Birth Matters: a midwife's manifesta
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £1.30
Trade in Birth Matters: a midwife's manifesta for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £1.30, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Plus, get an extra £5 when you trade in books worth £10 or more until June 30, 2012. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Find more products eligible for trade-in.
|
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Upbeat and informative, Gaskin asserts that the way in which women become mothers is a women's rights issue, and it is perhaps the act that most powerfully exhibits what it is to be instinctually human. Birth Matters is a spirited manifesta showing us how to trust women, value birth, and reconcile modern life with a process as old as our species.
Renowned for her practice's exemplary results and low intervention rates, Ina May Gaskin has gained international notoriety for promoting natural birth. She is a much-beloved leader of a movement that seeks to stop the hyper-medicalization of birth-which has lead to nearly a third of hospital births in America to be cesarean sections-and renew confidence in a woman's natural ability to birth.
Renowned for her practice's exemplary results and low intervention rates, Ina May Gaskin has gained international notoriety for promoting natural birth. She is a much-beloved leader of a movement that seeks to stop the hyper-medicalization of birth-which has lead to nearly a third of hospital births in America to be cesarean sections-and renew confidence in a woman's natural ability to birth.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ina May's new book is a manifesta setting out the philosophy of natural birth, and therefore nothing that has not been said by wise women (and men) countless times before. The value of this work is its comprehensive, detailed, and clear presentation of the information, such that surely no rational human could disagree. It is a scientific celebration of what nature has achieved and what women are capable of.
The first chapters set the subject in its global context, and birth stories are scattered through the text to remind the reader that while these are global, political issues, they have personal, individual impacts.
I have learned about the cultural loss of breastfeeding knowledge, and it makes a sad kind of sense to me to be reading the same description of society's attitude to birth: the loss of skills among health professionals and the consequent loss of positive birth stories. This cycle will be perpetuated and added to, and will spread beyond the US increasingly rapidly, as we lose touch with and confidence in our own bodies.
Ina May Gaskin discusses the role of feminism in driving an `escape' from pregnancy and motherhood, a push towards equality between men and women instead of a celebration of the important differences between us. Why should power be measured only in masculine terms and defined by the choice NOT to do something? Ina May's positive, empowering feminism offers a far wider range of choices.
` It seemed crazy to me to take on the belief that the human female is the only mammal on earth that is a mistake of nature... it's our minds that sometimes complicate matters for us. (p.23)'
She quotes Simone de Beauvoir describing the pregnant women as inciting fear in children and contempt in young people, ensnared: "life's passive instrument." De Beauvoir, the great feminist intellectual, writes as though she believes what men have said for centuries about women's bodies: that we are disgusting, inefficient, and inferior to men (who cannot, normally, grow or feed babies); and seems unaware that historically speaking, medical men who profit from managing birth have had personal and financial interests in telling women that it is a dangerous and painful process, that requires the presence of a qualified doctor. Again the parallels with the unethical practices of formula manufacturers undermining women's knowledge of and confidence in breastfeeding are clear.
Some of the practices resulting from this basic assumption of women's inferiority and ignorance are barbaric, and many persist in 21st Century western healthcare. The book describes a bleak outlook for maternity care and motherhood in a world where politics and economics are everything. Yet the short-termism of the idea that labouring women must be cured or rescued from themselves costs far more in terms of money, life, and quality of life. How can this be an acceptable situation?
I was struck by the anecdote in which a couple kissed to raise oxytocin levels and aid relaxation and the progress of labour. It helped me to think about the way I talk to antenatal groups about the role of oxytocin in breastfeeding. And also of the way the idea of sex to bring on labour has been reduced to the role of prostaglandin, when everything about it promotes skin contact, eye contact, and a feeling of well-being. In this, I find yet another example of the big picture being reduced to one male-orientated detail.
I was aware that birth in the US was highly medicalised, but the details and the implications of that, as clearly laid out by Ina May Gaskin, are horrifying and depressing. At the same time, the positive birth stories are affirming, empowering tales, a contrasting picture of the good that is possible when women are informed and respected.
The first chapters set the subject in its global context, and birth stories are scattered through the text to remind the reader that while these are global, political issues, they have personal, individual impacts.
I have learned about the cultural loss of breastfeeding knowledge, and it makes a sad kind of sense to me to be reading the same description of society's attitude to birth: the loss of skills among health professionals and the consequent loss of positive birth stories. This cycle will be perpetuated and added to, and will spread beyond the US increasingly rapidly, as we lose touch with and confidence in our own bodies.
Ina May Gaskin discusses the role of feminism in driving an `escape' from pregnancy and motherhood, a push towards equality between men and women instead of a celebration of the important differences between us. Why should power be measured only in masculine terms and defined by the choice NOT to do something? Ina May's positive, empowering feminism offers a far wider range of choices.
