BIRTH
Experienced in almost every way. Standing at the hospital sink in sunglasses while catching her own baby between her legs. In the backseat of a car. On Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
Stories of beauty, heartbreak, healing and grace mixed with phrases like “I told my midwife I was about to blow my butt out” and “the most obnoxious guttural cow noises.” Hey, it’s birth! Actually, it’s The Birth Next Door, an anthology of twenty-eight births in and around Tarrant County, Texas.
Not sure you’ll like any book with a boring word like anthology in it? Me either, but these stories that had me struggling through tears as I pushed Micah in our backyard swing. My kids now think I’m a little crazy, but those were GOOD tears! Vivid and captivating, honest and vulnerable, these stories rarely end quite like you’d expect.
Like this one from Stephanie M:
High risk. Whatever. This was laughable to me. I felt fine. Though she was measuring very big, my baby was healthy and I felt great throughout my entire pregnancy.
But now I was in a doctor’s office nearly 3 times a week being treated like a terminal cancer patient . . .
Stephanie M, Planned Hospital Birth (emphasis mine)
Wondering how that turned out?? What about this one from Maggie G:
“No, don’t push, just wait until C gets here.”
Yeah right, I said no, I really have to push . . . Todd ran to get the phone and called C.
He came back in and told her I was pushing. He asked if I could get back in the tub. Uhh, no, I need to push here and now. He was concerned that we wouldn’t coordinate catching the baby and she would land on the ceramic tile. I pushed once and I heard Todd say that she was crowning, then I heard the phone hit the floor.” (emphasis mine)
I could go on (really, Micah’s story is in there!), but I’ll bet you just want to know how to win a copy and finish these stories for yourself. Good news, it’s really simple!
I have TWO copies to give away. Here’s how to enter: (This Giveaway Is Now Closed)
- Tell us: What do you think is the #1 thing we should tell our daughters about birth?? (1 entry)
- What is the #1 thing you wish you had known about birth before becoming a mother? If this does not apply, tell us something else!
- “Like” The Birth Next Door on Facebook (1 entry)
- Post This Contest On Facebook (1 entry) – Copy this link, http://www.mommypotamus.com/birth-next-door-giveaway and paste it in your Facebook status. Then leave a comment here that says, “I Facebooked it.”
The Rules:
- You need to leave a comment in order to have an entry
- You need to leave a separate comment for each entry
- You need to fulfill the rules of each entry for each entry to count.
- Entries will be accepted until 8:59 PM Thursday, May 26 Central Standard Time
- Winner will be selected at random.org
- I will contact the winner via the email address provided with their comment
- Giveaway is open to readers in the United States only
about the author: Heather
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» Birth » Book Review: The Birth Next Door
65 Responses to Book Review: The Birth Next Door
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I Facebooked it!
Nanci´s last [type] ..Walk by the river
I Facebooked it!
I liked “The Birth Next Door” on facebook
I would tell my sweet daughters that we are made to do this beautiful thing we can birth. We are perfectly designed and that it can be so glorious!
Mae´s last [type] ..In Mamas Arms
I wish I would have BELIEVED that every birth is different like they DID try and warn me ;]
Mae´s last [type] ..In Mamas Arms
And I already like The Birth Next Door on FB
Mae´s last [type] ..In Mamas Arms
I think we should tell our daughters that birth is beautiful and life-changing.
I wish that I would have known what not to do…pit, fluids…And I wish that I had had natural with all of mine.
I liked the birth next door on facebook!
I liked the birth next door.
Tana´s last [type] ..Am I Ever Enough
I will tell my daughters birth is a wonderful experience and do not be afraid. I was so fearful that afterwards I said “that was it!”. I did have her natural.
Michelle Edwards´s last [type] ..13 is a Big Number
The number one thing I wish I was told about birth was you will not cuss out your husband. Seriously, my mil was very upset my hubby was going to be in the room because she was afraid I would hurt his feelings.
Michelle Edwards´s last [type] ..13 is a Big Number
I facebooked it.
Michelle Edwards´s last [type] ..13 is a Big Number
I already liked Birth Next door on FB
What would I tell Miss Maddie about about birth??
