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Some of the above publications may be difficult to obtain, however it is possible to borrow any book from a public library in the UK. If your local library does not have a copy of a particular book on the shelf, it is possible (for a small fee) to have the book requested from another library.

It may also be possible to borrow publications from local branches of The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) or their antenatal teachers. Local contact details can often be found in local telephone directories or can be obtained from the national NCT enquiry line on 0807 444 8707

Caesarean Birth

CAESAREAN BIRTH: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Debbie Chippington Derrick, Gina Lowdon and Fiona Barlow.
National Childbith Trust (2004). ISBN 1-9543018-3-8
Updated version of the original 1996 version. Answers questions that mothers frequently ask when they are told they may need a caesarean, and gives the information needed to make an informed choices.

Available from NCT Sales
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THE CAESAREAN EXPERIENCE
Sarah Clement
Published by Pandora (1995). ISBN 0-0444-0735-4
Sarah is a psychologist and deals well with feelings about having a caesarean as well as most other aspects.

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THE CAESAREAN
Michel Odent
Published by Free Association Books (2004). ISBN 1853437182
Looks at the history and the reasons why the rate may have climbed so quickly, as well as considering the impact such a large move to this way of birth may have on society.

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review by Debbie Chippington Derrick (2004)

CAESAREAN RECOVERY
Chrissie Gallegher-Mundy
Published by Carrol and Brown (2004). ISBN 1903258723
A day-by-day guide to exercising after a caesarean, which is beautifully ilustrated. Contains some inaccuracies in the non exercise based information.

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review by Moira Clark, pregnancy and postnatal fitness instructor (2005)
review by Debbie Chippington Derrick (2004)

CAESAREAN BIRTH IN BRITAIN
Dr Colin Francome, Professor Wendy Savage and Helen Churchill
Published by Middlesex University Press (2006). ISBN 1-904750-17-6
Gives the history of caesareans, how we have come to where we are today, reasons for having a caesarean, what will happen, and VBAC.

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review by Debbie Chippington Derrick (2006)

THE EXPECTANT PARENT'S GUIDE TO PREVENTING A CESAREAN SECTION
Carl Jones
Published by Bergin & Garvey (1991). ISBN 0-89789-223-2
An American book which lives up to it's title.

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THE CAESAREAN MYTH: CHOOSING THE BEST WAY TO HAVE YOUR BABY
Mortimer Rosen MD and Lillian Thomas
Published by Penguin (1989). ISBN 0-14-01131212-6
An American book written by an obstetrician who discusses caesarean issues in a gentle informative manner).

CAESAREAN BIRTH; EXPERIENCE, PRACTICE AND HISTORY
Helen Churchill
Published by Books for Midwives Press, Hochland & Hochland Ltd (1997). ISBN 1-898507-51-1
Gives detailed history of caesarean section, looks at debates on women/medical professional relationships and women's experiences of caesarean.

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review by Gina Lowdon (1998)

SOME WOMEN'S EXPERIENCES OF EPIDURALS. ISBN 1870129067
Shiela Kitzinger
NCT Publication

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NICE CAESAREAN GUIDELINES. ISBN 1904752020
These guidelines are available in several forms. Healthcare professions should be using them to inform their practice. The full version provides an invaluable collection of references on the subject (688 OF THEM!)
RCOG Press

Can be downloaded from the NICE website www.nice.org.uk/cg013

VBAC

BIRTH AFTER CAESAREAN
Jenny Lesley
Published by AIMS (2004) ISBN 18744131177
A UK book, which provides information about choices, and making the decision about how to have your baby after a previous caesarean. Suggests ways in which a VBAC can be made more likely and informs women about their rights and where to find support.

Available to order directly from AIMS; see the publications page of the AIMS website www.aims.org.uk.

review by Jane Weaver

THE VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER CAESAREAN EXPERIENCE
Lynn Baptisti Richard and contributors
Published by Bergin & Garvey (1987) ISBN 0-89789-120-1
American book which gives caesarean birth reports followed by VBAC birth reports.

