The ENCYCLOPEDIA of PREGNANCY and BIRTH

by Janet Balaskas and Yehudi Gordon

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New softcover book, 352 pages, published 2004. Superb colour photography by Anthea Sieveking.

A complete self help guide to active birth and early parenthood, including an A - Z of modern obstetrics.

This book is unique in that it is co-written by natural childbirth pioneer Janet Balaskas and Yehudi Gordon the ground breaking consultant obstetrician who has pioneered the concept of integrated practise - both pioneers of the Active Birth Movement. In this book all options are available to women.

There is firstly an understanding of the natural physiology of pregnancy and birth as well as an acknowledgement of the huge emotional changes involved in this challenging journey. Then there is also the benefit of modern science as back up or choice - and/or of complementary care with alternative therapies. Any or all of these may be used as needed against a background where the primary expectation is that pregnancy is a state of health and birth is a natural physiological process.

This invaluable resource is a unique illustrated parents' guide to

• The nine months of pregnancy
• Preparing for labour and birth
• Active Birth
• Yoga-based exercises for before and after birth
• Breathing awareness
• Massage for parents and baby
• Babycare and early parenthood
• Modern medical care
  
  

About the authors
Janet Balaskas was born in South Africa and is an author, founder of the Active Birth Movement, and childbirth educator. She is perhaps known best for her advocacy of active birth where the woman is free to move during labour, rather than being placed into stirrups or the lithotomy position. She coined the term active birth which she explained in the first of her books, Active Birth, which was first published in 1983.

Janet is currently the Director of the Active Birth Centre in London, UK. She is the author of several books on active birth and pregnancy including 2 which she co-wrote with Yehudi Gordon - The Encyclopedia of Pregnancy and Birth and Water Birth.

Yehudi Gordon was born in South Africa and was originally a research academic. Dr Gordon turned to obstetrics in the 1970s and was a pioneer of the active birth movement, which suggested expectant women get out of bed and bring gravity to their aid. A decade later, he introduced water births to the UK and, to this day, encourages his clients to use yoga and birthing pools to take control of their own labour.

See other books by Janet Balaskas click here

The Encyclopedia of Pregnancy and Birth by Janet Balaskas and Yehudi Gordon