From the Nation's Leading Midwife

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
Published March 4, 2003 by Bantam
I've been wanting to read this book since before I was even pregnant. Granted I could have read it then, but I think it packs a bit more of an emotional punch reading it now that I'm actually pregnant instead of before.

The book is organized in a way I wasn't quite expecting with the first half birth stories and the second half more of a self-help section. While I do think putting all the birth stories together packs much more of an emotional punch, I'm not sure how much I liked it. I think it might have flowed better if the stories were throughout, and instead of being referenced back to with a specific detail, lead into a specific section. I also almost raced through the stories, since I was so looking forward to the actual "meat" to come.

I did still appreciate them, and could see how helpful they could be if you haven't heard very many. In general most people tend not to share the gory details of their births. At least not in person, but bloggers are a different story. I do feel like I've read a number of stories from fellow bloggers that I wouldn't have heard otherwise, so it some ways while the stories were unique, they more of a rehash of things I've already read.

But I did really enjoy Ina May's section explaining much of the birth process and felt like I learned so many little details reading it. At this point it's hard to say how much of it will actual be useful to me, but I have a feeling I may surprise myself. I do think as much I as enjoyed this now, once I look back on it after giving birth I'll likely have a completely different opinion. But for now at least, I'm a big fan.

4.5/5

Today I'm linking up with Blonde Undercover Blonde for Book Club Friday!