The Triumphant Child: Caring for your newborn Edited by Dr. Olson Huff and Nicole Rawson-Huff

Stars: *****

Sixty Second Parent (2009)
Adult Nonfiction
315 pages

Summary: Whether this is your first or your fourth baby, life with a newborn is an exciting yet challenging experience. Dr. Olson Huff and Nicole Rawson-Huff have joined with a team of leading pediatric specialists to provide everything you'll need to prepare and support you and your family as you make the huge leap from pregnancy to parenting. - from amazon.com

This is a great book for a first time mom who wants to know everything and anything about raising their child for the first 2 months.

It covers EVERYTHING:
First few days, newborn skin/reflexes/senses, temperament, milestones, comunication, bathing, circumcision, cord care, cradle cap, diapering, fontanelle (soft spot), nail care, finding a doctor, fever, baby's first visit to doctor, immunizations, breastfeeding, formula feeding, burping, reflux, elimination, crying, sleeping, swaddling, massage, bonding, taking care of mom, support, relationships (with spouse and other children), safety, car seats, sun/winter safety, multiples, premature babies, adopting, child care, fathers and more.

I'm pregnant with my third child now so I didn't read anything I didn't already know but then I'm a big reader. I could see this book being good even if it isn't your first child, especially if it's been a while. You may have forgotten things but also, parenting advice changes.

The book is easy to read and very easy to find a section if you are looking for information on something specific. The book is full of tips as well.

Links of Interest: The Triumphant Child, The Sixty Second Parent,

Other Reviews: NONE YET

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Rediscovering Birth by Sheila Kitzinger

Stars: *****

Summary: Find out how pregnancy and birth is experienced around the world from the feelings about pregnancy, the physical and spiritual experience of giving birth, how babies and mothers are taken care of after birth and more. With real photographs from around the world, you'll find out how different pregnancy and especially birth is in the rest of the world.

First a word of warning for the faint of heart. The photographs in this book are not just of pregnant tummies. They range from bare breasts to statues of women giving birth to "crotch shots" to show what an episiotomy looks like. I had no problem with the photographs but I know not everyone is as okay with the body as me. There are plenty of photos of mostly clothed pregnant women, babies and birthing locations.

I really enjoyed this book. It did make me a bit sad though as I know I have to have a C-section this time and reading the book reminded me of the beauty of labour that I won't be able to experience this time.

It was really eye opening to see how much pregnancy and birth has been changed in the western world. Some of it is for the good because we can catch high risk pregnancies or diagnose twins but it's also not so good because we take a beautiful, natural event and turn it into a medical procedure. We aren't meant to give birth on our backs with our legs in stirrups and although home birth isn't for me, I do think we need to work towards a more natural experience and provide more help for those who do want to do a home birth.

However there are aspects of birth in some other countries that aren't for the better. In many cultures, colostrum (the pre-milk a mother's breasts have before her full milk comes in) is considered dangerous and is expressed and thrown away. In the meantime the baby is breastfed by another women or fed substitute fluids. We know that colostrum provides lots of benefits to the baby including immunities and antibodies.

If like me, you are interested in pregnancy and childbirth around the world, you will find this book enlightening. Unfortunately Rediscovering Birth is Out of Print. I got my copy from the library. However if you can find a copy, it's well worth it.

Links of Interest: Sheila Kitzinger,

Other Reviews: NONE YET

Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein

Stars: ****1/2

Subtitle: Know All Your Options, Discover the Natural Choices and Take Back the Birth Experience

Summary: After making "The Business of Being Born", Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein decided to pool their information on childbirth and create a book. The goal of the book is to help pregnant women make informed decisions about their birth instead of just doing whatever they are told by others. The authors seem to favour a more natural approach but give you the ups and downs of the different choices and ultimately let you decide what's best for you.

Topics include: WHERE to give birth, Obstetricians and Midwives, Doulas, who should be at birth, section for sexual abuse survivors, epidurals, inductions, electric monitors, episiotomies/vacuum/forceps, C-section and VBAC, loving your labor and bonding with baby. I can't find the name of it but I read a similar book when I was pregnant the first time (2005) and it seemed to have been an older book but it was very informative. This book covers most of the same topics but has less on each topic. This however is probably a good thing as most parents wouldn't have read the first book I mentioned as it was very long and technical.

In between words from the author are short stories of "Birth Goddesses" which are real people (sometimes celebrities) who had an exceptional birth or stood up for what they wanted or something similar. These stories can be inspirational. You'll also find some sidebars on such topics as breech birth, questions to ask your doctor, drug-free induction, breathing techniques and more.

My only qualm about the book was that it's health information is U.S. specific. I'm Canadian and so the talk about insurance and costs of birth didn't apply. However you can just ignore those parts and find out your own insurance info. But I do think it's important to know.

I think knowing your options and making a thorough birth plan is VERY important to any pregnant women. If you are pregnant or plan to be soon, get this book.

Links of Interest
My Best Birth (ning community by authors), Your Best Birth Q & A Video, The Business of Being Born
Buy Your Best Birth at Amazon.com

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The Opinionated Parent, Devourer of Books