Having had a natural birth…I know claim my birth verse as:
2 Timothy 1:7 -
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
God made our bodies with the ability and strength to give birth.
Giving birth is a gift & it was one of the most empowering moments of my life!
#1 thing you wish you had known about birth before becoming a mother?
I wish I would have known about all the pooping and vomiting that was to ensue! I hate vomiting!
I might hate vomiting more than contractions, or now that I think about it, they are equally not fun!
yea, so excited about this giveaway! You really have the best giveaways!!!
#1 thing we should tell our daughters about birth: it’s nothing to be afraid of.
I’m not a mom yet ( just found out I am pregnant) so I am just trying to learn what i can and make the best decisions for my baby
Congrats, Erin!!! You’re a mom in my book!
I liked The Birth Next Door on Facebook
Erin K.´s last [type] ..Celebration Dinner
I was thinking about this exact question today! More specific about cramps, was thinking about chatting with my teen about cramps and how they can be a preparation for birthing, and to help us understand that just like cramps, they come and go and you survive… and you can do it… Birthing/contractions don’t need to be scary… you can embrace them as a sign your body is doing amazing things and that pretty soon God will bless you with the greatest miracle of all. I just watched the season finale for Bones today, and on it, Angela screams and goes histerical as soon as her water “breaks”. I’m going to watch this online with my Teen later, and have a conversation about on a real/non dramatized-made-for-tv birth, how the experience is… I think TV shapes so much how women today thing about giving birth. There’s nothing “calmer” or natural about birth on TV!
Even on my favorite shows!
sorry for all the misspelled words… “think”.
Lucy´s last [type] ..AB3MY!
What do you think is the #1 thing we should tell our daughters about birth?? –I would tell my sweet girl that no matter what type of birth you end up having, be thankful for your precious, precious baby. This is something I STILL struggle with…two and a half years later I still tear up when I talk about having a c-section. And then my sweet little girl will do something that makes me beyond thankful that I have her in my life.
#1 thing you wish you had known about birth before becoming a mother?–I wish I had taken the time to understand what “interventions” can lead to and that there are other options besides OB’s who can help you through pregnancy and birth.
I liked The Birth Next Door on Facebook.
I would tell my daughter that fear is not of the Lord so your #1 priority should be to battle it with all your might!
Whittney´s last [type] ..Mother’s Day – Henry’s First Zoo Visit!
I already like The Birth Next Door on FB!
Whittney´s last [type] ..Mother’s Day – Henry’s First Zoo Visit!
I wish I had known that birth could be enjoyable and relatively easy. I had only heard warnings of course.
Whittney´s last [type] ..Mother’s Day – Henry’s First Zoo Visit!
Shared on FB.
Whittney´s last [type] ..Mother’s Day – Henry’s First Zoo Visit!
God made our bodies to have babies and the labor is very “doable”!
I facebooked it
I facebooked it!
I’ve told them to “trust birth”. And I continue to tell that to every woman I come in contact with. =)
#1 thing we need to tell our daughters about birth? Everything! They need to know that birth IS. It is what it is, it hurts, it’s wonderful, fulfilling, natural, done at home. Not a medical emergency. That even though it hurts as it is happening, it’s nothing to be fearful of, nothing to hide from. As soon as your baby is out everything is better. Everything is right! Birth is love.
#1 thing I wished I would have known about birth before experiencing it? That I didn’t *have* to have a baby in the hospital. My husband and I assumed the only people giving birth at home were crazy hippies, and that well educated normal people gave birth in hospital for all those ‘just in case’ reasons. Dumb.
Took us until our 3rd baby and our OB denying me my birthing rights for us to make the switch to midwives in an out of hospital birthing center. Would have been better to just start there or even at home.
OH! My first comment was posted under my old email, my new and current email is the gmail.com account!!
Totally already like The Birth Next Door on fb.
I facebooked it!
I am not entering the contest (already have a stash of books), but there are many things that I would tell my son about birth and breastfeeding (he already wants his baby Curious George to have some of Mommy;s milk too so we are off to a good start). Someday he may have a wife who will have a baby in whatever form or fashion she decides. I hope that he will support her decisions and be a rock for her as she prepares to do one of the most amazing, beautiful challenges of her life… give birth and be a mother. Ok, the thought of my baby growing up….*tear.
