So find your flow, bust some myths and start to feel proud of your monthly cycle and your truly amazing body! I think the book would have benefited from a section on improving on one's previous birth experiences. Yes, the idea of PTSD and healing from traumatic birth was covered, but more as an "if this happens to you, you will be prepared" sort of way. An explicit reference to this sort of birth baggage and further resources for healing for someone who has already had this sort of birth before being exposed to the idea of birth positivity and The Positive Birth Movement would have been, in my opinion, incredibly helpful and appropriate here. Please note that the icons are for your private use only and may not be shared, sold or reproduced without written permission from the publisher Pinter & Martin. Milli is a compassionate and passionate writer who puts women squarely at the heart of her endeavours’

The cards can be used in a number of ways: by pregnant women who want to work through their birth choices in a more visual and dynamic way; by those who want to explore them with their partner, doula, midwife or other supporters; or by birth professionals as a starting point for activities and discussions with their clients.Finally someone brave enough to say the words feminist and birth in the same sentence in a book that is not an academic polemic. Birth is THE feminist issue of our century and feminists have dropped the ball.” Clear, compelling and convincing…Milli Hill’s exploration of childbirth as central feminist issue is a must-read” In case anyone is uncertain about what you’re “allowed” to do when giving birth, Hill spells it out: stop asking for permission, recognize that your experience matters–quite a bit–and demand respect. Researchers, activists, and journalists have been raising alarms about inappropriate and even abusive maternity treatment for decades, yet it persists. Hill joins the chorus with a loud call to action for feminists: this is your issue, too.” With guidance on choosing period products, charting your cycles and preparing a first period kit, alongside profiles of ‘cycle superstars’ such as Amika George who are working to end period poverty, this book is the complete guide to getting your period.

There was no mention of the Post-Partum Poo and how to prevent difficulties with that by eating and drinking appropriately during labor could make that a non-issue. When it comes to pregnancy and birth books, I've read them all. (Ok, not all, but MANY. MANY MANY.) And therefore, I have both many points of comparison, and a lot of knowledge I am privy to that I believe is incredibly useful for mothers-to-be. Which basically makes me have very high standards. The Positive Birth Book is like everything I ever Googled pre-birth rolled into a friendly, warm format and is full-to-burtsing with USEFUL information. For example, I am rhesus negative and to be honest I never really understood what that meant, I just did what I was told! This book explains it so well. It is also refreshing to read something positive about all types of birth – I didn’t feel like I was being preached to. I wish I had read this book during my pregnancies!” However, the three stars I gave are for 1) all the information and facts in it. 2) it shows you your rights and that you have the right to accept or reject almost anything! 3) it was written in a very simple easy to read language.New section on your rights in pregnancy and birth by Bashi Hazard of the Human Rights in Childbirth International Lawyers Network There were several mentions of BMI and use of the terms "overweight" and "obese" which have been deemed inappropriate and not useful as scientific indicators, and though these terms and numbers still impact obstetric care, unfortunately, their usage and mention without disclaimers is problematic for those who have not yet been sufficiently exposed to the latest science on the topic. I love this book. Everyone’s going to love this book. Because it gives mothers what they now most need – accurate facts, proper reassurance, and about a thousand reasons to be excited about birth.”

While the author’s intent seems to be to empower women to make choices, she is quite distrusting of the medical profession and her approach is more likely to create fear among pregnant women of doctors rather than encourage them to trust in their knowledge and expertise when working with them. She talks often of how women traditionally gave birth at home without doctors intervening and the nostalgia with which she talks about the past suggests she thinks giving birth was ‘better’ then because it was more ‘natural’. She seems to conveniently forget that before modern medicine, women and children were more likely to die in childbirth than today in large part because medical care including facilities and research were not as good then as they are today. The icons represent every possible birth choice in every setting, from home birth to caesarean. There are some blank cards included too, because every birth is unique. You’ll also find a guide inside with suggestions to get you started. As a journalist since 2013 she has written for many publications including the Telegraph, Mail, Guardian, Independent, ipaper and Mother&Baby, and has appeared on BBC Radio 2, BBC 5 Live, talkradio, LBC and many leading podcasts. She is a member of the advisory group for Sex Matters and lives in Somerset with her partner and three children.

The ones I didn’t give are for 1) the author is extremely bias towards natural unmediated home birth, which is for sure not for everyone! For instance, I will be Relaxed to have a hospital birth and I will be extremely stressed if I had to give birth at home! And it is the case for all other birth options. So it is not one size fits all. The Positive Birth Book has empowered hundreds of thousands of women worldwide to make informed, positive choices about their births.

What you need to know about exercise in pregnancy from Charlie Launder, author of Bumps and BurpeesI found that for a book that was supposed to be positive about all types of birth it was very negative about the kind I am likely to have. I really like it because it’s about how to love and respect your body. My favourite bit is about making a period kit. I’ve already asked my mum to put in a treat and a special note for when I get my first period.”