About this item
Birthing is a miraculous time when you and your baby will work together to bring about life. As you finally cradle your precious newborn in your arms, you should know deep in your soul that every decision that brought the two of you to this special moment was yours. More families than ever are choosing to birth at home. Midwives Jane E. Drichta and Jodilyn Owen answer questions about the kind of care, support, and information you need as you investigate whether this option is right for you. Birth can be an empowering and positive experience, and this book provides gentle guidance, with high regard for your wisdom and ability to successfully navigate your prenatal care, birth, and early mothering. Enriched with real birth stories from new mothers, The Essential Homebirth Guide offers thoughtful, compassionate advice on a wealth of birthing topics, including: * Building a supportive homebirth community * Caring for yourself and your baby from your pregnancy through the postpartum period * Communicating about your birthing plans with your midwife, your partner, and your family and friends * Deciding whether homebirth is safe for you * Educating yourself about common pregnancy-related issues * Preparing your home and your family for the big day.
About the Author
"The Essential Homebirth Guide" is the latest incarnation of a life spent in the company of women. Inspired by such authors as Madeleine L'Engle and Louisa May Alcott, Jane spent her childhood reading and writing, eventually majoring in English at St. Louis University. Soon after graduation, she married, and in a few years, her daughter Anna was born. With a real live baby running the show, Jane's interests turned to pregnancy, birth and parenting, and she has never looked back.
She now lives and works in Seattle, Washington as a perinatal massage therapist, and all around birth worker. A Certified Professional Midwife, Jane works closely with Shanti Uganda, a non-governmental organization (NGO) which works to improves infant and maternal health, provide safe women-centered care and support the well-being of birthing mothers and women living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda.
She has written for "Midwifery Today," "Squat," and other non-birth related publications. She is an international lecturer on assorted birth topics, and in her spare time enjoys travel, music, and spending time with her family, especially the little baby, now almost grown, who inspired this path.
You can read more about Jane at www.essentialmidwifery.com.
