Rediscovering Birth

by Sheila Kitzinger

A leading birth expert and author of Pregnancy and Childbirth presents a thought-provoking, richly illustrated study of the the universal experience of pregnancy and childbirth, discussing the emotional aspects of pregnancy, the physical and spiritual aspects of the birth experience, and the cultural influences involved.

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting, Health

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 26, 2000

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

[Ventia Webber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd love to see an updated edition of this book as it was published in 2000, and I think (or at least I hope!) birth culture in the West has begun to change.

[Salena · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't read this book if you or anyone you love suffered from infertility.

This book contains a three page, overwrought diatribe against fertility treatments that is, frankly, offensive. It calls babies created through IVF "the remaining products of conception [that] can be delivered by Cesarean section, with everything under scientific control." For a book whose main thesis is that the medical model of care turns women into machines instead of living beings, calling babies "products of conception" is a particularly horrifying turn of phrase that completely negates the humanity of those children and their mothers.

A few other choice quotes from that section: "Scientists compete to be the first to discover a technique that makes birth possible for ever more unlikely parents: women without ovaries, postmenopausal women, brain dead women, and men, dead or alive." The phrasing about unlikely parents is uncomfortably close in tone to "undeserving." Also "But reproductive experts do not only replace the father. They take over the functions of both mother and father...they have displaced both parents." Fertility doctors don't displace parents, they help people become them.

[Amie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent account of birth through the ages and across all different cultures. The photography is stunning. I found this refreshing after Tina Cassidy's "Birth" which I did not enjoy nearly as much. This book coveres much of the same material but with a richer insight into the cultural issues surrounding childbirth. And of course, since it's from Sheila Kitzinger it's slanted toward the midwifery model of care. Some may be put off by her general disdain for hospital practices, but overall it's just a beautiful book celebrating the so much of the ritual and spirituality in birth that has been lost in the modern Western world.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was grooving on this book.

[Sarah Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for mothers to be.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

flash read through this book just due to repetitiveness of info i already had read about in other kitzinger books - but this book has some amazing cultural info!!! fascinating how other cultures do birth. liked that it included pics.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A splendid book, perhaps predictably, which very much reflects Sheila Kitzinger's approach to childbirth and her compassion. Lots of images to make her points and a delicate sprinkling of personal anecdote. I don't think I'd previously realised that her own mother had been a midwife. The final chapter is especially fine, drawing together what has gone before - the grotesque limitations of the 'Western' (and increasingly global) way of medicalised birth, and more traditional and highly varied cultural approaches and whether it could ever be possible to take the best from each and bring them together.

[Audrey Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who knows me knows I love to talk about pregnancy and birth. This is one of my favorite books ever and I've reread it during each pregnancy. The photography alone is stunning. It talks about pregnancy rites and rituals in other cultures, birth rites and rituals, the history of midwifery, wet nursing, all kinds of interesting things. I have it, so if anyone wants to borrow....it just makes me feel connected to women all over the world.

[Leahjoypro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn't what I expected, but was very interesting. Lots of interesting information about the traditional natural "treatments" used around the world to help with pain and discomfort before, during and after labor. It reinforced what I know about how obstetrics can get in the way of a normal birth and cause unnecessary information. Beautiful photograph illustrations.

[Jenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book on the history of birth hands down. Written from the lens of anthropology, the history of birth is traced from pre history to modern day. The result is to mourn the traditional wise woman knowledge that was repressed and lost, yet it ends with the hope that that missing knowledge is being excavated and reintroduced to modern consciousness.

[Madeline Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. One sided, I believe Kitzinger references the downsides of traditional birth exactly twice, but her one-sidedness is convincing. The book is well done, thorough, extremely informative. The resource to have for women who are accustomed to the industrialized approach to birth and wish to expand their horizons.

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't quite know what I think about this book. it was a really interesting look into traditional birthing practices from many different cultures, but it felt a little disjointed and referenced "research" without citing sources. I am all about natural birth, but I also want credible sources and solid evidence for the values that it brings because it will take that to change people's minds!

[Christi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating to learn about the pregnancy/birthing practices of cultures around the world, though the author is definitely not unbiased.

[Carleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Birthing as a beautiful and natural thing (always has been), not an "illness" requiring medical intervention. A wonderful book of the history of humans and birthing.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fascinating book about options at birth, and different ways birth is viewed around the world.

[Talena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book and it made me think about other cultures and their birth rites and passages. I liked it.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an interesting read. It expanded my view of birth beyond my Western experience.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating read about birth customs in other cultures and in other times.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about birth across all other cultures. I am a bit of a birth junky, so I loved everything about it!

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found my old reading records from the time I was studying midwifery.

Beautiful book for anyone interested in the customs and art associated with birth in different cultures.