Laboring Under An Illusion: Mass Media Childbirth vs The Real Thing a documentary by Vicki Elson MA, CCE
One of, if not THE most important video of 2009, Laboring Under An Illusion will enlighten you with the images of "I Love Lucy" to today's reality birth shows.  Childbirth anthropologist Vicki Elson takes a long look at the images shown our society and how they can diminish and skew the view of birth from the normal human event it is - to the seemingly inconsequential event as it is viewed as today.  After viewing the over 100 clips, is it any wonder women and women in labor are not valued by our culture?  While Elson contrasts the two prevalent views of birth, she does not bring the viewer to a conclusion.  She lets the video clips speak for themselves and allows the viewer to make their own conclusion.  This is a perfect video for a community group wanting to inform about birth, a childbirth education group, groups of maternity professionals, or doula group.

Running Time: 50 Minutes
Price: $39.95  US
To purchase, go to www.birth-media.com

Understanding The Dangers of Cesarean Birth: Making Informed Decisions by Nicette Jukelevics/ Foreword by Charles Mahan, MD
2008 can truly be said to be the year that birth was in the spotlight.  And no other book in 2008 shown the spotlight of truth on Cesarean Births quite like this one.  Jukelevics uses extensive research to substantiate her points with such hard hitting chapters such as "Breaking the Silence: Birth Trauma, Cesareans and Post Traumatic Stress", "Electronic Fetal Monitoring: More Information is Not Always Better" and "Out of Hospital Birth Lowers the Odds for Cesarean Section", plus the extensive bibliography, makes this book #1 on your "must read list" for 2009!  This book has been endorsed by Dr. Christiane Northrup, as well as Dr. Marsden Wagner, the president of BirthNetwork National, the editor of Mothering Magazine, the advocacy director of ICAN and more! For additional information, go to http://www.dangersofcesareanbirth.com/

304 pages with graphs & photos
ISBN: 0-275-99906-8
Praeger Publishers
$49.95 or available as an ebook

The Best of 2008

Planned Cesarean ~ your guide to a positive birth experience.
This DVD shows expectant parents how to turn a medical necessity into a positive birth memory.  Viewers join two couples as they prepare for their cesareans, undergo major abdomenal surgery and start the recovery process.  The surgical procedure is shown through animation, and helpful, family-centered cesarean birth tips are presented throughout the program.

Program Segmented for Optimal Usage
Total Length: 36:20 minutes
$249.95  Available from www.birthsource.com.

Born In The USA: How A Broken Maternity System Must Be Fixed To Put Women and Children First by Marsden Wagner MD, MS
Riveting... This book is by far the most important book of this decade ~ whether you are an expectant mother or father, or birth professional.  Long time birth advocate, Dr. Marsden Wagner has set for the clear proof that childbirth in the US generally does NOT follow the evidence based research that is available.  Fully documented, this book is a startling (for some) expose of the state of childbirth in the US, exposing the pitiful health statistics in the US.  Wagner says that women are convinced that their uterus's are incapable of contracting with out medication, that women cannot tolerate labor pain (unlike the women who have gone before us), and that nearly 1/3 of women cannot push their babies out and must have forceps or vacuum or cesarean to help them birth.  If you care for and about birthing women, you must read this book!!!

294 pages
ISBN 0-520-24596-2
Publisher: University of California Press
Cost: $16.47 on amazon.com

Childbirth Without Fear by Grantly Dick-Read and Foreward by Michel Odent
The world-wide bestseller and classic has been reissued!  This edition is true to the 4th edition Read completed in June 1959, just before his death.  To quote Andrea Robertson, "a fascinating insight into normal birth at a time when endorphins were not known, modern midwifery did not exist and women had already learnt to fear labour."  Find out incredible details about the Fear-Tension-Pain Cycle.  Read was certainly one of the first childbirth advocates ~ this is a must for all who are in birth education: nurses, midwives, childbirth educators, physicians, or doulas.

