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25 Ways to Awaken Your Birth Power by Danette Watson and Stephanie Corkhill-Hyles

A beautifully presented book and CD set created to uplift and inspire pregnant women, the author and illustrator are both mums who have brought great compassion and sensitivity to their brilliant text and artwork... this book and CD set are unique, they are part-visualisation, affirmation, breathing, exercise and relaxation.   25 Ways to Awaken Your Birth Power is preparation and inspiration for your body, mind and spirit.

25 ways to awaken your Birth Power is the perfect, thoughtful, caring, gift to give to any pregnant woman...this book will warm her heart and provide some inspiration and courage she craves.

This is the absolutely ideal book to read when you've had enough of reading books! If you have heard enough birth "war stories", advice, and medical information... If you are beginning to doubt yourself and to feel confused and worried about giving birth... It is time to focus on something simple, positive and inspirational.  It is time to come back to center and listen to your own inner wisdom.  It is time to Awaken Your Birth Power. A spiritually nourishing read.

From the author's website:

Based on normal birth physiology and the power of the body-mind connection, 25 Ways to Awaken Your Birth Power gives expectant mothers invaluable insight in reconnecting and surrendering to the creative force which is their natural ability to give birth. Packed with encouraging words and beautiful images, this book and CD set provides the tools women need to tap into their own inner strength and let go of any fear of childbirth.

The beautifully presented hard cover book and CD are a divine gift set for yourself or a friend as well as a rare birth preparation set that gets to the point and the beauty better than any other birth CD package encompassing meditation and learning, goal-setting and partner work, empowering belief systems, relaxation and real-life feelings.

25 Ways to Awaken Your Birth Power is accessible and enjoyable for women and childbirth professionals.

Key features include over 25 full colour inspiring artworks and an audio CD for use during pregnancy and childbirth that women claim they “just couldn’t turn off!”

This book is for women who:

• Would like to feel positive and empowered during their pregnancy
   
• Are preparing for a normal, natural childbirth
   
• Would like to learn to or reaffirm their trust in their body
   
• Would like to use body-mind techniques like meditation, visualization, relaxation, breathing and affirmations
   
• Are trying to have a positive birth experience after having one or more difficult birth experiences
   
• Would like to surround themselves with positive images and beliefs
   
• Are looking for an holistic approach to pregnancy and childbirth
   
• Are interested in the spiritual aspects of pregnancy and childbirth
   
• Would like to have a calm, confident birth
   
• Have explored calmbirth®
   
• VBAC

A book review by Margie Perkins

The first time I glimpsed this book and CD set was at our Canberra Maternity Coalition’s “Women As Mothers Day” in March. Kate Black, another MC member, rushed over from her sausage stall with it and asked me to try to sell it- she’d found it at her pre-natal yoga class. It had a bright cover, I had a quick glance through it and I sold it before the day was out. I thought no more about it.

Months later, Justine Caines rushed into my living room, tossed a copy onto the bookshelf and told me she’d been asked to review it…didn’t it have nice drawings?…it wasn’t really her thing (book reviews) and that she was too busy…and would I do it? Ok, fine. Took me weeks to find out who I was reviewing it for and only after it had had a good test run.

Now up front I’ve got to confess that, much as I understand and value relaxation, affirmations, positive thought and visualisations as helpful life skills, I am a bit wary of the pre-packaged variety. In birth preparation sessions we practice these techniques, I even hand out birth-related affirmative statements I’ve collected over the years but I stress that you have to feel entirely comfortable with the wording of your affirmation. No internal cringe, no cynical inner voice “yeah right!” should flow from the mental utterance of your affirmation. One of the strongest, most useful affirmations I have seen a woman use for birth was “it’s just my baby being born.” It was her perfect reminder of her purpose and encouraged her not to shy away from the intensity.

A couple of weeks ago a woman was niggling her way into labour. She asked me to come over. I knew she wasn’t in labour yet but needed some reassurance. I headed out the door then thought “I’ll just check my emails.” On Ozmid Jo Bainbridge was asking about self hypnosis resources for labour. Jan Robinson replied that 25 Ways to Awaken Your Birth Power looked great. I took these emails as a sign that I should take the book with me to my VBAC woman and then I rushed out the door. I was half way to her when I realised I’d forgotten the book. I initially thought “oh well, forget it” but another me said “go back and get it, that was a message” so I did even though I still hadn’t listened to it or taken more than a glance at a few pictures.

That morning we played the CD while I massaged her shoulders, back, arms and hips. She cried out emotions about her previous caesarean and having to try to beat an impending induction she didn’t feel strong enough to say no to. I left Birth Power with her.

She used it again later that day in early labour at home and the next day in labour at the hospital (she beat the induction) to bolster her resolve not to have continuous EFM and to counter the medical voices telling her about uterine rupture, foetal deaths and hypoxic brain damage. She wanted it so much her husband was sent home to get it ASAP! She used it again as she lay in the bath during transition.

It was amazing how, as things evolved within the labour, the CD would suddenly become audible to me rather than background to my concentration on the woman and I’d think “that (statement) fits perfectly with what’s happening right now.” It never sounded tacky, corny, trite or meaningless.

In summary, my test run of 25 Ways to Awaken Your Birth Power was overwhelmingly positive. The woman found it to be inspiring, steadying and it helped her find her own strength. I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who wishes to work with their own birth power.

Margie Perkins
New Lives
Canberra Doula and Prenatal Preparation Services
Book Review from Birth Matters, Journal of the Maternity Coalition, September 2005

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