Active Birth: The New Approach to Giving Birth Naturally

Very informative. Thanks to the help of the stretches and information in this book, I was able to deliver my baby completely unmedicated and stay relaxed while trusting my body.

Absolute must read for any pregnant woman and support team to help understand the female body and how it’s designed to birth with tools for practical use. It gave me the knowledge to help me heal from a stressful first birth and feel prepared and empowered the next two times around. I recommend it to every expectant mom I meet

This book was very informative. I think I literally learned more reading this book than I did in labor preparation (Lamaze plus) course that I took through the hospital for my first child. I can't believe I didn't know more of these positions, techniques, skills, etc the first time around. And I'm betting if I had, I would have had a much more positive experience. Not to mention the breathing and stretches are already helping alleviate pregnancy aches and pain. They are so simple, anyone could do them. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to prepare for a natural childbirth. I don't think it stands alone though, and therefore; I would still recommend reading this in combination with the Natural Childbirth the Bradley way, and the Ina May book. This is definitely worth a read. Of all the labor books I've read this one is the fastest too, its a quick/easy read. They should update a few of the things though.... ie: cassette tapes? In a few years, people will ask, what are those. The core info is still relevant though.

I was very much interested in having a drug-free delivery and have read/browsed a lot of books/birthing methods including Hypnobirthing, Bradley's, Ina May and a bunch of others. I liked the concept of Hypnobirthing but don't believe it's for everybody. But I firmly believe that active birthing is something that EVERY woman who wants a natural birth can follow. It is extremely intuitive and after having a pretty quick labor I can attest to the fact that being active was what helped me the most to get through the labor with pain that I could manage and cope with. I had intense back labor and there was NO WAY I would have managed it by lying down on my back the entire time. I instinctively felt the need to get up on my feet and lean forwards on a support and I could get through my contractions without feeling the need to scream or yell or exhaust my energy in a negative way. It was easier to let the contractions do what they were trying to thereby reducing my labor period. I think that what the book tells you will come to you naturally when you are in labor and instead of fighting with your urges by lying down in the semi-reclining position, it's best to do what your body wants you to do to reduce the discomfort. Labor is intense and at a point the pain can feel excruciating but if you can let go and be active the whole time it does not become a negative experience. I was being made to lie down and offered an epidural when I was 8cm. And just because I knew that this was transition and although it was hard work I knew that I was close to meeting my baby and I was able to fight with the hospital staff and stay on my feet. I had a small tear but I am pretty sure that was all because of the pulling by the doctor while pushing when I could not fight them off. Had I been left alone to push naturally and in an upright position I am sure I could have gotten off completely unharmed. I was in a very good shape after the birth and could have gotten up and cooked a meal if need be (although I rested for quite a bit!!). Labor is LOTS of hard work and very intense, it's not something I would call painless. I do understand that there are circumstances where a laboring woman will need medical help and I would never say she shouldn't take it. Drugs have their own place in the whole scheme of things and should be used where necessary. I have been on that side of the equation too and would never blame someone for making an informed choice. But if someone tells you that c-section is "safe and easy these days" or episiotomy is "routine and ok" or epidural is so much more fun...don't believe them blindly. A drug-free birth is painful but the pain is manageable if you have the right information and you trust your body. And to return to a more relevant topic (as a review on this book), this book will provide you with a ton of information on how to do it. The exercises are very helpful to prep your body for the hard work and even useful otherwise to get back in shape after the birth. Information about the different upright positions, what helps what kind of labor pain etc is also extremely useful. This book made the most sense to me of all the books on labor and was something that was practically useful. I would recommend this book to everyone who is interested in a drug-free birth.

i love this book. I bought it over a decade ago and still recommend it. It helped me understand what was going on in my body so when I felt something I wasnt afraid, I understood. Highly recommend!