` It seemed crazy to me to take on the belief that the human female is the only mammal on earth that is a mistake of nature... it's our minds that sometimes complicate matters for us. (p.23)'
She quotes Simone de Beauvoir describing the pregnant women as inciting fear in children and contempt in young people, ensnared: "life's passive instrument." De Beauvoir, the great feminist intellectual, writes as though she believes what men have said for centuries about women's bodies: that we are disgusting, inefficient, and inferior to men (who cannot, normally, grow or feed babies); and seems unaware that historically speaking, medical men who profit from managing birth have had personal and financial interests in telling women that it is a dangerous and painful process, that requires the presence of a qualified doctor. Again the parallels with the unethical practices of formula manufacturers undermining women's knowledge of and confidence in breastfeeding are clear.
Some of the practices resulting from this basic assumption of women's inferiority and ignorance are barbaric, and many persist in 21st Century western healthcare. The book describes a bleak outlook for maternity care and motherhood in a world where politics and economics are everything. Yet the short-termism of the idea that labouring women must be cured or rescued from themselves costs far more in terms of money, life, and quality of life. How can this be an acceptable situation?
I was struck by the anecdote in which a couple kissed to raise oxytocin levels and aid relaxation and the progress of labour. It helped me to think about the way I talk to antenatal groups about the role of oxytocin in breastfeeding. And also of the way the idea of sex to bring on labour has been reduced to the role of prostaglandin, when everything about it promotes skin contact, eye contact, and a feeling of well-being. In this, I find yet another example of the big picture being reduced to one male-orientated detail.
I was aware that birth in the US was highly medicalised, but the details and the implications of that, as clearly laid out by Ina May Gaskin, are horrifying and depressing. At the same time, the positive birth stories are affirming, empowering tales, a contrasting picture of the good that is possible when women are informed and respected.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am a first year student midwife, and having read two of Ina May Gaskin's previous books, I was eagerly awaiting my copy of Birth Matters. I was not disappointed! The book is very informative and evidence-based yet easy to read. Midwives, parents-to-be, or anyone with an interest in childbirth will find this book fascinating. The author writes mainly from an american perspective, yet all nationalities and cultures would benefit from her wisdom, experience and insight. The book covers the history of childbirth and midwifery, feminism, the use of technology in childbirth, caesarean sections, and ends with the author's vision for the future. There is a chapter aimed at fathers-to-be and the book is interspersed with birth stories. Highly recommended!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
27 reviews
71 of 75 people found the following review helpful
Wonderful Birth
10 Mar 2011
Format:Paperback
I had my baby at the Farm Midwifery Center in August 2010 and my story is included in this amazing book.
My husband, our daughter and I went to Ina May's book signing in Brooklyn on Sunday. It was wonderful. Since we came home, I have not been able to put the book down and it opened my eyes to the beautiful reality that I was privileged enough to live and conversely to the horror that I managed to escape....
When I decided to give birth at The Farm I did not have any knowledge about birth. The pregnancy had not been planned and I always thought that I would have children much later. I knew nothing of the typical birth experience of todays moms in America. What I did know was that I was not very comfortable with my OBGYN nor with the hospital where most of my prenatal care took place.
My OBGYN seemed to me at the time like she was bored by "normality" and was only excited when abnormalities came up. When a blood test came back positive for toxoplasmosis I saw a flash of excitement in her eyes where I would have wanted to see compassion. This did not sit well with me. Topped with a lot of pressure to have sonograms and tests of all sorts (I reluctantly had the nuchal translucency but stubbornly refused the Quad test which infuriated the doctor). At the end of the day I was also confronted with huge medical bills which I was paying out of pocket because no insurance would cover me for cause of "preexisting condition". I was utterly shocked. Was pregnancy an illness?
I quit the OBGYN and had the rest of my prenatal care at the hospital for $15 a visit (this fee was based on my income). I really disliked everything at the hospital but at least I could afford it. However, I knew that I would never be able to give birth there and that if forced to, I would probably be bitter about it for the rest of my life.
I have always been wary of hospitals for a number of reasons but the most important one is that hospital staff never look healthy. Also, I always associated hospitals with illness.
I thought that these circumstances were unique to me. I thought that my OBGYN was sadistic but that this surely must be an exception to the rule and that the majority of doctors were compassionate and grateful to have the wonderful job of bringing babies into the world. I thought that the hospital was scary but that no doubt all other hospitals would be much more appealing. I thought that not being insured was the cause of my not having the choice of care I wanted.
Now that I am reading "Birth Matters" I finally understand that being insured or not has nothing to do with the type of care you get. I understood that most OBGYN are just like the one I went to, and that most hospitals are indeed scary. I understood that not even money or insurance protects you from being a guinea pig.
I was unaware of all of this when I came to visit Carol Nelson at the Farm. All I knew was that I liked her immediately, I liked the Farm and the idea of being surrounded by nature (as opposed to being in NYC) and even better: I could afford it. It seemed like the perfect, logical thing to do. I had no idea how incredibly lucky I was.
The birth of my daughter was everything I had hoped for, but I took it for granted. A female giving birth goes without saying. What could be more normal? It hit me as I was reading other women's birth stories in "Birth Matters" that some women chose a natural birth because of a previous bad experience or after conducting extensive research on the matter. They were thorough and critical and made a deliberate choice. I in comparison feel like I got lucky and followed my gut. I expected a wonderful birth. I did not realize that it was an exception in this country.
