This book was one of the first midwifery books I ever read. It blew me away. I couldn't wrap my mind around what all the stories were saying! Could birth be this fun. Ina May has been around the preverbial block and she still cathes babies to this day. Anyone who thinks this book is full of "hippie notions" or nonsense are really missing out one of the best birth books ever. The truth is when you have such a strong network of people supporting you while you birth your baby, then what seems to be impossible is possible, and what seems to some to be an " inaacurate view" of birth is really the clearest view. Everyone should read this book, not just women, or midwives, or doulas. It would do a lot to dispel much of the devastating "modern" myths sourrounding birth. You Don't need a doctor to "help" you give birth, you need people who care about you and faith in your body. When it comes down to it, Ina My knows birth like most people could never fathom. And this is her telling you how you can to if you just let it be.

If you are considering a natural birth, this is definitely the book for you. Amazing birth stories, and I appreciated the fact that she includes stories where every possible scenario is represented.

I really enjoy Ina May's approach to child birthing and have enjoyed her books. An excellent resource to expectant moms.

Spiritual Midwifery has beautiful accounts of births outside the hospital setting and is an inspiration to all mothers hoping to give birth at home or with the aid of a midwife. It encourages mothers who have the abilty and good health to steer away from the routine hospital births so many women believe is necessary. It shows how giving birth is truely a sacred and spirital moment and should be looked at and treated as such. Ina May is wonderful!

When I was pregnant with my first baby, what I hungered for were real stories of birth, and especially positive stories, because these are so rare in our medicalised birth culture. My copy of Spiritual Midwifery is a dog-eared third edition, but it's been a great companion to me through the homebirths of my four babies, reassuring and reminding me how simple and ecstatic birth can be.

One reviewer could not believe that all the stories in Spiritual Midwifery could be so positive; I refer her to my article on Ecstatic Birth, which details the scientific evidence for birth ecstasy as our hormonal blueprint for labour, published by Mothering and expanded for my upcoming book "Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering: The wisdom and science of gentle choices in pregnancy, birth, and parenting". It's the plethora of interventions that make birth unpleasant- and not necessarily safer, as I document

Another reviewer response- Ina May recommends drinking vodka to delay an early labour: IV alcohol was previously widely used in hospital for women going into premature labour, followed by 3 days of whisky 60 ml (2 oz) every 8 hours.

As a family physician, I also have to mention the excellent section, "Instructions to midwives" at the back, with easy to understand explanations and diagrams that I would recommend for any birth attendant; midwife, physician or parents. I also appreciate the sections on stillbirth and difficult births, and of course the gorgeous photos.

Spiritual Midwifery is a book that has stood the test of time, and continues to inspire and inform women and their carers (including myself) about how amazing and ecstatic birth can be, and the respect that we owe birthing families and newborn babies.

PS If you don't like the hippy language, buy Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, which has more contemporary stories and excellent information about modern birth care. Even better, buy them both!

I devoured an earlier edition of this book more than a decade before I actually had children, and am enjoying the new "birthing tales" added to the fourth edition. Since my husband was extremely uncomfortable with the prospect of home birth, I gave birth to our three children in hospital, with a wonderful female OB/GYN guiding me through one uncomplicated vaginal delivery; one surprise breech resulting in a C-section; one induced, successful VBAC. The hospital was the right place for me, it turned out. I really believe that the joy of these "birth days" was enhanced by having learned so much from the wisdom of all of the "ladies"--Ina May's down-home term--their husbands, and midwives who contributed their first-person stories to this fine book.

From "Spiritual Midwifery," you'll learn a great deal about your body, your newborn baby, and about the many, many things that can and do comprise pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the postpartum period. Even the very few sad outcomes inspire, and in the least smarmy way possible. I also would call this book appropriate to give to a teenager who is curious about the process of birth.

In retrospect, this fine book beats the unduly jumpy "What To Expect When You're Expecting" by a country mile.