What do you think?
Rate this book
Let's talk about...
Let’s talk about preparing for your baby's birth
In this 'antenatal course in a book', experienced hypnobirthing and antenatal practitioner Jackie Kietz discusses all the topics that would be covered at face-to-face birth preparation classes. From how to tell whether you're really in labour, to choosing where and how to give birth and communicating your wishes to healthcare staff, the book is packed with essential information for new parents.
As well as practical details, there are also suggestions for ways to relax using hypnobirthing and breathing techniques to help you think positively about your upcoming birth. As a useful reminder of what's covered in a course, or as a substitute if you don't want to or can't attend classes in person, this friendly, easy to follow and reassuring book is invaluable for anyone expecting a baby.
As well as practical details, there are also suggestions for ways to relax using hypnobirthing and breathing techniques to help you think positively about your upcoming birth. As a useful reminder of what's covered in a course, or as a substitute if you don't want to or can't attend classes in person, this friendly, easy to follow and reassuring book is invaluable for anyone expecting a baby.
- GenresParenting
280 pages, Paperback
Published November 19, 2020
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 30, 2021
This was a really great overview and preview of the stages of labor, pain relief, birthing practices, breastfeeding, and post natal recovery. As the author indicates in the beginning of the book, this is a resource for a fairly standard labor. For more details and information on complications or even more in depth analysis on the various aspects of the birth process, more research would have to be conducted but this is an excellent starting point.
I read the book in a single day though if you do the practice exercises and breathing techniques, it would take much longer. It could also be a good idea to supplement your reading and research as you go if you felt it necessary. The book provided many additional resources that are likely helpful.
I liked that it provided some illustrations for labor techniques and positions, breastfeeding, etc. I also liked that there were several exercises and activities scattered throughout as well as examples of birth plans. It’s great that MP3s are also included as I think the hypnobirth methods are probably better learned by watching / hearing rather than just reading.
The author focuses on birthing processes in the UK so keep that in mind if you are located elsewhere. Many of the terms were different, though the general practices seemed similar to those in the US.
Much of this information was already familiar to me, but I think it has given me extra confidence in preparing for my labor and delivery. I particularly liked the breathing exercises and labor positions that I can incorporate during my own delivery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pinter & Martin for a copy of this helpful book.
I read the book in a single day though if you do the practice exercises and breathing techniques, it would take much longer. It could also be a good idea to supplement your reading and research as you go if you felt it necessary. The book provided many additional resources that are likely helpful.
I liked that it provided some illustrations for labor techniques and positions, breastfeeding, etc. I also liked that there were several exercises and activities scattered throughout as well as examples of birth plans. It’s great that MP3s are also included as I think the hypnobirth methods are probably better learned by watching / hearing rather than just reading.
The author focuses on birthing processes in the UK so keep that in mind if you are located elsewhere. Many of the terms were different, though the general practices seemed similar to those in the US.
Much of this information was already familiar to me, but I think it has given me extra confidence in preparing for my labor and delivery. I particularly liked the breathing exercises and labor positions that I can incorporate during my own delivery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pinter & Martin for a copy of this helpful book.
February 23, 2021
You can watch my full review of this great book on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/XffMPzGotbU
This book is part of a series of books from Pinter & Martin that take an in depth look at different areas around having a baby and this is the second book I’ve read from this series. I thought this was a really, really good book to help women prepare for their baby’s birth, particularly if they are aiming for a drug free birth. I enjoyed this book so much it’s made me broody, naughty book.
The book is separated out as antenatal sessions covering different themes such as ‘the stages of labour’, ‘the birth environment’ and different forms of birth including drug free birth and pain management as well as assisted birth, induction and caesarean. I liked the way the book was separated and organised, it all seemed to flow and develop well.
I really enjoyed Kietz’s writing style, I thought she got the balance just right. She gave information without being boring, she was supportive without being patronising, she was pushing a natural birth agenda without showing any judgement for women who don’t have natural birth. Overall I found this book appreciated what an important event birth is in women’s lives and Kietz was empowering women to have as much control and ownership of their births as possible.
I thought the book was well laid out and well thought through, it was full of useful tips and good advice. There were great descriptive pictures and information to give women a strong opportunity to birth well. Throughout the book there was lots of signposting on for further reading and other avenues of support. The whole book was very inclusive of birth partners.
The session on ‘physical skills for labour’ covered positions for labour, breathing and massage. I thought that that session and the following session on hypnobirthing were particularly empowering and allowed women and couples to practice and prepare for how they will manage the birth, and practising these methods is great for the baby too. A lot in these sections was about getting your head in the right space and doing as much as you can beforehand in preparation to get the outcome you want. The section on hypnobirthing was big and at times repetitive but I thought the message was really valuable and empowering.
The section on birth plans had some good suggestions. I also liked the postnatal plan section, after all the concentration on birth, it’s important to consider how you can continue to feel calm and empowered after the birth.
I loved the women’s stories of using the methods during labour and birth. It’s great to hear how they have been put into practice and that even when things go off plan, that the methods still really help women deal with the situation through its changes.
In conclusion, I thought this was a great book to prepare women for the birth of their babies. It was empowering and allowed women to feel more in control when they give birth, however it goes women can control their breathing and stay calm and not feel that they have lost ownership of their baby’s birth. I would highly recommend this book for pregnant women, as well as people supporting pregnant women either personally or professionally.
