Easing Labor Pain
The Complete Guide to a More Comfortable and Rewarding Birth
Although labor is never entirely painless, there are many ways to make it more comfortable. Adrienne B. Lieberman covers all of these ways, from ancient to modern, from simple to high-tech. She describes childbirth classes and the theories on which they’re based; relaxation, breathing, and visualization exercises; what to eat and drink before and during labor; and the use of activity, massage, music, and water in birth, and ways to avoid hospital routines that make labor more stressful. She covers atypical pain-relief methods, such as hypnosis, acupressure, and electrical stimulation, as well as anesthesia and painkilling drugs.
Balanced, comprehensive, and authoritative, Easing Labor Pain is an indispensable handbook for expectant parents, childbirth educators, midwives, and other partners in the childbirth experience.
Praise
“There is no better way to learn about choices than to read Adrienne Lieberman’s most informative book.”
—Elisabeth Bing, author of Six Practical Lessons for an Easier Childbirth
“Easing Labor Pain is strongly recommended for anyone having a baby and for professionals involved in maternity care. It presents a balanced view of both standard and alternative pain control.”
—Linda Hughey Holt, M.D., author of the AMA Guide to Womancareand co-author of Nine Months and a Day