Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #202559 in Books
• Published on: 1988-02-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

From Publishers Weekly
"This book will show you how to create the kind of birth you want," writes Jones, author of After the Baby Is Born, etc. He compares childbirth to lovemaking in terms of the potential joy for the woman and claims that the key to a "safe, happy birth" is mental imagerythe art of creating vivid pictures in the mind to help the woman "surrender" to the "pleasure" of childbirth. Mental-imagery exercises include thinking of a "Special Place," such as a favorite beach, or envisioning the child in the womb and asking "what he or she needs." Jones stresses the importance of a mellow labor environment and subtly promotes the idea of delivery at home or in a childbearing center, but he fails to spell out the risks of a nonhospital delivery. His goal of a well-informed, positive-thinking pregnant couple is admirable, but his insistence that attitude can overcome virtually any problem is questionable.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Very useful techniques!
I loved this book! I am a first time mom who just had a wonderul home birth and this book was one of the things that helped me. The ideas that visualizations can help you; that you may need to face emotional/sexual issues before going in to the birth; and that your body knows how to birth; were all great. I highly recommend this book.

Don't buy this book
My midwife actually recommended this book, but I was very dissapointed with it. I found that the information was dated and some of the thoughts were rediculous. I was raised in a family of "long haired hippies" and even I found this book to be way over the top. Carl Jones has obviously never given birth himself but is full of opinions about the pleasurable and borderline orgasmic experience that it can be. Give me a break! Labor is gonna hurt regardless of how many pretty flowers you invision and just because a baby comes out of the same place a woman has intercourse does not mean they are similar experiences for the woman. Take my advise and get Easing Labor Pain by Adrienne Lieberman. It gives great tips on visualization and relaxation techniques for a natural childbirth and she explains the entire birthing process in a realistic way.

by far my favorite childbirth book-- pre delivery
I love this book. It totally reminded me how to clam and relax myself, and not be a freaked out anxiety ball. I will let you know if it's still my favorite after the baby is born! :)