My Top 7 Books On Gentle Birth

I’ve always been an avid reader and when I found myself pregnant without really understanding birth the way that I hoped to understand it, I immediately delved deeply into ALL THE THINGS GENTLE BIRTH.

In my ideal world, I would’ve chosen to give birth with a midwife at a birthing center - a water birth preferably! Unfortunately, these options are not supported in Hong Kong. I chose to give birth at a public hospital that was fairly progressive in its practices, e.g. delayed umbilical cord clamping, emphasis on skin-to-skin, breastfeeding, etc. Being educated on evidence-based birth options that felt aligned with my perspective on health helped me feel confident and empowered when navigating the world of pregnancy and birth.

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Wherever you may be on your journey, I highly suggest the following books if you’re interested in learning more about pregnancy and gentle birth options, in addition to nourishing your mind and heart with positive birth stories.

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1. The Ecology of Gentle Birth by Robin Lim
   This is the first book I read about gentle birth, complete with Ibu Robin’s anecdotes, recipes and affirmations. She is an inspirational change-maker and Wise Woman, the book is infused with her compassion, faith and strong connection to Spirit. I resonated with so much of what she wrote in this book.

2. Your Best Birth: Know All Your Options, Discover the Natural Choices, and Take Back the Birth Experience by Ricki Lake, Abby Epstein, Jacques Moritz
   Yes, this book is by the TV show Ricki Lake! It’s one of the first books I read about birth options when I was pregnant, I found it clear, and concise. I would highly recommend this book as a first read about birthing in general, if you’re looking to learn more about options.

3. Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering: A Doctor's Guide to Natural Childbirth and Gentle Early Parenting Choices by Sarah Buckley, Ina May Gaskin
   Dr. Sarah Buckley, family physician and mother of four, shares the science as well as the wisdom of gentle choices in pregnancy, birth and parenting. Dr. Buckley explains the logic, safety and benefits of natural birth and gentle parenting, supported by medical evidence. The book is easy to read and I would highly recommend it to start if you’re unfamiliar with the notion of gentle birthing.

4. Ina May's Guide to Childbirth: Updated With New Material by Ina May Gaskin
   The essential all-you-need-to-know written by Midwife Ina May Gaskin, otherwise known as “the mother of authentic midwifery.” Not only is it all the information that you’ll need for her many years of experience as Midwife, but she also shares the beautiful birth stories from The Farm. If you enjoyed this book, make sure to check out the documentary Birth Story: Ina May Gaskin & The Farm Midwives on how they rescued modern midwifery and changed the way the generation thought about childbirth.

5. The Gentle Birth Method by Dr. Marie Gowri Motha
   If you’re a fan of Ayurveda, this book is for you. It’s a month-by-month program written by childbirth guru Dr. Gowri Motha who created the method when she became alarmed at the increasing number of women needing intervention during their births. She focuses on alternative therapies, self-massage, and a simple diet to name a few.

6. Hypnobirthing by Marie Mongan
   I’m just going to start off by saying that if you’re going to write this off as too “woo” - I’m going to respond with a question: Why do more than 40% of births now end in caesarian section, the highest percentage in history? Our culture teaches women to fear birth. To put it simply, this fear causes physical conditions that are not conducive to birthing, which increase the pain and discomfort of childbirth. This book outlines gentle birth options, but mainly focuses on the famous Mongan Method, which incorporates breath work and hypnosis, to support women in becoming empowered by developing an awareness of their body’s instinctive birthing capabilities.

7. Natural Hospital Birth 2nd Edition: The Best of Both Worlds by Cynthia Gabriel
   I decided to give birth at a hospital. I found myself torn between wanting a natural birth with minimal intervention and wanting peace of mind with the access to life saving medical equipment. This is why I’m including this read if you have decided to give birth at a hospital. A lot of the gentle birthing books and programs share stories from home births, water births or at birthing clinics and I found that I really needed something reassuring that addressed gentle birthing at a hospital - that indeed it was possible! That being said, I do think choosing to birth (gently) at a hospital, depending on where you are and which hospital, can certainly have its share of challenges, which is why being informed is incredibly supportive in giving you and your partner peace of mind. Power is knowledge! This book is written by a doula who has attended hundreds of births and advises hospitals on how to facilitate low-intervention births.