The Joy of Natural Childbirth

A Book Review by Alisha

The Joy of Natural Childbirth by Helen Wessel is an absolute must read for all moms - and yes even dads - first time pregnancy or not.

The book is written in two parts:

Part one is a charming old-fashioned story about a couple
who is newly married and discovers they are pregnant.

You go to the doctor's appointments with the couple and learn a lot along the way.

Part two goes into more details about the information presented in part one and then gives statistics that are jaw-dropping.

Before reading The Joy of Natural Childbirth, I had the typical fears and stereotypes regarding pregnancy and childbirth burned into my brain.

I just accepted the fact - or so I thought - that my labor experience would probably be just like my mother's, aunts, friends and even the frightening births that are shown on TV.

After being exposed to all this negativity, I couldn't understand how God could call child-bearing a blessing - how cruel!

But how wrong I was!

While reading The Joy of Natural Childbirth, I became angry at the things I was learning, and that anger sparked a burning passion to not only learn more but to share with those who would listen.

After reading The Joy of Natural Childbirth I was no longer scared...

I had absolute confidence in myself - the confidence God had in me when he designed the female body to bear children...

...and I realized that birth truly is a blessing - not a curse like we are taught.

There were so many people that tried to tell me that this faith - or confidence - was not real because I had never experienced what they had... mainly labor. But they didn't know what I knew!

So when labor came - I had total faith that everything would happen the way it was supposed to...

...it was amazing the way my body just knew what to do.

Now, birth didn't come without discomforts, but it was still nothing compared to what I thought it would be like before reading the book. So the quote in the book by Onnie Lee Logan was true for me:

The really cool thing was that the book presented such details about what happens in labor that nothing surprised me! Well, except that pushing did not hurt at all!!

Whenever I would reach the next step in labor I would think, "Oh, so this is what they were talking about!"

My mom - who was at the birth - couldn't believe how my labor went. She said she wished she knew what I did when she had me... maybe then I could have had a brother or sister!!!

To this day she still talks about Johnathan's birth like it was the most incredible thing she has witnessed.

I enjoyed the book so much the first time that I decided to read it again during this pregnancy - my second.

Even after all I learned, I still had fears about labor because of the tear I had as a result of the episiotomy with Johnathan. The episiotomy was recommended because he presented with his elbow by his ear and the position I was in was no longer effective.

In hind-sight - which is always 20/20 - the midwife should have given me the choice of a different position rather than rushing to cut me!

Fortunately, there were things in the book I didn't catch the first time - that have put my fears of tearing again to rest. It has been a great refresher and I am looking forward to my next birthing experience.

But don't just take my word for it - read about the experience Florence had after reading this book - after she'd already had 3 natural births.

Have you read this book? What was your experience? Will you share with us?

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