338 pages
ISBN 0-9530964-6-7
Publisher: Pinter & Martin
Cost: $19.95 US, 8.99 UK, $27.95 AUS ; available from Pinter & Martin and many local book stores plus Amazon for $13.57 + shipping.

Honey I Think My Water Just Broke! 32 Personal Accounts of Childbirth by Shannon Kelly
Read as 32 expectant parents share deep and poignant stories about pregnancy, labor and childbirth.  After giving birth to her son in 2002, Kelly was driven to write this book to share experiences with other soon-to-be parents.  The author has done her homework, researched the topic and has interviewed maternity professionals and put this information in everyday words all can understand.

124 pages
ISBN 1420808265
Publisher: Authorhouse
Cost: $11.95; available from Authorhouse by electronic book ($3.95) or paperback ($10.25 + s/h).

Eating Expectantly: A Practical and Tasty Guide to Prenatal Nutrition by Bridget Swinney MS and Tracey Anderson RN BS FACCE.
Rated as one of the “10 best parenting books” by Child magazine, Eating Expectantly offers a practical and tasty approach to prenatal nutrition. Dietitian Bridget Swinney combines nutritional guidelines for each trimester with 200 complete menus, 85 tasty recipes, and cooking and shopping tips. Newly revised with the most current nutrition information.

398 pages
ISBN 0-88166-371-9
Publisher: Meadowbrook Press
Cost: $12.00 ~ available from BirthEssentials Online Store!

The Whole Pregnancy Handbook by Joel M. Evans MD with Robin Aronson
Advertised as "everything you need to know about the latest in alternative and conventional health care", this book has generally good information.  Dr. Evans includes much about healthy normal pregnancy and childbirth and encourages continuous communication with caregivers. This is a great book to become introduced to pregnancy yoga, aromatherapy While his coverage of inductions include accupressure points as well as herbal remedies, disappointingly the author glosses over cervical ripening agents and Pitocin which are all too common place today.  His statement that "In this day and age and in this legal environment, epidurals of any sort wouldn't be given if they weren't considered absolutely safe for both mother and baby" does not reflect generally current medical research.  And often, he refers to how it is in his practice - not helpful unless you live in Connecticut.

556 pages
ISBN 1-592-40111-2
Publisher: Gotham Books, a division of Penguin Group
Cost: $20.00 US or $29.00 Canadian

The Simple Guide to Having a Baby: What you Need to Know by Janet Whalley RN BSN, Penny Simkin PT, and Ann Keppler RN MN.
Destined to replace "What to Expect When You Are Expecting" this great new book is a tremendous resource on how to stay healthy during pregnancy, how to handle labor pain and how to care for your new baby!  The great illustrations and easy-to-use lists makes this book a must-have for every mother-to-be.  Makes a great shower gift if you are looking for the "one great gift" this is it!!!!

266 pages
ISBN 0-88166-482-0
Publisher: Meadowbrook Press - Available from BirthEssentials - our online store!
Cost: $12.00

Mothers Know Best: Real Moms Share 1001 Tips on Pregnancy, Birth and the First Year by Connie Correia Fisher and Joanne Correia with a foreword by Dr. Jennifer L Howse, President of March of Dimes
Imagine having 1001 tips from 500 women from 12 countries ~ right at your finger tips!  That is what writers Fisher and Correia have done, giving you the benefit of wisdom, helpful tips, great time and money saving hints in an easy to read format.  Compacted into small mini-sections, this book crams much into a little space.  From choosing your pediatrician to trusting your instincts as a new mother, this book is a book even the busiest mother juggling a family can enjoy!

