Birth Partner, The - Revised 4th Edition: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions

Women who have continuous support during labour have fewer complications, a lower caesarean-section rate, and a more satisfying birth experience. This makes the presence of a prepared, confident, and calming birth partner essential to the mother's overall health during labour and delivery and to the creation of a positive memory of her baby's birth. For almost two decades, The Birth Partner has been the definitive guide for life partners, relatives, friends, and professional doulas (labour assistants) who wish to perform this role and help a woman through childbirth. These caregivers can rely on The Birth Partner for up-to-date information about techniques, devices, and medications for easing labour pain; tests and treatments of the foetus and newborn; strategies to help labour progress; potential medical procedures and interventions; how to best help the mother during the early postpartum period; and much more. The new edition of The Birth Partner also includes more information on 'the 3Rs' (Relaxation, Rhythm, and Ritual) for coping with the pain and unpredictability of labour; non-drug techniques to relieve pain and enhance the woman's sense of well-being; current medications, tests, technologies, and interventions and how, when, and why they are used; and the rapidly increasing rate of both first and repeat caesarean deliveries.  Author, Penny Simkin, P.T., is a physical therapist, childbirth educator, doula, and birth counselor. She is recognised as a premier authority on childbirth, having helped 9,000 expecting women and birth partners in childbirth and attended hundreds of couples though the birth process. Simkin is a prolific author and serves on more than ten different consultant and editorial boards.