What books would you recommend for preparing for labour?

[bumperlicious]

Anything you'd recommend? Thanks!

Spiritual Midwifery and Ina May;s Guide to Childbirth, both by Ina May Gaskin....hippy ish ,but inspiring stories of birth ..

Active Birth - Janet Balaskas, good ante natal tips, exercises and preparation for birth

The Complete Guide to pregnancy and childbirth - Sheila Kitzinger

would be my personal recommendations....you might find a different style of book suits you, depends on what you want , if it is a woman centred book , about all aspects of birth, not just the physical act , then the above books will be useful for you x

The Mumsnet book "Mums on Pregnancy" is really good for a wide variety of experiences and different views.

I'd say Sheila Kitzinger - The New Experience of Childbirth was the best one that I read

Birthing from Within

Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering and some of the articles in her Book are on the Website.

Agree that the Ina May Gaskin books are good, Spiritual Midwifery is better.

Also try "Hypnobirthing: The Mongan method" by Marie Mongan. It's an easy read, and I just love hypnobirthing.

Depends what you are after... Blooming Birh from Lucy Atkins is very good and Pat Thomas' Your Birth Rights is VERY good!

I loved "The Best friends Guide" and of course, the Pregnancy magazines you can get in the shops are invaluable for the Birth Stories and advice they give out.

Birth and Beyond by Janet Balaskas and Yehudi Gordon is absolutely THE best book about pregnancy/childbirth and the first 9 months of baby's life.

Nothing judgemental, just all the info you need and BEAUTIFUL pictures of tiny babies. I love love love it. Am off to read it right now, in fact.

Another vote for Ina May - a wonderful read. Truly inspiring and full of positivity. I also liked Birthing from Within, but in a different way. It's very practical and realistic about 'this is gonna hurt'. I'm currently waiting for the hypnobirthing book from an Amazon marketplace seller and will report back in due course!