Unassisted Homebirth

Contents

• FOREWORD
• PREFACE
• PART I—What, Why, Who and How
• 1—Introduction
• Who is this book for?|Why choose unassisted homebirth? What this book is about|How you can use this book|My wish for you
• 2—My Story: The Birth of Millicent
• Why we chose an unassisted homebirth|Preparation|The pregnancy|The birth of Millicent Maria|Happy birthday
• 3—The Beauty Of Birth
• An art, a science, an act of love|The Birth Pyramid|Why a "raw birth" is difficult|Birth is important to a woman's psyche|The power of silence|Separation at birth|Giving up control|Who should witness the birth?
• 4—Unassisted Homebirth: Who, What and Why?
• What is unassisted homebirth?|Who desires unassisted homebirth?|Why someone would want an unassisted homebirth|Love|Greater intimacy|Unassisted homebirth is not just about "place"|View of birth as a natural process|Belief that birth should not include separation|Dissatisfaction|Questionnaire results|Why someone might not want a homebirth|Who should not have a homebirth?
• 5—"How Was Your Childbirth Experience?"
• The choices we make|Reliance on technology|Drugs and why we should avoid them|Physical pain and fear|Permission and

• pressure|Denial|Postpartum depression|Midwife delivery vs. unassisted birth|It's up to you
• 6—Birth Conformity: The Major Deterrent
• The myths of childbirth|Pregnancy and birth are abnormal| Technology always benefits pregnancy and childbirth|Birth is usually unsafe|Birth is an emergency|Professionals are needed to deliver babies|Birth is unbearably painful|Childbirth is scary|The C-section was necessary|Women need episiotomies|How you can have a satisfying birth in spite of the myths|Social conformity|"Ultra-conformity"|Confrontation and encounter|Risks of being a conformist|Risks of being a nonconformist|Characteristics of nonconformists
• 7—Preparing For An Unassisted Homebirth
• Safety|What you can do|My safety concerns|Is prenatal care necessary or desirable?|Your spiritual base|Your mental outlook|Questionnaire responses|Who should I tell about my plans?|Your support network| Backup plans|Birth and delivery tips
• PART II—Joy and Triumph
• 8—An Unbreakable Bond
• First comes love|Next comes marriage|Then comes baby|The birth orgasm|Love and sex|A greater love|Fusion of personalities
• 9—Men And Birth
• Birth is not just for women|Fear and trembling|Reluctant fathers|Fully involved|Men's stories|Bob Griesemer|Matt Bunkelman|Frank Pratt|Troy McNear|Bill Haas|Keith Steinke|Michael Scimeca|Rick Kohl|Jesse Wimberley|Scott Gregson|Peter
• 10—Self-Actualization
• Rite of passage|Peak experience|Self-Actualization|How birth experiences can leave us psychologically incomplete|Unassisted homebirth: a lonely choice
• PART III—Pain and Suffering
• 11—The Many Forces Against Us
• Those who oppose|Our beloved family and friends|Our sexually dysfunctional society|Other unassisted homebirthers|"How can you be

• so irresponsible?"|Crime and punishment
• 12—Who Needs Doctors?
• In sickness and in health|Opposing goals|A business|Insurance companies vs. patients|Maltreatment during pregnancy and birth|Pressure|Cruelty|Fertility awareness|They must know birth is intimate and sexual|Secrets your doctor will never tell you|Unassisted birthers favorite secrets|What can you share about pregnancy?|Why your doctor doesn't want you too knowledgeable
• 13—Healing Wounds
• Discovery, shock and denial|The childbirth scam|What birth wounds do we need to heal?|The grieving process and how we can heal our wounds|(1) Grief|(2) Anger|(3) Pain and disappointment, depression and despair|(4) Acceptance|Ignorance is not bliss|Coping strategies|Forgiveness
• 14—Death and Disillusion
• Marital conflicts|Baby not breathing|Shoulder dystocia|Unwanted guests
• PART IV—"Women's Issues"
• 15—Midwives' Role In The Birth Process
• A supporter, a friend|Holistic approach|Proactive prenatal care| Educational advisor|Why midwives oppose unassisted homebirth| Why midwives are unnecessary|When a midwife is needed|In support of my midwife|My unprofessional midwife|Hiring a midwife|Finding a midwife|Some questions to ask|Personality and character|Signing a contract
• 16—Childbirth: A Feminist Issue?
• Who are the feminists and what do they advocate?|"The Second Stage"|Why childbirth has been ignored by the feminists|The right to choose|Emphasis on abortion|Social conditioning|Inequity|Faith in experts|Exploitation and bondage|What will happen if feminists continue to ignore the issue of childbirth?
• PART V—Beyond the Birth Experience
• 17—Home Is Where The Hearth Is
• No place like home|Luxury or drudgery?|Making a home|Life in the home|Imitating home|Similarities between homebirth and

• homeschool|Large families|Born at home; die at home
• 18—Advocacy
• Educators|Mentors|Advocacy
• PART VI—Birth Stories
• 19—Unplanned Unassisted Birth
• 20—Young Lovers
• 21—Spirit-Led Birth
• 22—Large Happy Families
• 23—Continuity, Peace and Harmony
• 24—Breech Twins
• AFTERWORD
• APPENDIX A, Final Thoughts
• APPENDIX B, Additional Resources
• APPENDIX C, The Questionnaire
• GLOSSARY
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
• INDEX