This book came highly recommended by loads of people. So, I wanted to read and write an Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth By Ina May Gaskin review.
Minimal Effective Recommendation
Wanting to find a book about natural childbirth options is… well, natural. But this is not a book. This is a sales pitch for Ina May’s “genius”. She’s written a love letter to herself and I’m sure plenty of people buy into it. She comes across as a cult leader who surrounds herself with agreeable disciples.
Any “proof” is anecdotal or often based on questionable research.
There is plenty of helpful information here, but there are certainly more reliable and safer sources of the same guidance. If you read this book, make notes of the helpful information and ignore the dangerously anti-modern-medicine message.
Full Review of Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth By Ina May Gaskin
Overview
Ina May Gaskin is an American midwife who has been described as “the mother of authentic midwifery.” She helped found the self-sustaining community, The Farm, with her husband Stephen Gaskin in 1971 where she markedly launched her career in midwifery. She is known for the Gaskin Maneuver, has written several books on midwifery and childbirth, and continues to educate society through lectures and conferences and spread her message of natural, old-age inspired, fearless childbirth.
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth was originally published in 2003 and the most recent edition was released in 2008.
It’s available as:
Synopsis
Drawing upon her thirty-plus years of experience, Ina May Gaskin, the nation’s leading midwife, shares the benefits and joys of natural childbirth by showing women how to trust in the ancient wisdom of their bodies for a healthy and fulfilling birthing experience. Based on the female-centred Midwifery Model of Care, Ina May’s Guide to Natural Childbirth gives expectant mothers comprehensive information on everything from the all-important mind-body connection to how to give birth without technological intervention.
Filled with inspiring birth stories and practical advice, this invaluable resource includes:• Reducing the pain of labour without drugs–and the miraculous roles touch and massage play
- What really happens during labour
- Orgasmic birth–making birth pleasurable
- Episiotomy–is it really necessary?
- Common methods of inducing labour–and which to avoid at all costs
- Tips for maximizing your chances of unmedicated labour and birth
- How to avoid postpartum bleeding–and depression
- The risks of anaesthesia and cesareans–what your doctor doesn’t necessarily tell you
- The best ways to work with doctors and/or birth care providers
- How to create a safe, comfortable environment for birth in any setting, including a hospital
- And much more
Ina May’s Guide to Natural Childbirth takes the fear out of childbirth by restoring women’s faith in their own natural power to give birth with more ease, less pain, and less medical intervention.
The Cult Of Ina May
The Farm
I’ve seen this criticism used against Ina May’s approach a lot. Gaskin, her philosophy and the farm feel very hippy-dippy. But that’s just judging a book by its cover. If, however, you dig a little deeper… it still seems a little culty.
The farm is like a commune.
“If you are told that some experience is going to hurt, it will hurt. Most pain is in the mind” and if you feel pain, it’s because you didn’t believe in Ina May enough. This is a classic cult leader tactic. Never doubt me. This feeds into guilt, which is another cult warning sign.
There is virtually no consideration that anything but Gaskin’s opinions have value. You should want a natural empowering, “orgasmic” birth. Get on board.
I generally think I do a decent job of ignoring the negatives and trying to take whatever positives a book has. But I struggled with this one. I’ve never read a book that I felt was directly trying to gaslight me.
Anecdotal Evidence And Cherry Picking Research
While Ina May mostly relies on anecdotal evidence to support her claims, any references to scientific research show an inability to evaluate the quality of scientific studies. Not all cited research is weak, but enough are that she becomes an unreliable source of information.
But if you like to hear individual stories about how great Ina May is, you’re in luck. Because there are tons of them and some feel uncomfortably complimentary. Like a confession under duress.
The Everpresent Disdain For Modern Medical Professional
Throughout the book, there is a constant insistence that doctors and hospitals are evil and moronic. Using words like “coercion”, “insidious” and “mind control”, she has a clear goal to create an us-against-them mentality.
You can suggest alternatives without undermining such a vital and caring profession. This might be the most infuriating theme of the book.
Some Positives
There is a good chapter about pregnancy and prenatal care. Although comparisons between the midwifery model of care and the techno-medical model of care are still very one-sided, at least a comparison is made.
Some chapters are full of genuinely excellent information. Chapter 9, The Third Stage of Labour and Postpartum, in particular, is a highlight.
Am I Being Too Harsh?
No. Despite the helpful parts, the negative aspects of this book send too many unreliable or dangerous ideas out into the world.
Ultimately, the book is quite simple. A lot of Ina May’s birthing advice goes like this:
- A woman was giving birth and struggling
- I had an idea (I’m so silly)
- The lady said it helped
- I’ve used it since
- You should use it too
I also really enjoyed the part where she suggested the US rates of maternal death rates can’t be compared to countries like the UK or Europe because we lack the knowledge to fill out forms correctly.
Final Thought
The saddest thing about this book is that I feel Ina May Gaskin could help a lot of people who want a specific type of pregnancy. But the massive chip on her shoulder, her inability to assess scientific research and her desire to be revered as a god-like figure make it impossible to recommend this book.
I’ll try to find an alternative option to recommend. I’ve heard good things about Natural Hospital Birth: The Best of Both Worlds by Cynthia Gabriel. So, I’ll post an update if I can get round to that before Burt is born.
I mentioned this in my What To Expect When You’re Expecting review, but just find helpful information wherever you can. If this book helps you, don’t worry about what I, or anyone else, thinks.
Rating
3 out of 10.
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