BTCanada offers a lending service to women. All the books listed below are available.
We have hard copies of each study or document referred to on this website. If you would like copies please contact us.
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WILLIAMS OBSTETRICS (Cunningham et al. McGraw-Hill, Medical Publishing Division, )
and
WILLIAMS MANUAL OF OBSTETRICS: PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS (Leveno et al, as above)
These are medical textbooks that give a good overview of vaginal and cesarean deliveries and obstetric complications from a clinical standpoint. They are written with little regard for maternal experience but, as a mother or prospective mother, you will have no problem filling in those blank spaces. There is very little attention paid to the psychological ramifications of childbirth and, like textbooks everywhere, the information is usually outdated before the latest edition is published. Recommended reading for women considering pregnancy or delivery options.
_______________________________________________________________________ATLAS OF TRANSVAGINAL SURGERY ( Shlomo Raz, W.B.Saunders Company, 2nd edition, 2002)
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Management of Labor and Delivery
Robert K Creasy
Blackwell Science 1997
This is another medical textbook. Like all medical textbooks there is no mention of PTSD and the relationship between childbirth and trauma symptoms. Recommended reading for anyone contemplating having a baby.
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EVER SINCE I HAD MY BABY: Understanding, Treating and Preventing the Most Common Physical Aftereffects of Pregnancy and Childbirth (Roger Goldberg,Three Rivers Press, 2003)
Dr. Goldberg gives a pretty honest assessment of the negative consequences of vaginal births and what is available to treat them. He talks about obstetrical politics and what to expect during a urogynecology checkup. Many books about pregnancy and childbirth have the bizarre and irritating habit of saying something truly awful and then making a joke about it or make light of it with the liberal use of exclamation marks. Dr. Goldberg isn't immune to this but he keeps the chirpy dismissiveness to an acceptable level. If you are looking for actual informed consent we highly recommend this book.
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PELVIC HEALTH & CHILDBIRTH: What Every Woman Needs to Know (Magnus Murphy and Carol L. Wasson, Prometheus Books, 2003)
Like Dr. Goldberg, Dr. Murphy gives a no -nonsense and compassionate account of genital tract damage associated with vaginal deliveries and the various invasive and non - invasive methods used to treat associated problems. This book is written in clear language with excellent illustrations. Dr. Murphy is known as a pro-cesarean doctor (as most urogynecology specialists are and he is pretty white bread about this compared to other pro-cesarean proponents in other parts of the world) but we think he gives a balanced assessment of the situation. I think there are only 4 exclamation marks in the whole book and he speaks from a Canadian perspective. He also gives a good account of how difficult it is to be an obstetrician and we think it's important for people to know why Canada has a shortage of obstetricians and why this shortage is expected to get worse. The field of obstetrics needs sea changes not just from a mothers perspective but from a doctor's as well. Highly recommended.
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The Birth That’s Right For You: A Doctor and a Doula Help You Choose and Customize the Best Birth Option to Fit Your Needs Amen Ness, Lisa Gould Rubin, Jackie Frederick-Berner; McGraw Hill, 2006
This book is a welcome
literary slap up-side the head to all those self-righteous, self important
childbirth ‘experts’ who feel they know the best way for you to give birth and,
damn it, it’s their way or the highway. Eureka and good on these
authors for stating what should have been obvious decades ago. They recognize that each woman is different
and, bless their hearts, they know that what makes sense to a woman before she
goes into labour is exactly what is going to make sense to her when the birthing
day(s) comes. If that childbirth
educator sounds like she is too stupid to even get herself dressed when she is
talking to you about chanting, hee-hee-hoo-hoo breathing and whatever else she
is on about she isn’t going to seem any smarter when you are in labour. If that sort of thing relaxes you now (and it
is to some, for sure) it will be useful to you then. The authors recognize that the mother is the
expert when deciding what is best for her.
This is a radical and revolutionary obstetrical attitude. In 2008. Very sad.
The authors are dismissive about some stuff, they completely ignore other stuff (like maternal morbidity) and they aren’t completely honest about everything but they are honest about enough stuff that you will have a good idea about what to realistically expect, at least about vaginal deliveries, up to the point of placental expulsion. It is a book primarily about labour and vaginal delivery but, bless their hearts again, they support and acknowledge the right of woman to a planned cesarean if a vaginal delivery is deemed objectionable to her based on both psychological and physical reasons. They give good advice on how to get the type of birth you want.