Hannah R´s last [type] ..Living the Mommy Life
I will tell my daughter that birth is beautiful and empowering, and that its power and intensity should not be feared.
I wish that someone had told me that labors aren’t always textbook, and that the signposts sometimes don’t match up to dilation. I was 3-4 cm and in transition… it made no sense until I was complete and pushing an hour and a half later (with a first baby).
I liked The Birth Next Door!
I facebooked it!
i won’t have a girl, but if i did, i would tell her to be happy being pregnant because she WILL miss it, and don’t let ANYONE pressure you into ANY decision. you and your body know best!
i wish i had known more about doula’s and wish i’d had one. i wish i would have known the joy and pain that comes with each pregnancy and that you’ll remember all of them even if you don’t get a baby at the end. i wish more mothers would enjoy their time and not be in a hurry for it to be over.
I am a fan of their page on FB.
i think our daughters need to know that God created their bodies to give birth and that He will give them the strength to do it, and that it can be beautiful and glorious and a huge learning experience!
i wish i had known that i would later (now) wish that i had gone the natural route, because my body was designed to bring life into the world without the need for medical interventions!
Joanna Moore´s last [type] ..One Hundred Posts! Go ME!
liked birth next door on fb
Joanna Moore´s last [type] ..One Hundred Posts! Go ME!
i facebooked it!
Joanna Moore´s last [type] ..One Hundred Posts! Go ME!
I’m going to tell my daughter(s) that birth is WONDERFUL!!! And nothing to be afraid of. It has become one of my very favorite things in the world.
Somehow I can’t really think of any “wish I’d knowns”, I was so blessed to have lots of calm, realistic advice from my midwives and natural birth class, that I felt really prepared and not really surprised by anything that happened!
I recommend the book “Supernatural Childbirth” by Jackie Mize to all my friends.
“Liked” The Birth Next Door on FB!
Facebooked it! wow, I love birth stories.
I liked it on FB
Cole D´s last [type] ..A Chance To Make a Change
“What is the #1 thing you wish you had known about birth before becoming a mother?”
That birth wasn’t about dilation and getting something OUT of me, it was about opening and letting someone inn. Opening my heart, mind, and soul for another person to come in.
Cole D´s last [type] ..A Chance To Make a Change
“What do you think is the #1 thing we should tell our daughters about birth??”
It’s hard work, but amazingly transforming and not something to escape or be saved from.
Cole D´s last [type] ..A Chance To Make a Change
“I Facebooked it.”
Cole D´s last [type] ..A Chance To Make a Change
[...] Thoughtful. Strong. When I asked what you would tell your daughters about birth, I did not expect such poignancy . . . glory and pain and triumph and regrets. Like this one: #1 [...]
[...] Long conversations can be tiring, but I wouldn’t mind if you dropped by your copy of The Birth Next Door for me to read while I’m nursing in the wee [...]
#1 thing we should tell our daughters about birth. All that penis bragging you’ve heard, here and there, your whole life? You need to know, your cervix is JUST AS AMAZING. No one talks about it as such – but it is dynamic and expansive, and ready to bloom like a flower the moment your baby is ready to meet the world. Don’t listen to anyone who jokes about how big your baby’s head is, and how small your cervix is. They’ve never met a cervix.
Elisabeth M´s last [type] ..Bamboo for Babies!
#1 thing I wish I had known about birth before becoming a mother… I can’t say I didn’t “know” this, because I did read about it before giving birth; I just forgot. While vocalizing through my surges, I wish I had remembered to keep my throat soft, my voice relaxed and round. Looking back, I *was afraid, and I do think I handled my fear *really well, but I know that my voice became a place to pour that fear, even though I was very intentionally keeping the notes as low as I could at the same time. I think, if I had remembered, I *could have kept my sounds sweeter, which I think would have reassured me in my fear, rather than amplifying my fear.
Elisabeth M´s last [type] ..Bamboo for Babies!
I just “liked” the Birth Next Door’s FB page.
Elisabeth M´s last [type] ..Bamboo for Babies!
I Facebooked it.
Elisabeth M´s last [type] ..Bamboo for Babies!