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SILENT KNIFE: CAESAREAN SECTION PREVENTION AND VBAC
by Nancy Wainer Cohen and Lois J Estner
Published by Bergin & Garvey (1983) ISBN 0-89789-027-2
American book, may seem rather aggressive as the American system is different to ours, but very well researched.

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NATURAL CHILDBIRTH AFTER CESAREAN
K Crawford & J Walters
Published by Blackwell Science (1996). ISBN 0-86542-490-X
American, and as such natural tends to mean vaginal, but good with much guidance on how to prepare yourself for a VBAC.

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review by Gina Lowdon (1997)

THE VBAC COMPANION - THE EXPECTANT MOTHER'S GUIDE TO VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER CAESAREAN
Diana Korte
Published by Havard Common Press (1998). ISBN 1558321284
An American book, which explains the risks and benefits of both repeat caesareans and vaginal birth after a caesarean, including overcoming fears.

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BIRTH AFTER CAESAREAN
Bruce Flamm
Published by Prentice Hall (1991). ISBN 013080102X
An American question and answer style book which is very pro VBAC after one section, and gives lot of evidence for its safety.

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OPEN SEASON: A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR NATURAL CHILDBIRTH AND VBAC IN THE 90'S
Nancy Wainer Cohen
Published by Bergin & Garvey (1991). ISBN 0-89789-272-0
A follow on book from Silent Knife, look into psychological aspects of birth.

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VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER CESAREAN
ICEA Review. Vol 14 No3 Aug. 1990
Available from ICEA, PO Box 20048, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55420, USA or in UK from MIDIRS (Excellent review of the research showing how VBAC is the safest option in most cases.

TRUST YOUR BODY! TRUST YOUR BABY! CHILDBIRTH WISDOM AND CAESAREAN PREVENTION
Edited by Andrea Frank Henkart
Published by Bergin & Garvey (1995). ISBN 0-89789-294-1
A third written by other contributers, looks at how the system causes caesareans and how to avoid this.

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review by Debbie Chippington Derrick (1996)

BIRTH AFTER CAESAREAN, UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES
Edited by Coralie Daniels, Kathleen Oldman, Tricia Riggs and Jenny Allan
Published by BACUP Australia (1997). ISBN 0-646-32261-3
A collection of Australian birth stories; interesting, but with a disappointing lack of information.

General Birth

AM I ALLOWED?
Beverley Lawrence Beech
Published by AIMS (1991). ISBN 1 874413 15 0
The book lays out your options and rights through all the stages of pregnancy and birth

Available to order directly from AIMS; see the publications page of the AIMS website www.aims.org.uk
review by Julia Magill-Cuerden
review by Moira Clark

A GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE CARE IN PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
Murray Enkin, Marc J.N.C. Keirse, James Neilson, Caroline Crowther, Leia Duley, Ellen Hodnoett and Justus Hofmeyr
Published by Oxford University Press (2000). ISBN 0-19-263173-X
A guide to what the two volume tome of gathered research says, contains tables of what things are good practice and those which are not, and those that need more research before we know.

Available as pdf from Maternity Wise
VBAC pages as html from VBAC.com
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INA MAY'S GUIDE TO CHILDBIRTH
Ina May Gaskin
Published by Random House International (2003). ISBN 0553381156
Provides a positive view of how birth can be, an antidote to the fear of childbirth generated by a modern medical model.

Find this book on Amazon review by Lizzie Ruffell review by Gina Lowdon

BIRTH CRISIS
Sheila Kitzinger
Published by Routledge (2006). ISBN 0415372666
Deals with issues of traumatic birth experiences.

