Resources for a Natural Pregnancy and Birth

I recieved an e-mail the other day asking for a good read on the topic of natural childbirth. So, I've decided to share with you a whole list of wonderful resources on this topic. Here are some things I have found to be helpful:

The Christian Childbirth Handbook by Jennifer Vanderlaan--Wow! This book has changed so much of my thoughts on pregnancy, labor and childbirth. I can't say enough good things about this informative and inspiring book. Vanderlaan explains all the aspects one would want to know about pregnancy, labor, delivery and postpartum both medically and scripturally. I never really, truly understood God's perfect plan for pregnancy and motherhood until I read this book! It has made me more confident in my ability to have a natural childbirth, as well as amazed at exactly what my body is capable of doing! This book is a must-read for any pregnant woman.

Husband-Coached Childbirth by Robert Bradley, M.D.--Much more medically-based than scripturally, this book does a great job of explaining exactly what is happening with a woman's body in all the stages of pregnancy, labor and birth. Has great sections on prenatal nutrition, natural pain relief and the importance of the father's role as labor coach. This is a great read for Dad!

The Lord of Birth by Jennifer Vanderlaan--Yep, she does it again with another scripturally-solid read, this one more about the blessing of pregnancy and motherhood. Great read for when you are about nine months pregnant with heartburn, swollen ankles and Braxton-Hicks contractions and need to be reminded what exactly you are doing all this for!

Apple Tree Ministries--Informative and encouraging website devoted to providing resources to families opting for natural, scripture-based childbirth. Check them out here at http://www.appletreefamily.org/.

I also encourage you to head on over to Lindsay's website, http://www.passionatehomemaking.org/ and Stephanie's website at http://www.keeperofthehome.org/ as both of these women have written some extraordinary posts on pregnancy and childbirth, including their personal experiences with homebirths.