Readings

Reading was my gateway to the birth world. Some of the books below were of my choosing; some were required by my certifying organization. An asterik indicates a book I would recommend to any pregnant family.

• The Birth Partner, Penny Simkin, 2013.*

• Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom is Wrong - and What You Really Need to Know, Emily Oster, 2016.* 

• Pregnancy Childbirth and the Newborn: The Complete Guide; Penny Simkin, PT, Janet Whaley, RN, BSN, Ann Keppler, RN, MN, 2001, 2016.*

• Witches, Midwives & Nurses: A History of Women Healers, Second Edition, Barbara Ehrenreich & Deidre English, 2010. 

• When Survivors Give Birth: Understanding and Healing the Effects of Early Sexual Abuse on Childbearing Women, Penny Simkin, PT, and Phyllis Klaus, CSW, MFT, 2012.

• Journey to Same-Sex Parenthood: Firsthand Advice, Tips and Stories from Lesbian and Gay Couples, Eric Rosswood, 2016.

• Your Guide to Breastfeeding, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Women's Health, 2021.

• DONA Position Paper: The Postpartum Doula's Role in Maternity Care, 2017.

• DONA Position Paper: The Birth Doula's Contribution to Modern Maternity Care, 2017.

• The Doula Book, Marshall H. Klaus, MD, John H. Kennell, MD, and Phyllis H. Klaus, MFT LMSW, 2012

• The Mother of All Pregnancy Books, Ann Douglas, 2012.

• The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, La Leche League International, 2010.

• Transformed by Postpartum Depression, Walker Karraa, PhD, 2014.

• Body of Work, Pamela Slim, 2013.

• Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty, Dorothy Roberts, 2017.

• Birth As An American Rite of Passage, Robbie Davis-Floyd.

• Spiritual Midwifery, Ina May Gaskin.

• Deliver Me from Pain: Anesthesia and Birth in America, Jacqueline H. Wolf.

• Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care, Jennifer Block, 2007.

• Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, Ina May Gaskin, 2003.

• Easing Labor Pain: The Complete Guide to a More Comfortable and Rewarding Birth, Adrienne B. Lieberman, 1992.

• A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, 1991.

• Natural Hospital Birth: The Best of Both Worlds, Cynthia Gabriel, 2011.

• Childbirth Without Fear, Grantly Dick-Read.   

• Rediscovering Birth, Sheila Kitzinger.

• Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation, Pam England, 1998.

• The Story of Jane: The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service, Laura Kaplan, 1997.

• What to Expect When You're Expecting, Heidi Murkoff.

• The Women Who Caught the Babies: A Story of African American Midwives, Eloise Greenfield, 2019.

• Birth Models that Work, Robbie Davis-Floyd, 2009.

• Labor of Love: A Midwife's Memoir, Cara Muhlhahn, 2009.

• Catching Babies: The Professionalization of Childbirth, 1870-1920, Charlotte G. Borst, 1995.

• Hypnobirthing: A Celebration of Life: A definitive guide for easier, safer, and more comfortable birthing, Marie F. Mongan, M. Ed., M.Hy., 1998.

• Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems, Richard Ferber, M.D., 1985.

• the no-cry sleep solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night, Elizabeth Pantley, 2002.

• The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy, Vicki Iovine.

• Confessions of the Other Mother: Non-biological Lesbian Moms Tell All, Harlyn Aizley, 2006.

• Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives: A Holistic Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth, Deepak Chopra, MD, 2005.

• What Does it Mean to be White?: Developing White Racial Literacy: Revised Edition: Robin DiAngelo, 2016.

• Cut, Stapled, & Mended: When One Woman Reclaimed Her Body and Gave Birth on Her Own Terms After Cesarean, Roanna Rosewood, 2013.

• Call the Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times, Jennifer Worth, 2009.

• Journey into Motherhood: Inspirational Stories of Natural Birth, Sherri L Menelli, 2004.