Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering
The wisdom and science of gentle choices in pregnancy, birth, and parenting.

There are so many choices to make as a mother and mother-to-be. You want the best experiences for you and your baby, but you do not want to sacrifice safety. You want to be close and loving with your little ones, but you do not want to cause later problems. You want all the information, presented in an intelligent and straightforward way, so that you can make the best and most informed choices for your family.

Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering: The wisdom and science of gentle choices in pregnancy, birth, and parenting is the book you have been waiting for.

Written by Sarah J Buckley, family physician/GP and mother of four, Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering gives you the WHOLE story to help you with your most important decisions, including

• How can I increase my chances of a natural birth?
• Should I accept prenatal tests?
• Is ultrasound safe for my baby?
• Are there risks involved with induction?
• What about pain relief in labour?
• Are epidurals safe for my baby?
• What are the risks and benefits of choosing a cesarean?
• What other birth choices will give me and my baby a safe and easy start?
• Is cord blood banking a good idea?
• Could I safely have my baby at home?

All of the articles in Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering have been published in parenting magazines and professional journals worldwide, including Mothering (US), the Mother (UK), MIDIRS Midwifery Digest (UK), Midwifery Today (US), Byron Child (Australia), and Natural Parenting (Aus), and all have been expanded and updated for this collection.

You will also learn, through Sarah�s amazing research, how a natural, undisturbed birth can benefit you and you baby by

• Protecting your baby with Mother Nature�s hormones
• Enhancing natural pain-relief
• Preparing your baby for life outside the womb
• Making labour shorter and easier for you
• Preparing you for breastfeeding and mothering
• Protecting you from bleeding after birth
• Giving ecstasy and pleasure in the minutes and hours after birth

In Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering, Sarah also generously shares some of her own experiences in birth and mothering, including

• Water birth
• Homebirth
• Breech birth
• Lotus Birth
• Co-sleeping
• Breastfeeding and extended breastfeeding
• Raising babies without nappies/diapers

You will learn the secrets of gentle discipline, raising children to be responsible, loving, and co-operative while preserving your sanity! You can also read about using yoga to support you, as a gentle mama, and how mothering can help you on your spiritual journey.

The articles in Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering have been acclaimed by parents as well as midwives, childbirth educators, doulas, and others, who have used the information to fully inform their clients. Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering is also an invaluable resource for students in all of these areas, giving superb evidence for academic writing, presented in clear and evidence-based terms.

Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering will

• inspire you in making gentle choices in pregnancy, birth, and parenting
• support you with the medical evidence that you need
• nourish you with real stories and experiences
• inform you with the best and most understandable information available

Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering is essential reading for all mothers, mothers-to-be, their partners and families, as well as midwives, childbirth educators, doulas, family physicians and obstetricians.

Read Reviews here...

Praise for Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering

Sarah Buckley is precious, because she is bilingual. She can speak the language of a mother who gave birth to her four children at home. She can also speak like a medical doctor. By intermingling the language of the heart and the scientific language she is driving the history of childbirth towards a radical and inspiring new direction.

Michel Odent MD French surgeon, author, natural birth pioneer, London

Sarah Buckley creatively integrates mind/body wisdom with the latest scientific research to provide women with the essential tools they need to make conscious choices throughout their pregnancy and birth.

Deepak Chopra, author of Peace is the way, Carlsbad, California, US www.chopra.com

I have not seen a more penetrating analysis with thorough documentation from the scientific literature. I would wish this book would be read by every obstetrician, family physician, midwife, and obstetric nurse. In addition, this book would be a wonderful primer for women and families searching for a better childbirth.

Marsden Wagner MD: perinatologist and former WHO director of women�s and children�s health, Maryland

Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering is a feast for the discerning reader wanting to make empowered choices for birth and beyond. Both soulful and wise, Sarah Buckley�s well-researched material restores birth�s integrity and intelligently challenges modern day assumptions of motherhood and mothering.

Kali Wendorf, editor, byronchild magazine

A fascinating, deeply moving and wide-ranging exploration of different aspects of birth and mothering, drawing on research evidence and vivid personal experience. 

