Natural Birth Stories Review & Giveaway

            Have you ever considered natural birth for your children? Whether you’re expecting your first, a seasoned mom, or have even had past c-sections, I have a wonderful new book to share with you!

            Natural Birth Stories was written by fellow green living blogger Shannon Brown and it is just that: women sharing their experiences about their own natural births! On her blog “Growing Slower”, she focuses on green living, ways to live more simply and save money, pregnancy and birth, and more. Shannon has also been through two natural births herself, which you can read about on her blog as well as in her book!

            As you can probably guess, Shannon feels very strongly about natural birth. She has stated that putting together and writing Natural Birth Stories was her “passion project”. Her mission in writing this book is to help spread the word about natural birth and empower women to believe in themselves and their bodies.

            I absolutely LOVED this book! While I love reading birth stories and learning more about natural birth, I usually have a VERY hard time reading, let alone finishing, non-fiction books. However, I finished Natural Birth Stories in less than 2 weeks, which is unheard of…Especially while taking care of 2 kids! Shannon did a great job of blending the individual stories with facts and information on different aspects of natural birth to keep it informative, but interesting!

            Speaking of the individual accounts of natural births, I really liked that there were a variety of situations and locations in which the births took place. I especially loved that there were even a few VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean) stories as that is something that greatly interests me and am bound and determined to do myself with our next baby! Plus, VBACs, although gaining popularity, are still pretty uncommon.

            Again, I loved the variety of the stories. Besides VBACs there were also home birth, hospital, and birthing center stories. You really get a good idea of how things can play out at each. And also to expect the unexpected!

            As I mentioned as well, there is a wealth of information in this book. Shannon explains what exactly natural birth is, gives helpful tips on choosing a doctor or midwife, ideas on what to consider and include in your birth plan, and SO much more. Also included are tips from the authors of the birth stories on such areas as

-what pain relief techniques worked best for them

            -important questions to ask when you’re looking for the right care                        provider for you

            -what you can do to stay healthy and prepare your body for a natural                    birth

            I really could go on and on about Natural Birth Stories in general and how much I loved reading it. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who is interested and/or considering having a natural birth for the first time. It’s a great jumping off point and includes many helpful references for more in-depth information on specific subjects, like VBAC statistics and hypnobirth, for example.

            If you would like to purchase your own copy of Natural Birth Stories you can find it HERE in Amazon Paperback, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, or PDF formats. Use coupon code GREENBIRTH in the next 2 weeks to receive a 20% discount! Or, you can enter the giveaway form below for a chance to win your own copy! (Winner may choose from Kindle, Nook, and PDF format.) Good luck!

Entry-Form