January Harshe

ehhhh. I had issues with this book from the beginning because of immediate concerns that I'd been bamboozled into checking out a crunchy book when January talks about the trauma of her first several birth, but then a page later after reflecting several children later she recognized that her firstborn was actually a patient-centered, supportive caesarian.

Overall, this book is light on information but heavy on affirmation- which can be useful; I felt the mental health post partum chapter is really where the self-love and care shined. But, I'm fully aware that I don't know everything about my body and pregnancy (thus reading these books) so I am less impressed with the idea of changing your team late into pregnancy. The gut feeling is powerful, but also we're going to trained professionals who've learned and experienced more than we have typically about birth. You absolutely should advocate for yourself, but please be making informed decisions...

...on that note, the template birth plans do give away some of January's own thinking about interventions and post-birth things like the vitamin K shot and other helpful things for baby, and she never explains why those particular things are on her template- just that YOU do YOU, whatever you feel is right. I'm going to take her advice and return this to the library.

next pregnancy book on deck for me is either [b:Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy|35068708|Like a Mother A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy|Angela Garbes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519836595l/35068708._SX50_.jpg|56364139] by Angela Garbes or the [b:Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy|388126|Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy|Roger Harms|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442589788l/388126._SY75_.jpg|377750] because I could use some researched points...… (más)