Bought this book for pregnancy #3, determined to learn how to give birth upright and without tearing. (Baby #1 was born in a hospital with a miserable cascade of interventions and a loooong recovery. Baby #2 was born with midwives at a birth center - an indescribably better atmosphere - but still reclining in a bed and with a 2nd-degree perineal tear.) I opened this book expecting just another methodology. But, I was surprised to feel so confident and empowered reading Ms. Balaskas's words. She does a fantastic job of presenting scientific research AND addressing the very personal physical, spiritual, and emotional components of pregnancy and birth. (I loved the "How You Feel" subcategory under each stage of labor in Chapter 6, particularly because it helped me put vocabulary on things I'd never successfully communicated to my husband.) Ms. Balaskas clearly has a deep and holistic understanding of birth, and a gift for helping each woman find her natural connection to herself and her baby through the process. The book is very easy to read. The prenatal exercises and birth positions are explained and illustrated with clarity and simplicity. There are many suggestions to help each woman figure out what type of birth environment she wants, who she wants present, and what she will want to have on hand at the birth. Everything from massage to supporting positions are laid out plainly for birth partners. For the first time in my life, anticipation is outweighing fear surrounding the actual process of delivering a baby. (I'll write an update next month after the baby arrives.) I also highly recommend "Your Best Birth" (Lake and Epstein) as well as anything by Ina May Gaskin for women who want to go into birth with awareness and preparation. ******UPDATE****** DD3 was born in the fastest, easiest birth I could have imagined! After months of effective visualization and occasional practice of the suggested exercises, it turned out like this: 1.5 hours total labor - upright or pitched forward (mostly in the 50-minute car ride to the midwifery - we just made it!) 4 pushes total - delivered on hands and knees Able to walk immediately and was home in 3 hours. WOW! I'd do it all over again. :) It was intense, but I honestly wouldn't describe the experience as painful. This is my 3rd baby in 4 years and my body is familiar with the process. (This would be an uncommon scenario for a first-time mom.) But, I can now attest to the fact that birthing upright and listening to your body makes for a much faster, easier, more satisfying and joyful labor and delivery than I ever thought possible!

I was not impressed with the exercises in this book, as they seemed to be things that anyone who exercises and stretches already does. What I found most helpful about this book was its support of the idea that women are made to give birth and do not need drugs to cope. It also had a great explanation of why laying on your back is not the best way to labor and a great sort-of blow-by-blow of what labor feels like mentally and physically. Not everyone wants unmedicated labor, but if you do, this book might help calm your fears about it. (yes, the photos are totally out of date, but labor isn't really different if your hairstyle is out of the 1970s or 2000s, so who cares?) I know every time I read through sections of this book I finished feeling confident that I was ready for natural labor, actually excited for it, and no longer scared. I don't know that I used many of the positions shown in the book during labor, I really did seem to know instinctively what to do and just listened to my body. But during my pregnancy I felt calmer knowing that I had this as a reference if I needed it.

Excellent book! I read this book before the birth of my second child. During my first pregnancy, I wanted a "natural" birth. Instead I was forced into an early induction, which led to unwanted epidural and medications. When my baby was born, both of us felt "drugged up," and nursing was delayed. I did as much research as I could to avoid this happening again. This book taught me that GRAVITY is the natural, God given way for a baby to come out. Most women in the world squat to deliver a baby. This opens up the pelvis about 10% compared to laying on the back, allows a quicker delivery, reduces complications, and less tearing for the mother. (NO to foreceps.) So, when baby #2 was ready to come out, I squatted in a birthing pool, pushed her right out, and my husband caught her. No tears, WAY less pain than laying down with baby #1, and we both felt amazing that night, having not been pumped with medications. Note that many hospitals won't even allow this natural process to happen this way. For this reason, we had this baby at home with a midwife, about 5 minutes from a hospital. Obviously you want to have doctor's approval to do this, and should stay in the hospital if you are high risk. The hospital I had planned to go to required women to sit in a wheelchair and get an IV stuck in her arm walking in the door. Then they are wheeled to a delivery room, where they were required to lay down with feet in stirrups so the doctor can see in. This was required, so that's where I said NO, and went with home birth. I am so thankful I did. I recommend writing a birth plan to your doctor months prior to delivery, figure out your hospital's requirements, and find out if they will allow you to walk to allow the labor to advance, and to deliver the baby squatting. Of course this book will give you all sorts of great info about what is best for you and your baby.

This book is fantastic! As a first time mother to be, I had so many questions and fears around the natural birth. This not only answered that but also provided to many new insights. The writing is straight to the point. Loved it!

Having been to some active birth yoga sessions, I wanted to read more about active birth. Some of what is written is a little on the heavy, 'trying to shock' side, but so much of it makes sense - from an upright (as opposed to lying down) position, to useful movements to help with pain, circulation etc, its a really amazing way to help you to feel as though you are in control of your birth, with the doctors there to support you when you want them to. I really do recommend mothers to be read this - haven't given birth yet, but I'm glad I've found this as its made me feel a lot more prepared, aware of my options and empowered to ask for what I would like.

Even thought a delivery never goes as planned, reading this book gave me a lot information and prepared me for the big day

I'm currently pregnant with my first baby. I found this book to be very informative and thought me a lot about natural birthing. It has really encouraged me with my ability to birth. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Lots of good exercises in the book and after it was recommended by Barbara O'niell, I had to read it