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Blooming Birth: How to get the pregnancy and birth you want [Paperback]

Lucy Atkins , Julia Guderian
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)

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Book Description

4 April 2005

The busy woman’s guide to taking control of pregnancy and birth.

Pregnancy titles have never been thicker on the ground, and women have supposedly more choices in childbirth than ever before. So why do 6 out of 10 women feel their antenatal classes completely failed to prepare them for birth? And 7 out of 10 say that they did not get the birth they wanted, and regretted it deeply?

Blooming Birth is a hands-on, focused guide to taking control of your pregnancy and birth, helping you prepare your body and brain for childbirth in the real world. It does not, like many pregnancy books, assume that all pregnant women have to do is sit around in sunny kitchens drinking orange juice. It is also a book for thinking women – both first time mums and those having second or subsequent babies who simply want it to be better this time. Each chapter contains crib sheets and bullet points for when you've only got a few minutes to spare.

In succinct, highly engaging language, in chapters from Birthing for Beginners to Frozen Peas and Pyjamas, it takes you through the realities of pregnancy and birth – from stretchmarks to guilt – and the decisions to be made, so that you can be confident of having a manageable, happy experience – whatever happens on the day.

Contents
• Pregnancy for busy women
• Birthing for Beginners
• Second Time Around
• Preconceptions
• The Unexpected
• Surgical Birth
• Your Options
• Your Support Team
• Your Partner
• Frozen Peas and Pyjamas – the keys to post-childbirth success



Product details

  • Paperback: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Collins (4 April 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0007184018
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007184019
  • Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.4 x 2.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 167,585 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • See Complete Table of Contents

Product Description

Review

‘It’s like listening to your best friends telling you what childbirth is really like – easy to read, brutally honest, full of advice.’ Sophie Raworth, BBC presenter and mother of three.

From the Author

[Lucy Atkins] I wrote this book because it's the book I needed when I was pregnant - with each of my three babies. My first birth was a bit of a shock (an unexpected caesarean) and I was frankly terrified at the prospect of childbirth again. I was living in the states at the time, and met my co-author, Julia Guderian, a childbirth expert (a 'doula') who helped me to prepare myself, mentally as much as physically, so i'd cope with this birth brilliantly. I'm a journalist for The Guardian and other papers and magazines, and couldn't believe that with all the birth books out there, none really tackle what birth is like IN THE REAL WORLD - the pain and mess and unpredictability of the whole thing. I wanted to write a book that wasn't telling you how you SHOULD give birth, but was simply showing you how to make good decisions in advance,then COPE BRILLIANTLY with whatever happens on the day. Blooming Birth is the result. We've included a lot of practical information!
(you can dip in and out of these bits), but most importantly we're tackling the emotions of this whole scary, amazing business, so you get through it in brilliant shape whether this is your first baby or you have a whole brood already.

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Customer Reviews

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The must-have pregnancy/birth book 19 April 2005
Format:Paperback
An excellent pregnancy and birth handbook. All topics covered in a really readable, well-balanced, informative way. It is liberally sprinkled with real-life experiences from real people, mothers, birth professionals and fathers and there are plenty of pointers for further reading and websites etc.

If you don't have time to plough through a lengthy book you'll like the way you are guided through from one section to another with links to other "must-read" pages. Something new to read each time you pick it up on your journey through pregnancy, birth and becoming a parent.
No glossy pictures and no frills to distract you from your birth preparation. Navigating your way through the chapters makes you think about your options, your choices for your body and your baby. You can sense the wisdom and shared experience coming through from all those interviewed for the book and the authors' own experiences.

The section for men will have readers laughing out loud.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for expectant mums 3 Nov 2006
Format:Paperback
I can't recommend this book highly enough. Having been to NCT antenatal classes I found myself with just a few weeks to go before my due date but feeling really unprepared for the birth. I had only a vague idea to put on my birth plan the things I felt I ought to want. This book really helped me focus on what might happen during birth, what my options were, and how to make birth a really positive experience even if it turned out to be necessary to have more medical intervention than I really wanted (which it did...). Also, there are a couple of good chapters for dads to read to help them prepare for birth and life with new baby & new mum, which my husband highly recommends.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
In preparing for birth throughout my first pregnancy, I wanted a resource that directly addressed the challenges of pregnancy and childbirth (without skipping over the difficult parts), and I found that this was one of the most helpful books that I read. "Blooming Birth", gave a realistic picture of what childbirth actually involves, and revealed many aspects of childbirth (and motherhood) that were previously unknown to me. This book helped me to better manage my fears and concerns, (for example the section on "the top five fears" of pregnant women). The authors suggest many useful strategies for preparing for labour and birth, but at the same time maintain a (welcome) non-judgmental tone regarding the different choices that can be made in planning for childbirth.

Although in the Introduction, the reader is advised that this is "not a medical book", the book also provides a great deal of helpful information from obstetricians, mid-wives and other experts. As I progressed through my pregnancy, it was also good to be accompanied (and reassured) by the many stories of other parents which are scattered throughout the book.

Lastly,my partner read the chapter on "blokes, birth and babies", and said that he found it helpful and entertaining.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
This is such a brilliant, sensible and informative book. I am expecting my first and was recommended this book by a friend who is in the same boat. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Sions82
5.0 out of 5 stars Birth doesn't have to be frightening
I was pregnant with my first baby when I read this book which I bought because I loved First Time Parent so much. Read more
Published 20 months ago by S. P. Davison-Allott
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Reading
An absolutely fantastic book. It's got all the details you need to prepare you for what birth is really like. I would reccomend this to all pregnant ladies!
Published 23 months ago by Ys
5.0 out of 5 stars This book should be provided to any pregnant woman on the NHS
This is by far the best, kindest and most comprehensive book and birthing I read when pregnant. It is written by a mum who has given birth to 3 kids- by emergency c-section, normal... Read more
Published on 1 July 2010 by M. D.
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
This book is fantastic. If you only by one pregnancy/labour book make it this one. I'm due to have my second baby in a few weeks and this is the first book I have found that... Read more
Published on 15 April 2009 by B. Robin
5.0 out of 5 stars Great down to earth information and advice
In the early days of my first pregnancy I bought several books, wanting as you do to learn as much as I could. How disappointed I felt reading them. Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2009 by Tulip
5.0 out of 5 stars Boomin fantastic
Great book - an absolute must for any new mum. I wanted a home birth but ended up with an emergency transfer to hospital. Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2009 by bossyboots
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
I am about to have my third baby and one of the overriding things about my previous two births is that they were scary! Read more
Published on 22 Sep 2007 by Mrs. K. Heard
5.0 out of 5 stars Blooming brilliant
I bought this book when I was about to become a first time Mummy. A friend urged me to read it and I thought I'd give it a go. It was well worth it. Read more
Published on 31 July 2007 by Sadie Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars It's Bloomin' Time!
Thank you Julia & Lucy for a clear and comprehensive guide to birth options that is non-judgemental and not boring! Read more
Published on 21 Jun 2005 by Aunt Mimi
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