Modern Book Discussing Cesarean, Induction, Episiotomy, Etc

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer is probably the best book out there right now. I only discovered it with my 6th pregnancy (she was born in 2006), but wished I had had this information with my first. It should be required reading for every pregnant woman, although most doctors/hospitals wouldn't want you reading it. It equips you with the truth about hospital procedures. What most hospitals require now are not even recommended by the OB board (or whatever it is called). They do things because of litigation fears. About half of the book is the Appendix, with her research bibliography. She sites tons of studies, reports, etc. Excellent!

Pushed, by Jennifer Block is wonderful!! It was written in 2007. It covers all of those topics. Also, The Thinking Woman's Guide to Better Birth by Henci Goer. Fantastic book backed up tons of scientific studies.

The book, What to expect when you are expecting is not a book I would ever recommend. There are much better choices.

Lisa

Pelvic health & childbirth : what every woman needs to know / Magnus Murphy, and Carol L. Wasson ; foreword by Linda Brubaker.

2003? I read this and I think it was eye opening. I tell you about it because it was very scientific and had no opinions at all, or barely. I could not tell where the author stood on natural birthing or anything, anything at all. I read only facts and I have to be honest... they scared me! It was something I later got to talk to a physical therapist about since she was helping me with my pelvic pain/lower back pain because my tummy muscles acting like a belt were too lose in the front and caused tons of pregnant back pain.

I learned things in this book that rarely happen to women like me, 26 at the time and fit, good weight. A healthy active, low stress pregnant woman eating her way to a healthy baby and staying fit should not need to worry about what this book said at any age older age even. I actually went from wanting a c-section then after reading it, never ever wanting one voluntarily to preserve my body and to take better care of my uterus for future babes. I think I really got paranoid because of some really hard core episiotomy stories that came my way. Oh and how to avoid one is to... well a pregnancy yoga DVD my teacher made is a great way! She is out of purple yoga. But you need to do your kegals, and take it all the way up to your tummy. Do them at red lights and 10 after you pee or something like that.

The best book that toped it all was "Birthing from within" for me, but really it was only other book I read while pregnant (Thank God!). It spoke about a lot of beautiful parts of birthing, baby in belly, and well.... it spoke to me. I got the tribal internal feeling that was actually the biggest, best helper for me during labor. I got strong in my spirit as well as nutrition and body. This strong spirit was not about to stop any C-section to save my life, no, no, but it was the spirit that made me draw a mother holding a baby on my minimal birth plan, that is actually a great piece of memorabilia, and have my baby naturally after 24 hours of labor in a hospital, he was 9.24 lbs! I went into a trance and let my body do what it knows how to do. I relaxed during the contraction, stood and swayed or leaned on someone and let my whole body shake by my shaking uterus shaking him down and out. I ended up on my shins and knees swaying my tail back and forwards, holding on to the top of the bed (it was sitting up in the back). My OB was the best and he let me do my thing even though the nurse (at this birth) was trying to get me to lay down on my back. Laying on my back was the worst place for my body and slowed down my labor tons.I could tell you the whole thing.. pm if you want all the details.

My biggest best realization was this laboring African woman holding out her hand to me and inviting me into a field. Probably nothing like what they really do, but in my mind it broke down all the "information" that is brought to birth about peoples bodies that are...well not mine. I realized I could do this. This beautiful biological act that connects me now with millions of years of birthing of all the mama animals.

But after all that, I do think a quick read about a c-section is a great idea for all mothers! If it happens so many have huge pains about the event when they had planned a very different experience. My briefing on it made me comfortable... I mean that isn't to say, I could even fathom how they feel emotionally about that kind of birth though.

I am sorry this was so long!

My standby book is "What to Expect when you're Expecting", which even includes a section on how to do an emergency delivery.

Another good book is "Your Pregnancy & Birth" (Fourth Edition) - it was given to me by my OBGYN.

I had a complicated pregnancy however, and to be prepared for anything I read "Your High-Risk Pregnancy: A Practical and Supportive Guide" (2009). It was extremely helpful and guided me through Hyperemesis Gravidarum (severe morning sickness), gestational diabetes and an emergency c-section. It is a great resource if you need to know risks associated with anything that comes up.

http://www.amazon.com/Your-High-Risk-Pregnancy-Practical-...

I don't know a title of a book to help you but I know from personal experience that c-sections are done in emergencies so that mother and child do not die in child birth. There are multiple situations that could put the life of mother and child at risk.

My first pregnancy I was in active labor for 31 hours and failed to progress. They put a sensor on his head when he was inside me and could tell he was in distress. He had a hard time regulating his temperature for several days after birth. He weighed nine pounds 1 ounce.

My second pregnancy I originally thought I was having an elective c-section. My doctor supported my choice since my previous birth was so difficult. My elective c-section plans were dramatically changed at 37 weeks when I was dianosed with a severe form of Pre-elamsia called the HELLP Syndrome. This time my life and the life of my baby was at risk.

C-sections are serious surgeries and they do come with risks. For me, the risks often became real. Both c-sections failed to heal correctly and took four months to close and a home nurse had to come to my house to pack the wound. The second time this happened the doctor said, "I think I see your bladder!" I don't think he was trying to be funny.

The same c-section gave me multiple issues for years. It turned out that my uterus attached itself to the wall of my abdomin and my bladder. I had to have surgery to correct the worst of this situation but the doctor was unable to completely detach my bladder from my uterus. Because of these isssues, other issues from the c-section and the fact I was on birth control, I was shocked to learn six years later that I was 16 and half weeks pregnant.

She too, was born by c-section. It was my first non emergency c-section but because my bladder was still attached, the doctor felt that this was the safest way for her to be born. In addition my blood pressure was starting to show signs of creeping up. This c-section healed the best and a year later, I can tell that my problems from the middle c-section are solved.

The reason you are probably having a hard time finding something written after 06 is the internet is full of information and since childbirth has been going on for centuries, the reasons for a c-section basically never changes.

The only thing that changes are opinions. All I know is that when you or your baby's life is endangered you will do whatever you have to do to get through the experience alive and well.

Good luck!