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Spiritual Midwifery

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Spiritual Midwifery

By: Ina May Gaskin
Narrated by: Camille Mazant
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About this listen

The original Spiritual Midwifery, published in 1976, introduced an entire generation of young women to the possibility of home birth and breast feeding. It also breathed new life into the all-but-vanished field of midwifery.

The current edition of this classic book on home birth is now an audiobook, with updated information on the safety of natural childbirth, new birthing stories, and the most recent statistics on births managed by The Farm Midwives.

Ina May also provides new information about potentially dangerous techniques routinely used in hospitals during and after birth, as well as the latest findings about vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). Improved instructions for handling breech births are also given. Included are stories of working with Amish women, showing a different culture with a similar appreciation for natural childbirth.

Spiritual Midwifery is skillfully narrated by Camille Mazant.

All figures and diagrams referenced in the narration are included in the supplementary PDF.

This audiobook was produced and published by Echo Point Books & Media, an independent bookseller in Brattleboro, Vermont.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©1975, 1977, 1980, 1990, 2002 The Book Publishing Company (P)2024 Echo Point Books & Media, LLC Medicine & Health Care Industry Midwife Sexual & Reproductive Health Pregnancy
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Beautiful book! I will definitely be recommending to others and look forward to reading other books written by Ina May.

I learnt so much and shed a few tears along the way.

Really disappointed at the two reviews left here. Couldn’t disagree more. Especially the silly super woke spiel.

So much good information.

Loved it!

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Both a comprehensive manual for approaching childbirth naturally, while also rich in storytelling. Views birth as a natural rather than medical phenomenon.

Fantastic

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I know Gaskin is considered a bit of a midwifery 'goddess', and I know no one is perfect, but this was a little bit too centred on white, cis-hetero folk which made me a little uncomfortable. There are some religious remarks in her story telling that didn't sit well with me, such as her belief that one baby was not ready to be born because the parents weren't married, and therefore their relationship wasn't recognised by God, and this is just a little 'off' for me. Apparently the baby needed them to be in holy matrimony before it would enter the world. I'm a deeply spiritual person, but that felt a little problematic, because what place does a patriarchal, religious marital contract have in birth?
Anyway! The stories are great, but I don't like the narration at all and found a lot of the stories pretty repetitive. The photos are lovely to look through, as are the diagrams. The latter section of the book, describing practical measures for birth was really insightful and I found it useful in my preparation to free birth.
The above is all my own person feeling and opinion, not intended to offend any one, regardless of their belief.

Pretty white-centric, some useful information

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I have very much enjoyed this book and hearing the positive stories. It’s very interesting to see how women previously have experienced birth and I’m very thankful for how they have carved the pathway for us to experience birth in a natural and empowering way. We have more options today thanks to women who bravely went against the norm and thought outside the box.

I don’t understand the negative reviews on here at all. It is important to remember the context of when this was written and when this work was done (published in 1975 originally), and Ina May is now 84 years old! Religion and marriage was more important and valued back then, than it is today. I am not religious at all and I found the religious undertones extremely minor. Everyone is entitled to believe what they believe and if it helped them through birth then good for them. They are entitled to share their birth story just as it happened, and if that included religion or their belief around marriage, who are we to judge that or say that it shouldn’t be shared.

I enjoyed this book

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I really tried my best to listen to this book but found it not helpful at all and the stories just screamed irresponsible to me. It may help others, however it was unfortunately not for me.

Not helpful

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