335 pages
ISBN 0-9661200-6-X
Publisher: Sweet Potatoes Press
Cost: $14.95

DOGS & STORKS ~ preparing the family dog for life with baby!
Created by Jennfier Shryock CDBC
Answering the need of expectant parents to prepare the family dog for life with the new baby, Ms. Shryock, a certified dog behavior consultant, compiles essential information on an easy-to-use PowerPoint presentation.  She covers topics such as truly getting to know your dog/dog type, your dog's sensitive issues, communicating with your dog, knowing how your dog asks for and receives attention, and tips for success.  Study this again and again, in the comfort of your own home. Free follow-up teleconferences and message boards for continued support.  If you have a pet and are expecting a new baby, this CD is for you!

www.familypaws.com ~ and coming soon to BirthEssentials Online Store!
PowerPoint Presentation
Cost: $30.00

Hey! Who's Having This Baby Anyway? What Every Woman Must Know About Childbirth by Breck Hawk RN & Midwife
This great new book is not only a guide to many aspects of birth, but it is also a workbook ~ explaining why things happen, not just that they do happen in birth! Ms. Hawk has done her research and seeks to empower the pregnant consumer with information rarely included in consumer-oriented books such as the 2002 Cesarean Rate by State Chart, great information on waterbirths and insight into birth plans and the protocols of hospitals/birth centers. Her chapter on Medications in Labor will be as informative to professionals as well as expectant parents.  Heavy documentation supports this must read book! Well worth the investment!

400 pages
ISBN 0-9751264-4-X
Some charts; few pictures or illustrations
Publisher: Metropolis Ink
Cost: $19.95 and available from BirthEssentials

Pregnancy for Dummies ~ The DVD
This DVD or VHS presentation is cute and has some good basic information.  There are some definite biases presented that could flavor the way expectant parents see childbirth.  Twice, information is given and it is not accurate to 2002.  These two pieces of information include the mechanism of episiotomy and the rate of cesarean section.  The DVD informs parents that the lack of an episiotomy may cause tears, when research shows evidence to the opposite.  And the cesarean section is presented at 20% when in reality, it is more like 25%.  Unfortunately there is no reference to the power that women have to raise their pain tolerance through comfort measures, all women are shown to labor in bed and no mother pushes in an upright position.  Not a surprise that all 3 women shown op for an epidural, two have oxygen and one has a cesarean.

2 DVD set or VHS
Live action/physician interviews; cartoon
Publisher: WellSpring
Cost: $26.95

Blessingways: A Guide to Mother-Centered Baby Showers by Shari Maser CCE
This book is the definitive how-to guide for creating a spiritual and emotionally fulfilling alternative to the usual baby shower.  Never before has one source had so much to offer: a brief history of woman-centered blessingways, celebration ideas, invitation ideas, "scripts" and how to do "run throughs" so it all goes smoothly, plus gift, food and song ideas.  Ms. Maser has given us the recipe for the new baby shower!

272 pages/some photos/ illustrations
ISBN: 0-9754551-7-6
Publisher: MoonDance Press
Cost: $14.95

The Female Pelvis: Anatomy & Exercises by Blandine Calais-Germain
The female pelvis and its contents are an underappreciated region of anatomy - and so vital to the process of childbirth!  With over 250 illustrations, this book provides a better undertstanding of the pelvis, exercises for toning, and suggestions for health and fitness. One of the great new books for 2005!

159 pages/250 illustrations
ISBN: 0-939616-38-6
Publisher: Eastland Press ~ available through BirthEssentials!
Cost: $24.95

Great Expectations: Your All-in-One Resource for Pregnancy & Childbirth by Sandy Jones and Marcie Jones
If you are searching for one book for your pregnancy or are searching for that one book to refer ALL of your expectant clients to, this book is by far the greatest achievement in childbirth education reading material! If you only want to read one book during your pregnancy, this MUST be it. Sandy Jones and her daughter Marcie Jones have included absolutely EVERYTHING an expectant woman and her family needs to know. It is written objectively and is very current. This book should be on everyone's recommended reading list!

Pages: 646 - packed with valuable information!
Publisher: Barnes & Nobles Books
ISBN: 0-7607-4132-8
Cost: $14.95 ($22.95 Canadian)