The Essential Homebirth Guide

For Families Planning or Considering Birthing at Home

Jane E. Drichta, Jodilyn Owen, Christianne Northrup, Jodilyn Owen

• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Year: 2013
• Topic: Medicine
• Print ISBN:
  9781451668629
• Subtopic: Alternative & Complementary Medicine
• eBook ISBN:
  9781451668636

Two midwives present the What to Expect When You're Expecting for homebirths—with a foreword by Dr. Christiane Northrup.

Birthing is a miraculous time when you and your baby will work together to bring about life. As you finally cradle your precious newborn in your arms, you should know deep in your soul that every decision that brought the two of you to this special moment was yours.

More families than ever are choosing to birth at home. Midwives Jane E. Drichta and Jodilyn Owen answer questions about the kind of care, support, and information you need as you investigate whether this option is right for you. Birth can be an empowering and positive experience, and this book provides gentle guidance, with high regard for your wisdom and ability to successfully navigate your prenatal care, birth, and early mothering.

Enriched with real birth stories from new mothers, The Essential Homebirth Guide offers thoughtful, compassionate advice on a wealth of birthing topics, including:

- Building a supportive homebirth community.
- Caring for yourself and your baby from your pregnancy through the postpartum period.
- Communicating about your birthing plans with your midwife, your partner, and your family and friends.
- Deciding whether homebirth is safe for you.
- Educating yourself about common pregnancy-related issues.
- Preparing your home and your family for the big day.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Dedication
• Foreword
• Welcome
• A Note from the Authors
• Chapter One: The Story of Homebirth
• Chapter Two: The Journey Begins
• Chapter Three: Prenatal Care with a Homebirth Midwife: More Than Just the Numbers
• Chapter Four: Midwifery Care, Homebirth, and the Mother’s Community
• Chapter Five: She Said, I Said, They Said—Communication
• Chapter Six: Your Expanded Pregnancy and Birth Team
• Chapter Seven: Special Circumstances
• Chapter Eight: Homebirth After Cesarean
• Chapter Nine: The Big Ten: Common Pregnancy-Related Issues
• Chapter Ten: Labor and Birth at Home
• Chapter Eleven: The Postpartum Period
• Chapter Twelve: The Story Continues
• Appendix A: Questions to Ask During an Interview
• Appendix B: Further Reading for the Homebirth Family
• Appendix C: Resources for Childbirth Education and Support
• Appendix D: Resources for Higher Risk Mamas with Homebirth Hearts
• Appendix E: The Photos
• Acknowledgments
• About Jane E. Drichta and Jodilyn Owen
• Notes
• Index
• Copyright