Resources for Home Birth Self-Care & Education

In addition to providing themselves with healthy food, good vitamins, and exercise, many pregnant women want and need some books, dvds, and websites to explore their interests around birth.  In recent years there has been an incredible proliferation of online resources.  What follows is a list of some of my favorite basic resources, to help get you started.  All of the books and DVDs are available from my library – just let me know if you want me to bring one to your next prenatal. I also maintain a hidden group on Facebook where I share the best of current research and information. I am happy to add you to that, if you send me a friend request and then a message asking to be added. Note that membership in the group reveals your identity to other group members; I never add anyone without their explicit request.

Prenatal Vitamins and Supplements

Most important is your diet, but prenatal vitamins can provide essential supplemental support. A couple of my favorites brands are Vitamin Code RAW Prenatal by Garden of Life or New Chapter Perfect Prenatal.  Please note that approximately half of the population cannot adequately absorb vitamin B-9, (folate/folic acid) very well; this is the key nutrient essential for preventing neural tube defects in the first weeks of pregnancy. Though expensive, you might consider adding a product containing L-methylfolate such as Metagenics’s FolaPro to your repertoire in the preconception and first-trimester phase. It provides readily absorbable vitamin B-9. Vegans please note: you need supplemental B-12.  If not a part of your prenatal vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids (DHA) are beneficial for fetal brain development, and I recommend Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA.  Many women will also benefit from a liquid calcium-magnesium supplement in the second half of pregnancy, as well as supplemental probiotics.  I recommend Jarrow’s FemDophilus.

Childbirth Education

Olive Tree Birthing at bloomingtonbirthdoula.com is the best local source for childbirth education, mothering groups, and more. The wonderful Molly Mendota also teaches private classes. If you live too far away from Bloomington, let’s talk; we’ll see what resources exist in your community.

Books about pregnancy and birth

  • Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth — Gaskin
  • Birthing from Within — England
  • Women Giving Birth — Rees, et al (amazing out-of-print Dutch book I’m happy to loan out, full of realistic homebirth stories and photos)
  • The Birth Partner — Simkin
  • Welcome with Love — Overend (lovely storybook for children also published under the title Hello, Baby)
    **any other texts by Kitzinger, Simkin, or Gaskin**

Books for the postpartum

  • The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding – La Leche League International
  • The Nursing Mother’s Guide to Making More Milk – West, vital if you’ve had problems in the past
  • The Vaccine Book – Sears
  • The Baby Book – Sears, or some other encyclopedic baby book to use as a resource. Many choices out there, a great reason to go browsing at your local bookstore, as everyone needs one on their shelf
  • **Sleeping with Your Baby: A Parents’ Guide to Cosleeping – Jame McKenna. A must read!**
  • Diastasis Recti: The Whole-Body Solution to Abdominal Weakness and Separation – Katy Bowman
  • Sweet Sleep: Nighttime and Naptime Strategies for the Breastfeeding Family — La Leche League

DVDs

  • The Business of Being Born
  • Birth Day
  • Down There for Women – Katy Bowman (postpartum exercises for pelvic floor rehabilitation)

Websites