Placenta-The Forgotten Chakra By Robin Lim

A review by Lynnea Shrief - IPEN Placenta Network Founder and Director

"Placenta: The Forgotten Chakra is a book that truly focuses on the placenta and gives an amazing and magical description of the union of mother, baby and placenta. It should be on every midwifery students reading list, especially those training in the Western world. Lim gives readers a modern insight into the spiritual connection this magnificent organ has to the beginning of life itself. From historical traditions to urban myths and tantalising stories and accounts of how placenta has been worshiped in the past, Lim explains the placenta holds a true place in the birthing history of our ancestors. Lim describes the reasons why and how placental traditions lost their value with modern medicine and in hospitals. Also view this video for more information:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwvRUrn0p90

POLLY'S BIRTH BOOK By Polly Block

In 1979, Polly Block, a midwife who is widely known for her contribution to the rebirth of midwifery, wrote a book called (A SUPERIOR ALTERNATIVE: CHILDBIRTH AT HOME).

In the first few months of it's first printing, this book pre-sold over 500 orders from across the nation, for a book that was still in the author's mind!

A comprehensive manual (533 pages of text, 71 illustrations), is written in understandable, layman's language and is fulfilling the obstetrical needs of hundreds of thousands of parents, midwives, and doctors.

Pregnancy The Natural Way

By Zita West, Forward by Kate Winslet, (Dorling Kindersley, 2001)

An inspiring program to take you safely and naturally through each stage of pregnancy and birth and give your baby the best start in life. Natural Treatment Options: Trimester by trimester, Zita West accompanies the expectant mother through the excitement and anxiety of pregnancy, suggesting safe and natural ways to enhance the experience. From acupuncture to reiki and yoga, the most effective complementary treatments for common problems are detailed at each stage. In addition there are comprehensive nutrition plans and exercise suggestions, along with tips on everything from how to boost immunity to minimizing morning sickness. Expert advice: Ideal either as quick reference or as a complete guide, Pregnancy The Natural Way clearly explains your baby's development week by week. Easy-to-follow text combines with action plans, key tips, checklists, and charts to ensure that this is the definitive guide for anyone who wants to experience a healthy and natural pregnancy.

Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn

By Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley & Anne Keppler (2001.)

The new edition of this comprehensive guide covers all aspects of childbearing from conception through early infancy with information on what to expect during pregnancy and birth and how you can work with your caregivers to make childbirth a happy and healthy experience. With more than 40 charts and 150 photographs and illustrations, the information is easy to use and accessible. Topics covered include: the emotional aspects of pregnancy and birth, clinical tests, the partner's role, comfort measures, high-risk pregnancies, medications, vaginal birth after caesarean, breastfeeding, and understanding infant behaviour.

Prenatal Parenting: The Complete Psychological and Spiritual Guide to Loving Your Unborn Child by Frederick Wirth

In this important book, Frederick Wirth, M.D., helps you make sure your child is properly nurtured for nine months in the womb. He guides you and your family through the beneficial practice of sending fetal love messages to your unborn child. These messages sculpt the future emotional life of the unborn child and prepare expectant parents for the great life adventure of birthing a baby, a transforming event in anyone's life. Never before has anyone offered such a complete and in-depth look at the psychological and spiritual aspects of pregnancy. Frederick Wirth, M.D. shows you how to create the optimal environment for your child, which will help you when bringing him or her into the world.

Additional products: CD for Relaxation Techniques during pregnancy, labor and birth. Video or DVD with Prenatal Exercises for mother and father.

She Births: A Modern Woman's Guidebook for an Ancient Rite of Passage

by Marci Macari, Infinity Publishing, August 11, 2006.

There is more to Birth than the physical process of having a baby. Birth is a Spiritual Rite of Passage for women, offering an opportunity for profound transformation. She Births challenges each woman to consider how their Birth Choices profoundly affect not only their lives individually, but the world as a whole. No matter on what side of the Birth journey you stand, She Births offers powerful truths you can apply to the way you see yourself in the world.

Sit Up and Take Notice - Positioning Yourself for A Better Birth

By Pauline Scott

Do you work with birthing women? Do you want to change birth outcomes for the better? Are you a pregnant woman who wants the best birth outcome possible? Then you need this book. By explaining the pivotal importance of fetal position to the outcome of labor and birth, Pauline Scott hopes to reverse a major reason for the relentless march toward cesarean section. She calls it "recovered common sense." Part One is an effective primer about pelvic structure, baby's position and the exquisite engineering of the two that is designed to culminate in uneventful, natural birth. Line drawings help you understand how to work with this engineering miracle. Part Two discusses preparation for labor, labor positions, posterior babies and successful birth.

Special Women: The Role of the Professional Labor Assistant

By Paulina Perez and Cheryl Snedeker, (Seattle, WA: Pennypress, Inc., 1990.)

This guidebook to the potential for wonder in birth grew out of the author's 25 years of pioneering experience (e.g., hospital consultant, perinatal nurse, childbith educator, montrice). To her own experience she has added the cumulative wisdom of 75 families who chose to hire professional labor support, whose descriptions of their experiences enliven and enrich the discussions. The book identifies two primary types of professional labor assistant: the doula and the monitrice. Doulas provide physical and emotional support during birth, but do no assessment of fetal or maternal well-being, whereas the monitrice combines nurturing with clinical skills. For women who desire loving and empowering bith experiences, and for those who would like to devote their professional lives to helping others acheive those goals, this delightful and well-written book is an invaluable resource.

The Big Book of Birth

By Erica Lyon

The Big Book of Birth guides women through the four stages of labor, dispelling misconceptions and providing a wealth of objective information in a warm, welcoming, and well- organized format. A long-overdue resource, The Big Book of Birth gives expectant mothers the knowledge they need to approach childbirth with confidence and joy.

The Birth Partner: Everything You Need to Know to Help a Woman Through Childbirth

By Penny. Simkin, P.T,

The role of birth partner is a tough one. A birth partner may be expected to help a laboring woman make decisions and help her get through the pain and discomfort of childbirth. During this high-intensity time, the birth partner--whether father, partner, or friend--needs a book that can give thorough information for studying ahead of time, yet can be easily referenced in an emergency or for quick answers during labor and delivery. This book is a clear, informative guide that includes a thorough description of everything a birth partner can expect. For a quick brush-up, or for sudden emergency situations where a birth partner is thrust into the role unprepared, the book also provides vital information and emergency tips that are clearly marked on pages with darkened edges. Every section includes a description of a stage of labor or circumstance, a description of what the caregiver (doctor, nurse or midwife) might do, and suggestions about what the birth partner's role should be.