The essential homebirth guide For families planning or considering birthing at home

Jane E. Drichta

Book - 2013

More families than ever are choosing to birth at home. Drichta and Owen answer questions about the kind of care, support, and information you need as you investigate whether this option is right for you.

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Subjects
Published
New York : Gallery Books 2013.
Language
English
Main Author
Jane E. Drichta (-)
Other Authors
Jodilyn Owen (-)
Edition
First Gallery Books trade paperback edition
Physical Description
xvii, 379 pages : ill. ; 23 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN
9781451668629
  • Foreword
  • Welcome
  • A Note from the Authors
  • Chapter 1. The Story of Homebirth
  • The History of Homebirth
  • Modem Homebirth
  • The Anatomy of Homebirth Today
  • Chapter 2. The Journey Begins
  • You're Pregnant!
  • Choosing a Homebirth Provider and Establishing Care
  • Prenatal Nutrition
  • Chapter 3. Prenatal Care with a Homebirth Midwife: More Than Just the Numbers
  • The Primary Goal of Prenatal Care: Establishing Individualized Norms
  • Relationship Development
  • Welcome to Your Prenatal Visit
  • Chapter 4. Midwifery Care, Homebirth, and the Mother's Community
  • Relationships
  • Homebirth and Family
  • From Co-workers to Strangers, Everyone Wants a Piece of Me!
  • Keeping Calm and Cared For
  • Chapter 5. She Said, I Said, They Said-Communication
  • Anatomy of a Discussion
  • Informed Consent: Your Midwife Is Talking to You!
  • The Birth Plan: Sharing Your Hopes and Plans with Your Midwife
  • Because I Said So! Communicating with Your Family About Your Choice to Homebirth
  • Chapter 6. Your Expanded Pregnancy and Birth Team
  • Homebirth and Your Expanded Team
  • Childbirth Education Classes
  • Chapter 7. Special Circumstances
  • Understanding Risk
  • Twins and Homebirth
  • Breech Babies and Homebirth
  • Birth as a Sexual Abuse Survivor
  • Teen Pregnancies
  • Chapter 8. Homebirth After Cesarean
  • Why HBAC?
  • Is HBAC Safe?
  • Finding an HBAC Midwife
  • Finding Peer Support for HBAC
  • Chapter 9. The Big Ten: Common Pregnancy-Related Issues
  • The Emotional Experience of Pregnancy
  • Anemia
  • Vitamin D Deficiency
  • Rhesus Factor (aka Rh Negative)
  • Group Beta Strep (aka Group B Strep or GBS)
  • Gestational Diabetes
  • The Thyroid
  • "I think I'm just plain getting sick. What can I do?"
  • Hypertensive Disorders
  • Miscarriage
  • Chapter 10. Labor and Birth at Home
  • Preparing Your Home for the Birth
  • Birth Kits
  • Siblings at the birth or no siblings at the birth? That is the question!
  • After the Due Date
  • Labor and Birth
  • Chapter 11. The Postpartum Period
  • Immediate Postpartum Care
  • Skin-to-Skin
  • Breastfeeding Your Baby
  • What's Next?
  • Newborn Medications and Screening
  • Postpartum Depression
  • Chapter 12. 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
  • Notes
  • Index
Review by Booklist Review

A foreword by Christiane Northrup, the influential ob/gyn and best-selling author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom (2010), ensures that this is no quacky guide to home birth. At a time when C-sections make up an estimated 30 to 50 percent of U.S. births, this book by two midwives and nurse educators puts the power back into mothers' hands. And it offers guidance to all pregnant women, not only those who plan to deliver at home. Drichta and Owen talk about prenatal nutrition (nix the sugar and processed foods) and urge pregnant women to simply enjoy themselves. They note that, contrary to popular belief, women who miscarry are not at increased risk of miscarrying again unless they experience three sequential miscarriages. They recommend making a birth kit, including flexible straws (easier to drink from during labor), a heating pad, and lots and lot of towels. Taking to heart the idea that a picture is worth a thousand words, they tuck in photos of women giving birth at home. Their calm, commonsense advice should make all pregnant women feel comforted and well prepared.--Springen, Karen Copyright 2010 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review

In this supportive and fact-filled title, midwives Drichta and Owen fill a necessary gap in the literature about home birthing and provide a realistic and comforting view of how it is managed. Midwifery care is very different from obstetrical care, and its holistic approach is made evident here. The authors begin with a historical overview of homebirth and address choosing a provider, as well as prenatal care and the supplies, preparations, and considerations for the birth itself. This information is followed by notes on postpartum care and a wealth of appendixes, including photos, reading lists, and sample questions for a potential provider. The text is a wonderful combination of narrative, sidebars, medical information, Q&A, and birth stories, reflecting the recommended model of care-which emphasizes parent decision-making and midwife as coach. VERDICT Readers will come away from this title with a clear understanding of homebirth options and outcomes. With the rise in the number of women seeking a pregnancy-as-a-healthy-life-experience approach, this exceptional and distinguished guide should find a welcome readership in all communities. A mandatory purchase for all libraries. (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

Professional midwives Drichta and Owen present a comprehensive and easy-to-read guide to lead mothers through each phase of pregnancy and home birth. The authors organize the book in a question-and-answer format, with heartfelt testimonials interspersed throughout. Their goal was to open the range of experience and exposure for pregnant women so when they "make decisions regarding where and how to birth, [they] will be making truly informed ones." Drichta and Owen stress that midwives focus on the mother and family--developing a strong relationship, educating the mother and creating a birthing plan tailored to the mother's preferences. The authors' relationship-centered chapters walk readers through each step of pregnancy and delivery, including nutrition, prenatal testing, home birth after a cesarean and 10 common pregnancy-related issues. The authors also discuss special circumstances such as twins and breech babies. In addition, Drichta and Owen instruct readers on how to prepare their home for birth (a clean bathroom is key). They also admit that not every birth can take place at home, counseling mothers to have a written plan if they must transfer to a hospital. The authors back up their assertions with statistics, and each chapter is footnoted. Appendixes include questions to ask when choosing a home-birth attendant, a home-birth reading list, websites for childbirth education and support, and resources for high-risk births. A foreword by Dr. Christiane Northrup, author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, encourages mothers to access their innate birthing wisdom. A strong, helpful resource for anyone considering a home birth.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.