Sheila Kitzinger: birth educator, anthropologist, author of The Politics of Birth, Oxford

Sarah Buckley marries the medical mind and the birthing woman�s body wisdom. Her writing comes from the unique perspective of a holistic integration of these often-poles-apart realities. Unfortunately, this combination is very rare in modern obstetrics. Her writing opens up new possibilities for those lucky enough to imbibe.

Gloria Lemay: midwifery educator and contributing editor of Midwifery Today, Vancouver www.glorialemay.com

Thank you so much for all the wonderful information you put "out there" about birth, mothering, parenting etc.  Your information has had a key role in many of the decisions we have made for our family, and we are so grateful to have you as a source of knowledge.

Melissa Bruijn: mother of two and Birthtalk convenor, Brisbane

Sarah Buckley is one of the few people in this world telling the truth about pregnancy and birth. Now in this book you will read her well-researched work. Sarah's words are truly a gift to the midwifery and birthing community.

Jan Tritten: midwife, editor Midwifery Today, Oregon

I am looking forward to having this book (and the published version, when it comes out) in my lending library. I will make it compulsory reading for my students and encourage them to buy the published book. It really goes a step further, than other books, in helping women to have total confidence in their body, the natural process and their ability to birth.

 All of the gentle mothering articles (and the whole collection, actually) really affirms the feminine, affirms our ability to mother well, affirms our choice to invest ourselves in our children and embues a general sense of confidence in ourselves as mothers.

Lea Mason: childbirth educator and mother, Sydney

I love your book...It is delightfully easy to read, inspiring, incredibly informative, and it speaks to women from a gentle yet empowering voice. You beautifully combine common sense with medical information which cultivates  awareness and a path to awakening. Your own personal stories create a soft loving touch.

Vicki Abrams: co-author, with Deepak Chopra, of Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives: Director of prenatal programmes, Chopra Center, Carlsbad CA

Sarah Buckley's work is unique: as a health professional AND a hands-on mother, Sarah exquisitely demonstrates how science affirms the intuitive wisdom of motherlove as well as how gentle parenting works in practice - not just in theory.

Pinky McKay, author of Parenting by Heart and 100 Ways to Calm the Crying, Melbourne

Dr. Buckley has a beautiful way of weaving the primal and meaningful emotion of birth with the scientific facts that support instinctual normal birth.  She acknowledges the prenate and baby as having an important and overlooked role in their birth, which has been denied by society despite the scientific evidence to the contrary.

Hilary Shirven, AAHCC: Certified Bradley(r) Natural Childbirth Educator & Labor Support Professional www.bradleybirth.com?S684

"Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering" is compelling reading for all midwives, medical and midwifery students and anyone interested in the innate ability of women during pregnancy, labour and birth. Sarah Buckley, an experienced mother and medical writer, has provided a 'normal' view of women's work with well researched evidence, facts and references; providing essential information and presented in a way that gives wisdom back to women and knowledge to those who provide care. 

Robyn Thompson: midwife and grandmother, Melbourne www.melbmidwifery.com.au

Sarah is � a writer whose articles have appeared in many publications internationally: her writing is a gift- her style is honest, welcoming and easy to read; never does her professional designation distance her from her readers. Her passion and deep love for women and babies is very apparent- which is also why her work is so engaging and inspiring.

Leilah McCracken, founder of Birthlove, Canada.www.birthlove.com

Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering is the book Hygieia College can fully endorse. Sarah Buckley is a true birthkeeper.  As a mother, she knows what having two hearts feels like.  Yet as a birthdeeper, she has soul.  I am honored to be Sarah's colleague.  Moreover I am blessed that Sarah is my dear friend, indeed she is a spiritual sister. 

Jeannine Parvati Baker: midwife, author, birthkeeper, Utah

In the last decades we worried that midwifery would be lost but now the real concern is that normal birthing will be lost as less women deliver naturally. Sarah�s research particularly from endocrinology supports what I �know� about birthing of mothers and babies from thirty years experience as a midwife. Reproducing loving parents and loved babies is needed more than ever and the process could not be simpler. Now Sarah has provided the much-needed scientific support for not disturbing the process.

Sue Lennox: midwife and midwifery lecturer, Wellington, NZ

"I aim to set your book as compulsory reading for my students."

Sandy Kirkman, Midwifery Tutor, UK

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