The book isn’t without bias (one example: it is written for married/partnered women and if you aren’t or if your partner isn’t a ‘he’ you are going to notice this discrimination) but we are so thrilled with the message that we still think it is well worth reading. Just roll your eyes and move on when you come to any bias. That won’t happen that often.
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CESAREAN SECTION: Understanding and Celebrating Your Baby's Birth (Michele Moore and Caroline Costa, John Hopkins Press, 2003)
This book is written by two doctors - both mothers. They wrote it as a means of ending discrimination against women who have cesarean sections. It is directed to women who had emergency sections and planned cesareans for currently acceptable reasons, although they do acknowledge cesareans as a means of protecting the pelvic floor. They talk about why cesarean sections are necessary and give a description of what to expect. They gloss over the placental removal part of cesarean surgery (most sources do and that is never informed consent in our mind) and they tend to overplay what to expect after a cesarean - especially a planned one. We think this is a good primer for anyone considering a planned vaginal delivery or planned cesarean. Prenatal classes don't adequately prepare women for this possibility but it happens frequently.
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LIFE AFTER BIRTH: What Even Your Friends Won't Tell You About Motherhood
Kate Figes with Jean Zimmerman
Penguin Group 1998
The title pretty much says it all. This book was published nearly a decade ago and the studies cited are older than that so the medical information - particularly about cesareans- is outdated. Many cultural attitudes have changed during that time as well, particularly with respect to marital status and motherhood. Even considering this information this book is as relevant today as it was in 1998. It is reassuring to any mother who has ever felt inadequate, guilty, isolated or alone. Kate Figes gives a moving tribute to mother love but doesn't varnish the negative aspects of motherhood. She criticizes the modern emphasis on the naturalness and healthiness of pregnancy and childbirth and acknowledges the conspiracy of silence that surrounds these issues. She also feels - as we do - "that if we are not honest about the extremes then we perpetuate the myths and reinforce the taboo. To deny the existence of the negative is to let women down badly. Mothers shouldn't be considered a mere container for a more precious cargo."
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Postpartum Mood & Anxiety Disorders: A Clinician's Guide
Cheryl Tantano Beck/Jeanne Watson Driscoll
James Bartlett Publishers 2006
Drs. Beck and Driscoll look at seven psychological problems caused by childbirth from a clinical nursing perspective. They are:
- maternity blues
- psychosis
- depression
- bipolar disorder
- panic disorder
- obsessive compulsive disorder
- post traumatic stress disorder
They define the maternity 'blues' as symptoms which can include, but are not limited to, sadness, irritability, anxiety, fatigue, worry, sleep problems, periods of mania and/or hypomania, grieving and a sense of loss over who you used to be, low self-confidence and sensitivity to stressors like bright lights, noise and visitors. These symptoms last up to three weeks and they refer to them as 'normal' reactions to childbirth. We would certainly agree with the term 'common' or 'understandable' but I don't think there are any women out there who would consider any of these normal - for them or other women they know. These are trauma symptoms and in any other situation these symptoms would indicate severe distress, not normalcy. Women contemplating motherhood should know that dismissiveness about these symptoms is ubiquitous among obstetrical caregivers and they should also know how common this form of psychological distress is. Drs. Beck and Driscoll peg percentages from 50 to 75% of all mothers.
Each of the seven problems includes diagnostic criteria and a brief case study along with their assessment strategies and care protocols. Women suffering from any of these problems will immediately relate.
This book ends with some postpartum assessment questionnaires and an extensive list of pharmaceuticals used to treat each of the mood and anxiety disorders discussed. Beck and Driscoll address postpartum problems with respect and empathy for mothers and, just as importantly, with an understanding that no two women are alike. Each is a complex, unique individual. It is a refreshing change from many cookie cutter obstetrical attitudes. Their work is an important step forward and Birth Trauma Canada applauds their efforts to shine a light on problems that have been ignored, stigmatized and neglected for too long.
