A Book for Midwives: A Manual for Traditional Birth Attendants and Community Midwives

Of all books out there about childbirth this is the one I recommend for every mom/couple preparing for an unassisted homebirth. It is written with the target audience of third world midwives, but it captures the very best of optimizing safety in a low-tech, non-intervention situation. The first edition was great, but had some organizational problems. This new edition seems to have overcome all the organizational problems, leaving real and practical information in a readily accessable format. It provides an accurate but basic foundation on which to understand pregnancy and childbirth. It takes no intervention for granted, but gives risks and alternatives for every step. It allows the reader to be unhindered in belief that all will go well, while at the same time providing a framework for dealing with every emergency.

I'm a bit mixed on this book. One part of me loves it all to pieces and wants to suggest it to everyone. Another part of me thinks it has a few too many health errors to be worthy of five stars.The not-so-good side of this book is that the information has become a bit dated. A critical reader will wonder if some of the information is backed by research or is purely experential on behalf of the midwife.One thing that makes this book worth the money, though, is the arts and crafts section at the end of the book. If you need to make your own materials and you're on a tight budget (or standing in the middle of a developing country holding this book) you will learn to make everything from a uterus model to a timer using McGyver-like creativity.It's a book I would strongly urge travelling midwives to carry because it is so malleable. It's a book students midwives will probably greatly enjoy - but please don't practice until you have done better research.

I have worked in third world countries and have need great information like this book to help me. Traditional text books used in the USA don't apply very well in other countries. Thanks!