Birth Movement: How to Use the Birth Sling, Squat Bar, Birth Ball and Positions for Your No-to-low Intervention Hospital Birth, Jun-Nicole Matsushita, 2011.

 

The book is written as an instructional photo book. Each page features a position with color photograph(s) taken in a hospital labor and delivery room; a code for appropriate use: laboring, pushing, epidural, narcotic; and a description and instructions for the execution of the position

Available for purchase at Lulu, $19.99

REVIEWS

I just recently gave birth to my first child and wanted a no- or low-intervention birth... Birth Movement helped me to prepare intellectually and physically for birth by showing me the many ways I could labor and push - I knew I would likely not want to be flat on my back but didn't really know before the book exactly HOW I could position myself. I even assumed the squat bar was unusable until I saw the setup in the book! I was fortunate enough to work with Jun-Nicole (the author) during my labor and found that I needed several different positions at different times, and that my body really had to guide me in the moment. The book helped me to be prepared and confident in knowing that there were many options I could choose from depending on what I was feeling at any given time. I personally used sifting on the back, belly lifts, side-lying, upright resting, and the squat bar with sling, among others - when pushing was at its most intense I was very thankful for the knowledge in this book and how it helped me feel prepared! I strongly recommend this book to any pregnant woman desiring an active birth where she is empowered and able to find her best position for her body. I'd also recommend any mom-to-be to encourage her support team to get and study the book - this would include her partner, doctor or midwife, doula, attending family member, hospital nurses, or even people who surround and support her care, such as a chiropractor. I believe this book will help empower women during one of the most powerful experiences of her life!" Nicole Forsythe, Bamboo Birth Family

 

I really enjoyed the presentation of the material through pictures. It was a very clear and concise way to demonstrate the techniques. I also liked the key that tells you at a glance under what circumstances each position/technique will be useful. I was glad to see some illustrations of using a sling during labor, as this is something that can be difficult to find information on. Many of the positions were new to me--such as having the woman use the squatting bar for resting her feet while pushing. As a doula, I plan on using this as a reference and resource both in educating my clients prior to labor, and to refer to during labor. Shelsy Joseph, Perfect Harmony Birth

 

As a Chiropractor focused on natural birthing options to ensure a safe and effective birth; I find the Birth Movement book a must have!  When an expecting mother can utilize these positions and techniques, not only will she have a more effective labor, but she will also minimize external interventions, which ultimately lead to less spinal stress on the baby.  This easy to follow guide will be recommended to all of my pregnant patients. Ron Robinson, D.C.

 

Birth Movement: How To Use the Birth Sling, Squat Bar, Birth Ball and Positions for Your No-to-low Intervention Hospital Birth is not what I expected at all when Jun-Nicole Matsushita, the author, sent it to me to read over and review. First of all, I expected tons of text. Maybe it was the title which led me to this preconception, but to my surprise, the book turned out to be an extremely simple visual and kinesthetic guide to the practicalities of assisted active and upright labor in the hospital setting. The bright, large photos are more effective than chapters and chapters of text material.

There is a brief introduction, and a key which details that the positions and tools may safely be used while the mother is L - Laboring, E - has received an epidural, N - has received narcotics intravenously, and/or is P - in the pushing stage of labor. Every different tool or modality shown on a page has one or more of these letters, making it easy to imagine a birthworker with no knowledge of these techniques could attempt them with some measure of comfort, especially with the easy to understand safety tips throughout.

I'm tempted to say that I wish there were more words, more studies and arguments in order to convince hospital staff that upright and active birth is the way to go, especially in the hospital setting. Then I thought for a moment on that, and reread the short introduction by Katherine Parker Bryden.. In that aim, they succeeded.

Does the argument even need to be made that active labor assisted by gravity and correct bodily positioning is better than laying flat on your back, immobilized during labor? If that argument needs to be made to an obstetrician or nurse, this book is not going to convince them. Seeing these modalities in use in the hospital will be the most convincing argument. The results, I believe, will speak for themselves.

In short, buy this book. All you need is a simple piece of cloth (maybe even bed sheets found in the L&D room), a birth ball, the hospital bed's own squat bar (dusted off from long term storage), and either the confidence to toss the script of how a woman 'ought' to labor or the support of a care provider interested in your successful hospital birth.

Birth Movement is a short read, but packed with great information, especially for the visual learners. My hope is to see this in every doula's bag, paged through by midwives, and in the hands of laboring women, most of whom are going to be birthing in a hospital setting. In creating this manual to movement in the hospital room, they really wanted to provide a resource that could be used by a laboring woman, her doula, or any of her clinical providers. I also hope to see the author possibly teaching workshops on these techniques, if she doesn't already. Now I'm going to go back and look it over for the fifth time.  Leslie Kung, Cedar Rapids

I am there to support your wishes and to facilitate your journey to parenthood in an environment of security and confidence

phone: 319-430-6736

e-mail

© Bamboo Birth Services 2009 ~ All Rights Reserved