Books (Educational)

1. Gentle Birth Choices by Barbara Harper
   Barbara Harper, Founder of Waterbirth International, has published her new edition of Gentle Birth Choices, which is packed with information that every pregnant woman needs to know.  Although this book is not specifically about waterbirth, it has a large section about waterbirth that is extremely helpful for individuals considering a water birth. This book also comes complete with the award-winning Gentle Birth Choices DVD.
2. The Waterbirth Book: Everything You Need to Know from the World's Renowned Natural Childbirth Pioneer by Janet Balaskas
   This book is an in-depth, comprehensive guide to using water during childbirth, as well as during pregnancy and in infancy.
3. Water Birth: A Midwife's Perspective by Susanna Napierala
   This book provides a wealth of information, personal testimonies, and instruction and guidance for individuals planning a water birth. This book goes through all the questions that individuals who have never experienced a water birth may have in easy to understand language.
4. WATER LABOUR, WATER BIRTH: A guide to the use of water during childbirth by Annie Sprague
   This book is written with midwives, doulas, and mothers all in mind. Annie Sprague uses this book to summarize her research on birthing babies while being immersed in water.  Throughout this book, she helps to dispel the myths about waterbirth, provides guidelines for use of water during birth, documents personal testimonies, and more. This book is sure to answer many of the questions parents may have about waterbirth.
5. Choosing Waterbirth: Reclaiming the Sacred Power of Birth by Lakshmi Bertram, Sandra Amrita McLanahan and Michel Odent
   The purpose of this book is to show how waterbirth can be used to experience a natural, positive, empowering and beautiful birth.
6. Revisiting Waterbirth: An Attitude to Care by Dianne Garland
   This book is for individuals wanting to know a bit more than 'just the basics' on waterbirth. This text is considered essential for both students and professional midwives. It includes guidelines on using water during labour, clinical scenarios, waterbirth research, as well as evidence based advice.

Books (For Siblings)

1. Our Water Baby written by Amy Maclean and illustrated by Jan Nesbitt
   This is beautiful illustrated book is essential if you are planning to have siblings at the waterbirth of your baby. This book prepares children for what to expect during the weeks leading up to labour, the labour, and birth of their new sibling into water in a realistic, sensitive, and easy to understand way.
2. Mama, Talk About When Max Was Born written by Toni Olson and illustrated by S. Marie Carlson
   This book helps to normalizes home water birth for siblings. This book goes through the story of Max's mother learning about being pregnant, her experience during pregnancy, preparing for the birth, and giving birth to Max in the water in their living room.

 Step 4: Throughout your pregnancy, read about unassisted births, and read/watch a lot of birth stories/videos. 

Educating yourself will help you prepare for all scenarios and build confidence in yourself. It is also a good plan to educate those who will be supporting you in your pregnancy and birth such as your partner, it will instill confidence in them as well. 

 It might also be a good idea to join a UC forum to get support, advice, and information.  It is important that you are comfortable with your decision and are surrounded by people that support you, or UC may not be for you.  

Here is my own birthing story of my twin girls, Sunny and Jova.

Here are a few videos and stories:

My Unassisted Home Birth After 5 Hospital Births

The Unassisted Birth of My Daughter - A Daddy's Perspective

 My two favorite unassisted birthing sites:

http://www.unhinderedliving.com/childbirth.html 

Go back to Step #3: Get The Proper Tests Done

Go to the next step Step #5: Decide Who You Want to Attend Your Birth

Go to Birthing Methods Menu