How to Relax & Have Your Baby

Written by ground-breaking researcher in biofeedback and self-relaxation techniques for medical applications, "How to Relax and Have Your Baby" is a step-by-step guide for learning how to truly relax through the childbirth process. Edmund Jacobson's work inspired Grantly Dick-Reid to include relaxation techniques to his "Natural Childbirth" approach - but never at the highly developed level described in this book. Through the use of pictures and well written text, Jacobson details the process through which the subject can learn to differentiate tension and stretch from true relaxation, muscle group by muscle group. In fact, in order to become truly proficient, the subject should set aside practice and study time twice a day, for several months. On a personal level, I had all 3 of my children without drug intervention. I read this book after the birth of my first (using Lamaze techniques) but during my preganancy with my second. The results were outstanding and far more effective than the Lamaze techniques. Through the process described in this book the mother remains in control of her body and the birth process and does not need an external "coach". Edmund Jacobson was an established researcher who also applied his techniques to blood pressure control and thyroid disease.