Resources

Orgasmic Birth is a documentary that examines the intimate nature of birth and the powerful role it plays in women's lives when they are permitted to experience it. This documentary asks viewers to reexamine everything they thought they knew about giving birth and the potential it holds.

To learn about finding a Doula, click here.

In our Library
Here is a list of our favorite books; we love reading them for their ground breaking insights. Art of Birth class participants can borrow them.

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin.
Highly inspiring book, with abundance of birth stories and information that help you trust the natural birth process and your ability to have it yourself. You won't be able to put it aside.

Birth Reborn by Michel Odent
Dr. Michel Odent Mixes personal reflections and medical information, striking photographs and moving stories by women who gave birth in his maternity unit in Pithiviers, France. This book is a milestone in the worldwide movement trying to reform and humanize the birth experience. It is filled with love and respect to the laboring women and her newborn.

An Easier Childbirth: A Mother's Guide to Birthing Normally by Gayle Petersen
This book offers a valuable approach to childbirth preparation. It emphasizes the emotional aspects of childbirth and helps to resolve emotional issues prior to birth.

Birthing From Within by Pam England & Rob Horowitz
Fantastic book with unusual and interesting methods for gaining insight into what you bring to the birth experience

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
This important book puts the power of the latest scientific findings on childbirth in your hands, to help you become informed about medical procedures related to childbirth.

Essential Exercise for the Childbearing Year by Elisabeth Noble
This book will help you understand the changes your body undergoes while childbearing. It will teach you to prepare, use and restore the key muscles involved in childbirth, and to develop your full physical potential.

Immaculate Deception II - Myth, Magic & Birth by Suzann Arms
This is an intimate view of the true nature of birth and its profound impact on women, children, and our world. It reveals how modern birth practices evolved, challenges commonly held beliefs, and explores the subject of pain and fear in birth. It has a clear vision of what is possible and of how everyone can benefit from changing the way our culture approaches birth.

The Scientification of Love by Michel Odent
In this beautiful book, Michel Odent tells us about the physiology of birth, love, and breastfeeding. He asks questions regarding the roots of love and the future of humankind. "Today, for the first time in history of humankind, most women, in many countries, become mothers without releasing a complex cocktail of hormones of love. The questions must be raised in terms of civilization. Can Humanity survive obstetrics?" (P.132)

Silent Knife by Nancy Wainer Cohen & Lois J. Estner
Silent knife is the bible of cesarean prevention and preparation for a VBAC.

Homebirth by Sheila Kitzinger
This is an essential guide to giving birth outside of the hospital.

The Tentative Pregnancy by Barbara Katz Rothman
This book explores the social and emotional ramifications of prenatal diagnosis.

Ended beginnings by Claudia Panuthos & Catherine Romeo
This valuable book stretches out its hand to families who are grieving childbirth related losses (birth trauma, miscarriage, stillbirth, infertility, and more). The book gives a sense of hope, for with the release of grieving and sorrow, comes resolution and healing.

Gentle Birth Choices by Barbara Harper
Barbara Harper provides a model of maternity care that reduces the need for high-tech crisis intervention and focuses on preparation and good health for mother and child.

Birth without Violence by Frederick Leboyer
In this book, Leboyer, helps us realize the newborn's journey into the world, and shows us how to create for the newborn a gentle passage to life.

Your Amazing Newborn by Marshall H. Klaus & Phyllis H. Klaus
This unique book illustrates the incredible new findings of research on newborns.

Welcome with love by Jenni Overend, Julie Vivas (Illustrator)
This beautiful, warm, honest, and joyful book celebrates the birth of a baby at home.

Finding a Doula
A Doula is a woman experienced in childbirth. She provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth. A doula complements the care a woman is already receiving, and adds a caring, nurturing presence to all. Doula's presence in birth found to be beneficial to the birth outcomes. It results in fewer medical interventions and reduced requests for epidurals and narcotics, as well as fewer complications after the birth for baby and mother. A doula's presence also enhances psychological well being and satisfaction from the birth. Birth Works and Doulas of North America (DONA) are national organizations that accredit doulas.