You can watch my full review of this great book on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/XffMPzGotbU
This book is part of a series of books from Pinter & Martin that take an in depth look at different areas around having a baby and this is the second book I’ve read from this series. I thought this was a really, really good book to help women prepare for their baby’s birth, particularly if they are aiming for a drug free birth. I enjoyed this book so much it’s made me broody, naughty book.
The book is separated out as antenatal sessions covering different themes such as ‘the stages of labour’, ‘the birth environment’ and different forms of birth including drug free birth and pain management as well as assisted birth, induction and caesarean. I liked the way the book was separated and organised, it all seemed to flow and develop well.
I really enjoyed Kietz’s writing style, I thought she got the balance just right. She gave information without being boring, she was supportive without being patronising, she was pushing a natural birth agenda without showing any judgement for women who don’t have natural birth. Overall I found this book appreciated what an important event birth is in women’s lives and Kietz was empowering women to have as much control and ownership of their births as possible.
I thought the book was well laid out and well thought through, it was full of useful tips and good advice. There were great descriptive pictures and information to give women a strong opportunity to birth well. Throughout the book there was lots of signposting on for further reading and other avenues of support. The whole book was very inclusive of birth partners.
The session on ‘physical skills for labour’ covered positions for labour, breathing and massage. I thought that that session and the following session on hypnobirthing were particularly empowering and allowed women and couples to practice and prepare for how they will manage the birth, and practising these methods is great for the baby too. A lot in these sections was about getting your head in the right space and doing as much as you can beforehand in preparation to get the outcome you want. The section on hypnobirthing was big and at times repetitive but I thought the message was really valuable and empowering.
The section on birth plans had some good suggestions. I also liked the postnatal plan section, after all the concentration on birth, it’s important to consider how you can continue to feel calm and empowered after the birth.
I loved the women’s stories of using the methods during labour and birth. It’s great to hear how they have been put into practice and that even when things go off plan, that the methods still really help women deal with the situation through its changes.
In conclusion, I thought this was a great book to prepare women for the birth of their babies. It was empowering and allowed women to feel more in control when they give birth, however it goes women can control their breathing and stay calm and not feel that they have lost ownership of their baby’s birth. I would highly recommend this book for pregnant women, as well as people supporting pregnant women either personally or professionally.
You can watch my full review of this great book on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/XffMPzGotbU
June 17, 2021
This book was received as an ARC from Pinter & Martin in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This was a very informative books packed with facts and information needed to have a successful pregnancy and make sure your child is healthy. There were also a lot of questions I had that were answered in this book specifically on food cravings, what you can/can't eat, and pains that will come from your baby kicking and eating. Also, a lot of my friends did a home birth and hired a midwife to help them along the way and Jackie Kietz does an excellent job talking about what the advantages and disadvantages are and what it really takes for a home birth to be successful. When it comes time for my pregnancy, I sure want to have this book by my side as a guide to help me along the way. I know our patrons will appreciate the information in this book and will benefit from the facts as well.
We will consider adding this title to our R Non-Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
This was a very informative books packed with facts and information needed to have a successful pregnancy and make sure your child is healthy. There were also a lot of questions I had that were answered in this book specifically on food cravings, what you can/can't eat, and pains that will come from your baby kicking and eating. Also, a lot of my friends did a home birth and hired a midwife to help them along the way and Jackie Kietz does an excellent job talking about what the advantages and disadvantages are and what it really takes for a home birth to be successful. When it comes time for my pregnancy, I sure want to have this book by my side as a guide to help me along the way. I know our patrons will appreciate the information in this book and will benefit from the facts as well.
We will consider adding this title to our R Non-Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
February 14, 2022
I have read more pregnancy books than I could count over the years, but I really enjoyed this one! This book focuses mainly on birth and includes a lot of alternative techniques for pain management and how to advocate for yourself. I really enjoyed the section included on hypnobirthing and the author includes written scripts as well as free mp3 audio exercises for the reader as well. The book is very informative and while especially helpful for a first time mom, I found that I learned some new things too, despite preparing for my fifth birth.
The author is located in the UK, so while most of the book is still very applicable to other locations, some things, like packing lists or long waits to get into delivery rooms while in labor, do not necessarily apply to US readers, where hospitals supply much of what the author recommended packing and it is quite a bit easier to get into a delivery room.
The author is located in the UK, so while most of the book is still very applicable to other locations, some things, like packing lists or long waits to get into delivery rooms while in labor, do not necessarily apply to US readers, where hospitals supply much of what the author recommended packing and it is quite a bit easier to get into a delivery room.
November 18, 2021
I loved this book, and will definitely have a copy around the next time I have a baby. I liked how the information was presented, as well as the illustrations given with various birthing positions, etc. I also appreciated that she didn't just skip over home birth or treated it as a lesser option than going to the hospital. I felt like she presented it fairly, which I loved. While I understand why she focused more on hypnobirthing, it got to be a little much for me, but fortunately that didn't take away from the amazing and valuable information presented in this book.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
January 6, 2022
Finally had a chance to finish the tail end of this book (post baby hehe) and overall I enjoyed the book and found the book informative, helpful, and a straightforward read that made me better prepared with what to expect from all aspects labour and giving birth! Four stars as parts felt a little long but it really is a worthwhile educational read for any expecting mother! I think I’d get a lot out of reading it before any subsequent children I have too :)
January 28, 2021
I'm very glad I got to read this book. I'm TTC but I love reading about babies and everything I'll need to know when I have my baby. This book explains everything about labor and all the labor fases, what to pack, how to help with the pain, and a lot of tips! Very helpful! I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews