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The New Pregnancy & Childbirth

Sheila Kitzinger - Author

£20.00

Guiding you to making the right choices through your pregnancy and birth

Introduction

First published in 1980, this best selling book was an instant classic. Now completely revised and updated, this latest edition provides intelligent and reassuring advice to help expectant parents make informed choices. Author Sheila Kitzinger is a childbirth educator, international lecturer, a mother of five and a social anthropologist of birth. As a writer, she is in tune with all the latest technological, medical and social developments, and with their possible effects.

Outstanding Advice
With authoritative advice guidance that takes you from the first signs of pregnancy to postnatal exercises, Sheila explains the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy. A week-by-week pregnancy diary shows you what to expect and when, and there is essential information on all aspects of pregnancy, including screening tests, the options open to you, how to give birth actively, and sex before and after birth.

Clear Information
Examining the latest trends in pregnancy and birth, the book looks at the recent boom in elective Caesareans and evaluates a range of common medical procedures and tests from epidurals to episiotomies. In addition, there is information on the newest labour drugs, the safety of current medical technology and helpful advice on nutrition for mother and baby. With authoritative information and clear photographs and diagrams, this is an invaluable reference for anyone who wants sound guidance on the choices and challenges that childbirth brings.

Reviews

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Press reviews

"She (Sheila Kitzinger) is the Earth Mother, or Birth Mother, of the Nation. If Britain is now one of the most progressive countries in obstetric practice, it is largely due to her". The Guardian

"When it comes to pregnancy and childbirth, they don't come much more qualified than Sheila Kitzinger ... Perhaps the most widely read author ever on the subject." Woman's Own

"If you were never close to your mother (and even if you are) Sheila Kitzinger is the next best thing. Sensitive and expert, cosy yet objective, she infuses her writing with warmth."Woman's Journal

"High priestess of the childbirth movement, author and social anthropologist. Vigorous campaigner for rights of women in matters of birth and sex." The Independent

"Sheila Kitzinger has devoted her working life to making women feel good about themselves. As Britain’s premier earth mother she, more than anyone, has been responsible for a more natural approach to childbirth and an increase in breastfeeding." You Magazine

“Provides intelligent and reassuring advice”. Pregnancy and Birth

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Interview

Your original version of Pregnancy and Childbirth was published in 1980. This edition, subtitled Choices and Challenges has masses of new material.
Is this because birth has been increasingly medicalised since then?

It has become more difficult for any woman to get a normal birth, without
drugs to kick start or rev up the uterus, and without either a ventouse
extraction or forceps delivery, or a Caesarean section. It's important for
pregnant women to know how labour can be messed up by interfering
unnecessarily, and that they realise they have the right to make their own
decisions about their bodies.

There is a lot of talk about choices. We are told that we can choose. But it often doesn't work out like that, and we leave it to the professionals because we think they must know what they're doing. In fact, much of the obstetric intervention that takes place is not based on good research evidence. I explore that evidence so that a woman can make up her own mind.

Do you have new ideas about ways to handle pain in labour?

Yes, new - and very old! And not only to reduce pain, but help the baby's head descend and turn into the best position for birth.  In South and Central America women traditionally use a hammock.  It is flexible and
strong..They may hold one suspended above their heads or be cradled and
rocked as they sit in it. My idea is to use a hammock hanging from a
ceiling beam to stand, knees bent, leaning over it so that it takes your
whole weight, and you rock and belly dance, moving freely, while your birth
companion massages your back.It can be raised or lowered to the best
position for you. You can have it so that you squat or kneel, too. Lovely
coloured striped hammocks are imported from South America, and photographs
in the book show how to use them.

Statistics show that home birth is safe for the majority of women yet under 3% actually manage to get a home birth. Why does the medical profession discourage home births to this extent?

In Britain GPs are the gatekeepers to home birth and many don't want to get
involved, partly because they are paid very little for attending births and
it disrupts their working and family lives, partly because they are not
up-to-date with the research and are anxious about them.

Hospital obstetricians are trained in pathology and usually only see births
that are going wrong. Most are appalled by the idea of home birth. They
perceive it as birth which is out of their control, and therefore dangerous.

In fact, you don't need a doctor. You need midwives. They are the experts in
normal birth and in picking up the clues if a labour veers to the abnormal.
Unfortunately there is an acute midwife shortage and in many areas NHS
management finds it is more efficient to get every woman into hospital so
that a midwife can pop in and out on three or four women in labour.

The average age of women bearing their first child has risen dramatically
over the past 30 years, though the age for mothers considered 'high risk'
used to be over 40. Now many 30 years olds are being told they are high
risk, resulting in an increased number of Caesareans. What are the main
reasons behind this?

More and more women are getting labelled 'high risk' whatever their age. It
is all part of the pathologising of birth.  Once a woman has had surgery on
her uterus she becomes high risk in the next pregnancy because the uterus is
damaged - and she is likely to have a repeat Caesarean.

Though some may believe that a Caesarean guarantees well-toned pelvic floor
muscles ­ research shows that after childbirth, a healthy pelvic floor is
the result of mobility and exercise. How can a woman keep these muscles
vigorous following a vaginal birth?

The muscles of the pelvic floor are toned by being aware of them and keeping
them lively and expressive - as expressive as the muscles around the mouth.
We don't go around with our mouths hanging open. And we shouldn't go around
with our pelvic muscles sagging. It's a good idea to learn to 'talk' with
your pelvic floor. (I always do pelvic floor exercises when I'm on the
phone!)

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