For women of sensibility, this book will take you where you are in your journey of motherhood and give you a different way of looking at your unique circumstances. It will renew in you a sense of hope and wonder as you mother your children.
-Bernadette Clark, RN, CD (DONA)
I stumbled across Permission to Mother by Denise Punger, MD FAAFP IBCLC while searching birth books at the library. It has turned out to be quite the favorite … I’m about halfway done and loving it. It is a bit fringe, but fringe is good. It makes me ask questions and ponder how these ideas might fit into my family. I’ll never know if I like/dislike something until I try it.
Dr. Punger practices family medicine in Florida and has expertise in breastfeeding medicine (a specialty few doctors have which focus on those involved in the breastfeeding cycle … women of childbirth age and their children). She is also Jewish which brings a unique spiritual perspective to the birth process. After reflecting on her third birth (which was her first homebirth) she wrote, ” By this time I could clearly understand why my doulas want to restore Godly confident to woman to birth their own babies. The medical model of fear-based birth influenced by politics, legal and corporate greed does not work for women. Women must be responsible to pursue truth and meaning in childbirth. I am aware that the Creator of Life rewarded me with a lesson more spiritually powerful than I ever imagined. This has left me as an informed and devoted messenger of the way birth was designed to be.”
Her book is filled with stories from her life as a mother; supplemented by her knowledge as a practicing doctor. She never says her way is the only way, but rather encourages women to explore the ideal balance (in childbirth, breastfeeding, childrearing, etc.) for their family.
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That book sounds awesome. I had a natural childbirth and prepared throughout my pregnancy by reading and memorizing Bible verses regarding fear and God's promises to not abandon us. I made it and came out so much stronger in my walk with Him. I believe God made our bodies to give birth (without meds) and equips us to do so while relying in Him for strength. I wrote about my birth story, check it out !http://alysbloggityblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/days-i-became-mommy.html