've had both a posterior baby and two inductions (Pitocin) and I've still been rereading these kind of books with my fourth due in January.
Posted by: Cathy | October 9, 2007 10:48 AM
Well, even though this is not a specifically Christian source, I must recommend, "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" because it totally changed my birth experience for the better.
I had used a birth center with midwives for my first two, and things went fine, but I read Ina May's book a couple weeks before delivering my third and it was amazingly better. If there is a caveat, I would say that I just ignored the few stories claiming "orgasmic birth"- *ahem*
I just feel that the practical advice of weathering labor and delivery concerns far outweighs the occasional odd story. The first part of the book is birth stories and the second part is a very well written informational/statistical section- including a good VBAC section.
Posted by: Melissa | October 9, 2007 10:50 AM
Sharon- I am in awe at the stats of your births! If I may ask, when did they take place? Most hospitals anymore will not take a VBAC patient after they have had more than one section and some only if they have had a successful delivery prior to the section. I know of no one in our area who would do anything besides a c-section on a previous uterine rupture. Like I said, I am just in awe! How fantastic!
Kim, I would totally recommend reading about the whys of back labor and talking with your midwife about what you can do to prevent or help it. It truly is horrible!!!
Posted by: Tiffany | October 9, 2007 12:05 PM
I agree that The Birth Book is awesome, as well as any Bradley materials, and The Naturally Healthy Pregnancy. I took a Bradley course for the first time, before my third child was born in July. I had two medicated births before, and my third was a successful homebirth. Blessings!
Posted by: Christine | October 9, 2007 12:53 PM
Thank you for all of the great suggestions and for the prayers. I forgot to mention that I do have a doula who will be with me. I just ordered a bunch of books from Amazon (through your site, Barbara :) ) so I'll be busy the next few weeks as I read and ask God to give me a new perspective on the amazing miracle that is about to happen!!
Posted by: Kim | October 9, 2007 2:15 PM
I second the recommendation for Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. It gave me the courage I needed to stand against scare tactics and "You'll never be able to do it", and the knowledge I needed to get through the birth.
Posted by: Margaret | October 9, 2007 9:26 PM
Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn by Penny Simkin is a wonderful book.
It was one of the best books I read when I was pregnant with my first, second, third and fourth. My first ended up being a c-section after being in labor for a long time. I did a vbac with my second in the hospital with an excellent OB who was very supportive with the decision. My third was an emergency c-section. It was literally a life and death situation for both of us. And my fourth was a planned c-section. I knew that after two c-sections, I wouldn't be able to try a vbac again. It made me so sad.
Anyway, Penny Simkin is a midwife in the Seattle area and is excellent. The book has a wonderful way of describing labor and how to deal with each contraction mentally and physically. I can't speak highly of it enough. Let me know if you read it.
Posted by: Michelle Bates | October 9, 2007 11:08 PM
Not sure if you live in the Loudoun area but I recommend the midwife practice that delivers at Loudoun Hospital - or midwives in general. (I used to work at Loudoun Hospital and saw many deliveries with the midwives, and have used them for my own 4 deliveries many years ago.)
Posted by: Valerie | October 10, 2007 6:05 AM
Kim, I hope you are still checking this. We have similar experiences, my first was a c-section, the second two VBAC homebirths. I have to tell you that number three was beautiful, so much easier than the first VBAC, it was peaceful and serene and quick.
I don't know of any specifically Christian books that will give you what you need. I'm a trained Doula and I think I have read more than most.
The books that I highly recommend to a person of any faith are Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and Birthing From Within. I know, the title itself suggests that it is exactly what you are trying to avoid, and being a Christian I avoided this book for two pregnancies and finally broke down and read it. I so wish I had done it sooner. The title has less to do with "the Power within" and more do do with how to deal with labor from within the birth process, rather than from the viewpoint of a spectator. It talks about how it feels when you are in birth, the woman in labor, and strategies to let yourself go into laborland, the floaty detached place God made for you to go with hormones to better cope with the pain and how to stay there. It addresses many thing in terms of fears and hopes and the way we think about our birth process, and yes you will find parts very new agey but you will be able to glean from it things that will really help and that you can pray over and that God can use to lead you through.
Anyway whether you read them or not here are three thoughts from my experience as a Doula and a birthing mom that I hope will help.
BE GRATEFUL-You will not complain during labor, you will cultivate gratitude toward the people helping you, your spouse, your God, you baby who is working with you.
Don't complain about the pain, embrace it as necessary to carry you through.
Keep your mouth loose. I have no idea why this works, but if your lips are tight so is your bottom. Blow gently between your lips, try kissing your husband, try to smile and laugh.
TRUST-your body can do this, God designed it to do this. Trust him and the process.
That's it. Those are what I think the 3 most important things to remember are.
I hope it helps and pray for grace for you.
Posted by: carrien | October 12, 2007 2:48 AM
I really want to thank all of you who took the time to graciously share here. It is so obvious how much love goes into your responses.
And please know that your encouragement and practical suggestions will reach beyond Kim's immediate situation to impact many, many more moms who search Google for this subject and end up here.
Thanks for your faithfulness!
Posted by: barbara | October 12, 2007 8:11 AM
Some great suggestions, I second the recommendations for anything by the Sears, Henci Goer (Thinking Woman's Guide) and Ina May's Guide.
But for a specifically Christian perspective, check out Christ Centered Childbirth by Kelly Townsend. Good stuff, and very balanced. You might also be interested in the bible study and devotional guides written by Jennifer Vanderlaan which I have not read but hear great things about. All are available on Amazon.
Posted by: The Mommy Blawger | October 19, 2007 3:06 AM
Well, it's been 2 1/2 years since I posted this question, but I thought I would share how things went with my this birth and the subsequent one I had 7 months ago!
I read all of the books you all suggested, and God graciously blessed me with an intense, but quick labor and our sweet boy arrived Thanksgiving morning with no medications or interventions...20 minutes after I arrived at the hospital. It was SUCH a blessing and to have him on Thanksgiving morning felt like God's extra special gift to me. However, I was a bit shell-shocked by how quick it all went when I was preparing for the birth of our fourth child a year and half later. I re-read all of the highlighted areas of the books I'd read. I made a 'Labor of Love' mix of praise music to listen to-but really, I felt again and again, the need to just pray-to be focused on a few scriptures I had written on little note cards. Truly, this birth was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had with the Lord. I recognized what a holy place I was in, in the process of giving birth, and I just submitted to it all and it was a truly beautiful and intimate time of praise and worship to our God...the giver of life. I felt so grateful to be able to participate in the birth with this kind of spirit and just wanted to thank you all for your words, book suggestions and prayers that helped bring me to this place. When I went for my follow up with the midwife who attended this birth, she shared with me how this birth had touched her, and affected her in a new way, as she felt like she was at church, worshiping alongside me as I communed with the Lord and entrusted each contraction to Him. It was a gift.
Posted by: Kim | January 28, 2010 10:36 PM
