childbirth resources
Check out this list of helpful websites and recommended books. 
Websites
- Ask Dr. Sears
Terrific resource for pregnancy, birth, babies and beyond!! - Attachment Parenting International
Peaceful parenting for a peaceful world. - Baby Milk Action
Baby Milk Action is a non-profit organization which aims to save lives and to end the avoidable suffering caused by inappropriate infant feeding. - Baby Names World
Might help you find the perfect baby name. - Birth With Sol
Offers a selection of products for all of those wonderful women in your life. - Birthing From Within
Birthing From Within’s prenatal and postpartum classes offer a soulful and holistic approach that prepares parents to birth-in-awareness. - BreastFeeding
Information, support, and attitude. - CAPPA
Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association. - Childbirth Connection
Really great resource that helps women and health professionals make informed maternity care decisions. - Circumcision Resource Center
The Circumcision Resource Center is a nonprofit educational organization with the purpose of informing the public and professionals about the practice of circumcision. - DONA International
Doulas of North America...find a doula in your community! - Dr. Jack Newman
One of the best visual guides to breastfeeding. - Henci Goer
Award-winning medical writer and internationally known speaker and the author of The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth. - Hey! Who's Having This Baby Anyway?
Companion site to the book of the same name. - Holistic Moms Network
Empower yourselves as individuals and as parents. - ICAN-International Cesarean Awareness Network
Improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans. - International Lactation Consultants Association
Find a local, board certified lactation consultant. - La Leche League
Breastfeeding support, local groups meet monthly. - Midwife and Doula Services
A small, intimate childbirth service directed by Dana Ericson, CNM and Virginia Traxlor, CD. Dana caught my babies!! - Midwife Info
Really useful midwifery information. - Midwifery Today
Pregnancy, birth, homebirth and midwife information. - Mothering Magazine
The magazine of natural family living. - Natural Living Des Moines
Living close to the earth, parenting close to the heart. - Nine In Nine Out
Promotes the art and science of babywearing. - Penny Simkin, PT
Author, doula, childbirth educator, birth counselor. - Sheila Kitzinger
Birth advocate and one of my favorite authors! - The Attachments Catalog
The Attachments Catalog features gifts for homebirth, midwife, doula, attachment parenting families, jewlery, nursing notecards, children's books... - The Bradley Method
Childbirth method that focuses on natural, abdominal breathing and relaxation...very effective!!! - The Compleat Mother
The magazine of pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. - The Farm Community
Over the last 35 years, The Farm has become well known for many things, from natural childbirth and midwifery to healthy diet and vegetarian cuisine, creative arts and alternative technologies to its partnerships and assistance to native cultures. - The Stork Wearhouse
Natural Products for Moms and Babies...Louisa and Dave took my class!! - Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC)
This website provides childbearing women and maternity care professionals access to research-based information, resources, continuing education and support for VBAC* (vaginal birth after cesarean). - Wallypop
Cloth diapering, baby wearing, homekeeping, and more! Sarah and Randy took my class!! - Waterbirth International
Your resource for birth pools, information & referrals since 1988.
Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way: Revised Edition
by Susan McCutcheon-Rosegg
Book details at Amazon.com.
this is bradley at it’s best. if you are going to read one book…i’d say this is the book for you (but please don’t read just one). very straight forward and it just makes sense. i recommend reading this book before you take my class.
Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation
by Pam England
Book details at Amazon.com.
yes, i’ve met pam england and even taken a childbirth class from her. i tell everyone i know that they must read this fantastic book before they give birth. pick it up and open to any page and you will be enlightened in countless ways!!!
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth
by Ina May Gaskin
Book details at Amazon.com.
ina may did it again. everything she writes about just makes sense. i loved reading the bit about arm wrestling helping to bring on big strong contractions. oh how i’d love to visit the farm!!!!!!
Spiritual Midwifery
by Ina May Gaskin
Book details at Amazon.com.
i’ve had the amazing opportunity to meet ina may and to speak with her on the phone many times. she is the mother of all midwives. i’ve read this book at least eight times cover to cover and wish that i could have delivered my baby on a school bus.
Program Your Baby’s Health: The Pregnancy Diet for Your Child’s Lifelong Well-Being
by Barbara Luke ScD. M.P.H. R.D.
Book details at Amazon.com.
nutrition is the single most important thing you can do for your baby during pregnancy. reading this book puts it all into perspective.
Hey! Who’s Having This Baby Anyway?
by Breck Hawk
Book details at Amazon.com.
i’ve emailed breck a few times and she’s got spunk! she covers a lot of basic topics for just one book.
The Pregnancy Book: Month-by-Month, Everything You Need to Know From America’s Baby Experts
by Martha Sears
Book details at Amazon.com.
i do like this book. i enjoy reading what to expect each month of pregnancy and they throw in some good side notes.
The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two (Revised and Updated Edition)
by William Sears
Book details at Amazon.com.
this is one of the best baby shower gifts ever. it is nice to have around at 3:00 am when you’re wondering if baby’s fever is serious or not.
The Birth Book: Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth (Sears Parenting Library)
by William Sears
Book details at Amazon.com.
dr. sears does it again.
The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth
by Henci Goer
Book details at Amazon.com.
all women should read this. if you are thinking about whether to use a doc or midwife…read this.
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: Seventh Revised Edition (La Leche League International Book)
by La Leche League International
Book details at Amazon.com.
can’t go wrong with the la leche league! go online and find out when/where there is a meeting near you.
The Year After Childbirth
by Sheila Kitzinger
Book details at Amazon.com.
sheila is one of my all time favorite birth guros. we don’t nuture our postpartum mom’s the way we should. this book helps you know what’s normal and how to enjoy being a new mom.
The Breastfeeding Book: Everything You Need to Know About Nursing Your Child from Birth Through Weaning
by Martha Sears
Book details at Amazon.com.
good old martha. very practical and straight forward.
How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor
by Robert S. Md Mendelsohn
Book details at Amazon.com.
okay…i know i’ve said this about other books too but YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!!!! it fits in your pocket and is a fantastic reference. i’ve even had a pediatrician take my class and he said it was one of his favorites! buy multiple copies and pass them out to friends!!
The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers Revised and Updated: The Most Comprehensive Problem-Solving Guide to Breastfeeding from the Foremost Expert in North America
by Jack Md Newman
Book details at Amazon.com.
this is my favorite resource for breastfeeding information. when clients ask me what breastfeeding book i recommend this is the one i say is a must read. dr. jack is extremely knowledgable and very straight forward. he also has many wonderful videos which you can watch online.
Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care
by Jennifer Block
Book details at Amazon.com.
i had the pleasure of meeting miss black when she attended our viewing of the business of being born. this book really hits home and was extremely difficult to put down. anyone who is even thinking about giving birth needs to read this first.
The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child (Sears Parenting Library)
by Robert Sears
Book details at Amazon.com.
this topic comes up countless times in class. i recommend this book to everyone because it gives both sides. it’s probably not my chiropractor friend’s favorite but it is very educational.