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The following books have been helpful in assessing and understanding trauma and in self-directed healing from trauma. They are available through our lending service.
The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment; Babette Rothschild, Norton Publishers, 2000
I Can’t Get Over It: A Handbook for Trauma Survivors; Aphrodite Matsakis, New Harbinger Publications, 1996
Life After Trauma: A Workbook for Healing; Dana Rosenbloom and Mary Beth Williams, Guilford Press, 1999
The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook: A Guide to Healing, Recovery and Growth; Glen R. Schiraldi, McGraw-Hill, 2000
Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma; Peter A. Levine, North Atlantic Books, 1997
Trauma and Recovery; Judith L. Herman, Basic Books, 1997
Does Stress Damage The Brain? Understanding Trauma-Related Disorders from a Mind-Body Perspective, J. Douglas Bremner 2005 (short answer is yes)
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The best investment for the future? A life-affirming choice? The worst decision you will ever make? We often field questions from women deciding whether motherhood is the right choice for them. It is a big decision, and like all life’s major decisions, it requires thought and honesty. These books are helpful resources. Each of these is available through our lending service.
The Mask of Motherhood: How Becoming a Mother Changes Our Lives, Susan Maushart, Penguin Books 2000
The Price of Motherhood: Why The Most Important Job in the World is Still the Least Valued, Ann Crittenden, Owl Books, 2002
No Kid: Quarante raisons de ne pas avoir d’enfant, Corinne Maier, Michalon, 2007 (This book is published in French. We can mail (or email) English excerpts if you wish.)
A Suburban Mom: Notes From the Asylum, Meredith O’Brien, Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing, 2007
What’s The Matter With Mommy: Rantings of a Reluctant Stay-at-Home Mother, Kelley Cunningham, Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing, 2006
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Enjoy Your Labor: A New Approach to Pain Relief for Childbirth [The Only Book that Takes the Fear, Mystery and Guilt Out of Epidurals and Spinals] Gilbert J. Grant, Russell Hastings Press, 2005
Dr. Grant is an anaesthesiologist
specializing in obstetric anaesthesiology at New York University
Medical Center. This is one of the best books we’ve read
about the safest and most effective ways to provide pain relief to women during
labour, vaginal deliveries, cesarean deliveries and the postpartum. He debunks myths and gives an honest account
of the risks of regional and systemic pain relief methods, as well as the risks
of not electing to choose pain relief.
We only wish all obstetrical caregivers and hospitals were as
enlightened. [They aren’t] It is
required reading for anyone considering obstetrical pain relief.
The only problem we have is the title
‘Enjoy Your Labor’. It still pumps up
unrealistic expectations. Even with a
skilled and enlightened anesthesiologist and regional anesthesia there are
likely going to be many other reasons why you shouldn’t order the party hats
and bring in a mariachi band to wile away the hours or days you will be in
labour. Unresolved pain is only one
reason (but a VERY big one) women develop post partum psychological trauma
symptoms. Loss of control –which will be
lessened with timely and effective pain relief they can control– , a lack of
respect for her privacy, dignity and choices and having to cope with
life-altering negative health problems are all ways women are traumatized
before, during and after childbirth.
Pain, loss of control and lack of respect, privacy and dignity (or any
dehumanizing treatment) and serious health problems cause post traumatic stress
in ANY human being - male or female.
The new approach Dr. Grant talks about
isn’t epidurals and spinals. They have
been around for decades. ‘Walking’
epidurals aren’t new either. They are
just regular epidurals that use a different combination of drugs and none of
those drugs are new. It isn’t that
anesthesiologists aren’t trained to perform epidurals and spinals safely and
aren’t aware of the best techniques for performing them. They’ve known that for decades, too. It is what anesthesiologists do and these
techniques have been used in other medical specialties for decades.
The new approach Dr. Grant is referring to
is the attitude that women shouldn’t suffer because they are women. They have the same right to effective pain
relief as anyone else does in situations of extreme pain and they have the
right to it before the pain happens. His
point is that it is inhumane and blatant misogyny to deliberately deny women
pain relief during childbirth and the postpartum. The new approach is that someone from the
obstetrical community has the courage to publicly state what many already know
and haven’t bothered to say.