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review by Rachel Burrows

UNDERSTANDING AND TEACHING OPTIMAL FOETAL POSITIONING
Jean Sutton and Pauline Scott
Second revised edition, 1996). Available through Rob and Julie Sutton, Birth Concepts, 95 Beech Rd, Bedfont, Middlesex, TW14 8AJ. (Discusses possible ways of encouraging unborn babies to adopt the best position for a straightforward delivery, particularly avoiding posterior babies.

BIRTHING FROM WITHIN
Pam England and Rob Horowitz
Published by Partera Press (1998). ISBN 0965987302
An approach to birth that seeks to prepare a mother for birthing from within. Everything is covered, from caesarean deliveries to pain medications and from endorphins to fathers. This book offers insight into what a mother will need to know about labour and birth from her perspective, and preparation to be in labour and give birth as a mother, not as a trained para-professional.

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BREECH BIRTH: A GUIDE TO BREECH PREGNANCY AND BIRTH
Benna Waites
Published by Free Association Books (2003). ISBN 1853435635
A wonderfully woman centred book about breech pregnancy and birth. Considers in a balanced manner, options and choice, including turning the baby and caesarean section

Find this book on Amazon review by Jane Evans

BREECH BIRTH - WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
Jane Evans
Published by AIMS (2005)
Written for AIMS by one of the most experienced midwives in assisting women to give birth to their breech babies. An informative and empowering book for to women with breech babies, helping them consider the options available and decide what is right for them. £8.50

Available to order directly from AIMS; see the publications page of the AIMS website www.aims.org.uk.

review by Joanne Hood

BIRTH RIGHTS: A GUIDE TO GETTING THE BEST POSSIBLE CARE FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILD (previous edition titled EVERYWOMAN'S BIRTH RIGHT)
Pat Thomas
Published by The Women's Press (2002)
A practical guide to choices & rights in pregnancy and childbirth.

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BIRTHRIGHTS
Sally Inch
Published by Green Print (1989). ISBN 1-85425-032-9
A British midwife covers natural birth and how medical intervention often causes the very problems it is trying to avoid, the original 'cascade of intervention' text.

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BIRTH YOUR WAY: CHOOSING BIRTH AT HOME OR IN A BIRTH CENTRE
Sheila Kitzinger
Published by Dorling Kindersley (2002). ISBN 0751307882
As research discloses the risks of intensively managed hospital births, increasing numbers of women are considering alternatives. This updated guide includes first-hand accounts of women's experiences of birth, and should help those who want to make the right decision confidently for themselves.

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INDUCTION - DO I REALLLY NEED IT?
Sara Wickham
published by AIMS (2004)
Induction is an issue that concerns many women. They are often lead to believe that they have to accept it or that they would be putting their baby in danger not to do so. This book considers the real risk and benefits of this common intervention

Available to order directly from AIMS; see the publications page of the AIMS website www.aims.org.uk.

CHILDBIRTH WITHOUT FEAR
Grantley Dick-Reid
Published by Harper & Row. ISBN 0-06-091284-7
A reprint of a 1950 book, which inspired the setting up of the NCT, and is still very relevant today.

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SENSITIVE MIDWIFERY
Caroline Flint
Published by Heinemann Midwifery (1986). ISBN 0-433-10620-4

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SAFER CHILDBIRTH? A CRITICAL HISTORY OF MATERNITY CARE
Marjorie Tew
Published by Free Associtation Books (1998). ISBN 1853434264
A book about the statistics of the safety of childbirth, shows that hospital birth is NOT safer than home birth. Also compares other places of birth.

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BIRTH AND POWER: A SAVAGE ENQUIRY REVISITED
Wendy Savage
Published by Middlesex University Press (2007). ISBN 1904750583
A Savage Enquiry (published by Virago in 1986) is a account of Wendy Savage's suspension from medical practice for alleged incompetence and her subsequent reinstatement. The original book identified six policy issues which were raised by the enquiry, this one also examines what has happened since and consider what still needs to be done.

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