1st Edition

Birth as a Healing Experience The Emotional Journey of Pregnancy Through Postpartum

By Lois Halzel Freedman Copyright 1999
    142 Pages
    by Routledge

    142 Pages
    by Routledge

    Birth as a Healing Experience: The Emotional Journey of Pregnancy Through Postpartum emphasizes and examines the emotional aspects of pregnancy and postpartum, presenting these periods as important opportunities for a woman's growth and healing from previous traumatic births or pregnancy losses. Midwives, childbirth educators, pregnant and postpartum women, women of childbearing age, and men will find that this book is unlike most others on pregnancy because it focuses on the healing potential in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum rather than on medical aspects. Women's stories illustrate how individuals deal with past experiences of grief and loss during pregnancy in a therapeutic setting.

    Through Birth as a Healing Experience, you will discover a new model of childbirth preparation that empowers women and their partners for a fulfilling childbirth experience. You will also find that this essential book contains important information on supporting women during the postpartum period so you can provide the best services to your clients throughout the childbearing experience.

    Addressing the importance of a woman's emotional well-being during the pregnancy and postpartum periods, the detailed case studies in this informative book will help you understand and learn from each topic. Birth as a Healing Experience offers you insightful discussions about:

    • the number of cesarean sections performed in the United States
    • the medical as well as psychological consequences of cesarean sections
    • the many benefits of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)
    • guidelines for VBAC and for attaining a fulfilling childbirth experience
    • the effects of pregnancy and childbirth on the psychological development of women
    • the importance of healing from past birth traumas and/or the early death of a mother to have a satisfying pregnancy and motherhood experience

      From this vital guide, you will understand how such issues as a previous traumatic birth, miscarriage, or your own early mother loss can have an effect on your pregnancy and postpartum periods. Birth as a Healing Experience emphasizes honoring the childbirth experience and focuses on the power of women supporting women during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. From this intelligent book, you will find unique stories that will enhance the childbearing experience for you and your clients.

    Contents Foreword
    • Preface
    • Acknowledgements
    • Part I: Birth as Personal and Psychological Development
    • Chapter 1: The Author's Own Story: Two Births and One Book
    • Birth Number One
    • The Second Baby: Practing the Lessons Learned
    • Birth of a Career and a Book
    • Chapter 2: Pregnancy and Childbirth in Women's Psychological Development
    • Part II: Birth as a Medical Intervention
    • Chapter 3: Contemporary Medical Interventions
    • Background
    • Common Medical Interventions
    • Chapter 4: The Caesarean Section
    • “Once a Cesarean, Always a Cesarean”: A Discussion
    • Reducing the Cesarean Rate 8 Postpartum Effects
    • Part III: Birth as an Experience of Empowerment
    • Chapter 5: Support for Honoring the Experience of Childbirth
    • The Childbirth Educator
    • The Care Provider
    • The Woman Listening to Her Inner Wisdom
    • The Partner
    • Labor Support from Another Woman
    • Part IV: Birth as a Healing Experience
    • Chapter 6: Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC)
    • Preparation for VBAC
    • Clients' Stories
    • Chapter 7: Healing from Loss
    • Working with Clients During Postpartum Period
    • Chapter 8: Healing from Mother Loss
    • Counseling Motherless Women
    • Part V: Birth as a Sacred Experience
    • Chapter 9: Circle of Women
    • Compassionate Childbirth Preparation
    • Bibliography
    • Index
    • Reference Notes Included

    Biography

    Lois Halzel Freedman