Birth Crisis

by Sheila Kitzinger

One new mother in twenty is diagnosed with traumatic stress after childbirth. In Birth Crisis Sheila Kitzinger explores the disempowerment and anxiety experienced by these women. Key topics discussed Birth Crisis draws on mothers' voices and real-life experiences to explore the suffering after childbirth which has, until now, been brushed under the carpet. It is a fascinating and useful resource for student and practising midwives, all health professionals, and women and their families who want to learn how to overcome a traumatic birth.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2006

About the author

Sheila Kitzinger M.B.E, M.Litt is a social anthropologist of birth and author of 24 books published internationally, most on the emotional journey through this major life experience. At Oxford in the 50s she discovered that the social anthropology of that time was almost entirely about men. She decided she would do research to discover what was important in women's lives, and focused on pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding.
Her five children were all born at home. She lectures widely in different countries and has learned from mothers and midwives in the USA and Canada, the Caribbean, Eastern and Western Europe, Israel, Australia and New Zealand, Latin America, South Africa and Japan, and from women in prison and those who have had a traumatic birth experience.

Reviews

[Anna Nesbitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really informative book on the culture of obstetrics and how it has [negatively] impacted women in the maiden to motherhood journey

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Focuses on the commonness of birth trauma that so many women experience in the industrial birth complex.

[Natalie filear · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute fantastic, beautifully empowering, emotionally moving read for any person involved in the most amazing, special journey of a woman in becoming a 'mother'. Had difficulty putting this book down. Love you to bits Sheila!!

[Emer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this after having a pretty tough birth with my first child. This book helped me put things in perspective. It enabled me to develop the tools I needed to move forward and to have a different experience with my second child.

Second time around, I found a midwife who was a good fit for me and I decided to have a home birth. It was an awesome experience, very intense but exceeded all expectations I had of my ability to give birth.

I would recommend this book to anyone recovering from a traumatic birth and trying to move forward.