Product ReviewsPositive Pain by Adela StocktonNumber of reviews: 1 Overall score:  A guide to emotional wellbeing through pregnancy and birth Available from www.birthconsultancy.org/publications.php, price £8 Empowers mums to deal with her pregnancy and labour as nature intendedParent Panel review by Carrie - review date 20 September 2007Overview: Written by a midwife turned doula 'Positive Pain' is an emotional guide and companion to pregnancy and birth. It focuses on how to manage, understand and control your feelings during the whole 9 months from conception, as well as for the actual birth and in the days that follow, through using imagery, relaxation, homoeopathic remedies and by explaining the natural process of birth to allay any fears an expectant mother may have. Towards the end of the book there are also useful small sections on breast feeding and the use of vaccinations, in addition to how to cope with possible emotions after birth and the use of homoeopathy and natural healing for new mothers and babies, to alleviate common problems such as colic. Presentation:
The book is very nicely and simply laid out, with clear chapters listing the main topics of pregnancy and birth in a logical order. Such topics as using doula's, relaxation techniques, dealing with previous physical trauma or abuse and what to do if your baby is breech are all covered in enough detail but not so much you are overwhelmed with information, as can happen in some books. The focus always remains on the emotional aspect rather than solely the physical aspect of birth. The start of each chapter gives an inspirational quotation or two relating to that section, which is a nice touch. There are also a couple of black and white photos dotted through the book, although it is mainly text. There are short stories throughout from mothers explaining their experiences of having a natural birth or how they dealt with the emotions they felt during pregnancy. At every stage the author suggests homoeopathic remedies in clear, highlighted text, and advises on how to administer them, which makes for fairly easy reference. There is also a very useful resources section at the back of the book, giving contact details and websites of relevant organisations. Target Audience:This book would be very useful for any woman wanting to explore how to have a natural pregnancy and birth, with the minimum of medical intervention, and with the use of natural remedies. It may also appeal to someone wanting a book with a higher degree of focus on a woman's overall mental state during pregnancy, rather than simply listing developmental facts and figures. Could be beneficial for not just first time mothers but for those that have had a traumatic experience with a previous birth and want to understand how to avoid a repeat of this on another pregnancy or how to deal with feelings they may still be holding on to after that first experience.
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