Book Review

Spiritual Midwifery Ina May Gaskin

Return to Spiritual Midwifery Also by Ina May Gaskin Book: Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

The title aptly describes the essence of this book as it embraces the innateness of birth for both the birthing woman and her carers. Commencing with a history of "The Farm", Spiritual Midwifery then continues with a description of the conception and birth of "The Farm Midwives".

The first half of this book is a collection of birth stories from within "The Farm" community. I found the substitutive wording of traditional medical terminology intially unsettling, although it is entirely appropriate for this book, but I became more comfortable as I read further. Ina May covers this beautifully, "If you should find any of these words offensive to you, you should search your soul, because these are only words" p. 289. These birth stories, written from the heart are honest communications of birth as they cover the joys and sorrow as well as the challenges encountered with slow, fast, pre term, post term and difficult births. Throughout, this reader was impressed by the knoweldge and skills gained by the Midwives and their commitment to the women they cared for.

The second half of the book gives practical information on female anatomy, fetal development, ante natal care, normal labour and management of complications.

I gained a deeper appreciation of labour and birth from this book, I think it could be an excellent resource for lay Midwives, and recommend it to anyone who is interested in pregnancy and birth.

Alesa Koziol
midwife and childbirth educator