Birth Pain: Explaining Sensations, Exploring Possibilities - Softcover

Verena Schmid is an experienced midwifery practitioner and teacher who has long promoted a unique and woman-centred approach to midwifery in Italy. Sadly, much of her work has been denied to the English-speaking midwifery profession so, in undertaking the translation and publication of Verena Schmid's work, Fresh Heart Publishing and the book's translator, Sylvie Donna, have made available invaluable perspectives and insights which were previously only accessible in Italian or German... This work offers a depth of understanding and unique personal insight to usefully inform our current thinking. It therefore makes a valuable contribution to debates going on in the field of midwifery about the nature of pain in childbirth and how this is best approached so as to ensure that women receive the most appropriate support during this life-changing event. --Dr Trudy Stevens, Anglia Ruskin University

... this book is particularly special because it tackles a subject which we seem really confused about in our caesarean and epidural-rich culture. Through an examination of philosophical, psychological and physical factors, Verena Schmid helps us understand what labour pain really is about. She considers what may affect the perception of pain, which methods might be used apart from the usual pharmacological ones, and most importantly, perhaps, she considers how we might develop our understanding of this important ingredient in the whole journey of birth, which allows a new human being to arrive on this planet. --Dr Helene Vadeboncoeur, perinatal researcher

This book can help us to encourage pregnant women to take control of birth once more. It will help us communicate to each pregnant woman that she is not just the leading lady, but also the scriptwriter and director of her own birth. Only if she understands this will a birthing woman be able to give herself up to the physiological processes, without becoming hurt or disempowered. When she understands that her unborn baby is already experiencing the natural cycles and rhythms of life through the pain of labour, she will understand that this intense, physical experience of birth is also an opportunity for her personally. Because it is not just that the child is being born of a mother... a mother is also being born through her own child s birth. This book presents basic information to help midwives or doctors advise pregnant women who are making decisions for or against pain relief (particularly epidurals), or elective caesareans. Only with this basic, value-free, comprehensive information will women really be able to determine for themselves the best way, for them personally, to give birth. --Ingeborg Stadelmann, midwife

A book to help midwives and other maternity caregivers reflect on the nature and purpose of birth pain and support pregnant and labouring women appropriately. The approach recommended is based on the author's 30+ years of experience as a midwife. This book discusses: the physiological and psychological functions of pain; cultural influences on the experience of labour pain; elective caesareans the supposedly simpler alternative to labour; advantages and drawbacks of using pharmacological pain relief; ways of transforming labour pain into an experience of power Many convincing arguments are presented to encourage you to support normal, physiological birth successfully and you are presented with practical ways of helping women prepare for and cope with the sensations and feelings of labour. In short, this is a manual to help you prevent many unnecessary caesareans.