Today, after reading "Birth Matters", I am absolutely overwhelmed with gratitude. Today I know I had more than a wonderful birth, I had a perfect birth. I thought Carol was a great midwife doing a great job, but today I know she is an angel operating against extraordinary odds.
I would like to say thank you to Carol, Ina May and all of the Midwives of the Farm doing what you are doing. May you be blessed with a long and healthy lives. I know that the babies whose first vision are your face and whose first touch are your touch are blessed.
My husband, our daughter and I went to Ina May's book signing in Brooklyn on Sunday. It was wonderful. Since we came home, I have not been able to put the book down and it opened my eyes to the beautiful reality that I was privileged enough to live and conversely to the horror that I managed to escape....
When I decided to give birth at The Farm I did not have any knowledge about birth. The pregnancy had not been planned and I always thought that I would have children much later. I knew nothing of the typical birth experience of todays moms in America. What I did know was that I was not very comfortable with my OBGYN nor with the hospital where most of my prenatal care took place.
My OBGYN seemed to me at the time like she was bored by "normality" and was only excited when abnormalities came up. When a blood test came back positive for toxoplasmosis I saw a flash of excitement in her eyes where I would have wanted to see compassion. This did not sit well with me. Topped with a lot of pressure to have sonograms and tests of all sorts (I reluctantly had the nuchal translucency but stubbornly refused the Quad test which infuriated the doctor). At the end of the day I was also confronted with huge medical bills which I was paying out of pocket because no insurance would cover me for cause of "preexisting condition". I was utterly shocked. Was pregnancy an illness?
I quit the OBGYN and had the rest of my prenatal care at the hospital for $15 a visit (this fee was based on my income). I really disliked everything at the hospital but at least I could afford it. However, I knew that I would never be able to give birth there and that if forced to, I would probably be bitter about it for the rest of my life.
I have always been wary of hospitals for a number of reasons but the most important one is that hospital staff never look healthy. Also, I always associated hospitals with illness.
I thought that these circumstances were unique to me. I thought that my OBGYN was sadistic but that this surely must be an exception to the rule and that the majority of doctors were compassionate and grateful to have the wonderful job of bringing babies into the world. I thought that the hospital was scary but that no doubt all other hospitals would be much more appealing. I thought that not being insured was the cause of my not having the choice of care I wanted.
Now that I am reading "Birth Matters" I finally understand that being insured or not has nothing to do with the type of care you get. I understood that most OBGYN are just like the one I went to, and that most hospitals are indeed scary. I understood that not even money or insurance protects you from being a guinea pig.
I was unaware of all of this when I came to visit Carol Nelson at the Farm. All I knew was that I liked her immediately, I liked the Farm and the idea of being surrounded by nature (as opposed to being in NYC) and even better: I could afford it. It seemed like the perfect, logical thing to do. I had no idea how incredibly lucky I was.
The birth of my daughter was everything I had hoped for, but I took it for granted. A female giving birth goes without saying. What could be more normal? It hit me as I was reading other women's birth stories in "Birth Matters" that some women chose a natural birth because of a previous bad experience or after conducting extensive research on the matter. They were thorough and critical and made a deliberate choice. I in comparison feel like I got lucky and followed my gut. I expected a wonderful birth. I did not realize that it was an exception in this country.
Today, after reading "Birth Matters", I am absolutely overwhelmed with gratitude. Today I know I had more than a wonderful birth, I had a perfect birth. I thought Carol was a great midwife doing a great job, but today I know she is an angel operating against extraordinary odds.
I would like to say thank you to Carol, Ina May and all of the Midwives of the Farm doing what you are doing. May you be blessed with a long and healthy lives. I know that the babies whose first vision are your face and whose first touch are your touch are blessed.
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Excellent Discussion. Birth Does Matter
21 Mar 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have enjoyed reading all of Ina May's books over the last few years, but this one is by far her best. It is an excellent and up to date (2010) discussion of the current issues related to women's health and birthing. I appreciate her succinct and scientific discourse on the topic and it is quite evident through her writing that she is an expert in her field. Having read the majority of her works in the past, there was some repeat information. This, however, is necessary for those that have never read her material in the past and is presented with some new insights. My first reaction was that this book should be used as a text in Women's Studies courses. I highly recommend this book for every man, woman, and experts in the field of obstetrics/midwifery. A very empowering book.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Yay!
26 Mar 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Ok, so I haven't finished it yet, bit I love it so far, just like her other books. I'm so happy that she wrote something new, so there's a little less "70s-ness". still the same natural birth warrior woman though.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Health, Family & Lifestyle > Medical & Healthcare Practitioners > Ancillary Services > Midwifery
- Books > Health, Family & Lifestyle > Pregnancy & Childcare > Pregnancy & Childbirth
- Books > Health, Family & Lifestyle > Women's Health & Lifestyle
- Books > Science & Nature > Medicine
- Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Women's Studies
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
