The Doula's Guide to Empowering Your Birth

Lindsey Bliss, who has assisted as a doula at hundreds of births and is herself a mother of seven, reveals here all the wisdom and advice that the doulas, also known as childbirth coaches, share with the new mothers who hire them.

The Doula's Guide to Empowering Your Birth covers the period from pregnancy, through birth, to fourth trimester healing, and the beginnings of family life. The focus, however, is on preparing for birth—including topics like how to pick the right childbirth class and the right birthing method. You'll also see how to assemble the team of professionals, family members, and friends who will support you through labour and birth. Bliss also covers labour and birth, as well as the eleventh-hour decisions about pain medications and caesarean sections.

Bliss's tone throughout is at once authoritative and confident as well as warm and encouraging. Her concern in her practice as well as in these pages is to listen to and help secure each new mum's own personal vision of a birthing experience that is safe, fulfilling, and meaningful.