Annalisa Barbieri in The Independent newspaper, April 15, 2009
What do a Dutch university lecturer, a US Marine, a Scottish artist, and an English engineer have in common? They have all experienced the transformative power of home birth, and their stories – and many others – are told in this groundbreaking book.
As
hospital-based maternity services become increasingly medicalised, more and
more parents are deciding that birth belongs in the home. For many women, this choice may be an easy
one, but for their partners, home birth raises some serious questions. For the first time, The Father’s Home Birth Handbook provides a resource aimed
specifically at exploring men’s hopes and fears around home birth. Thorough research, balanced discussion, and dozens of home birth stories from
real men all over the world are used to answer frequently asked questions such as:
- Is home birth safe?
- Which forms of pain relief are suitable for birth at home?
- What should I do about friends and family who think home birth is a bad idea?
- How is the father's role in a home birth different from the father's role in a hospital birth?
- How can I help if things don't go to plan?
Written by an experienced doula, author, and mother of two, The Father’s Home Birth Handbook is essential reading for fathers-to-be and the professionals who support them.