As you might expect from a psychologist, Svanberg is particularly good at explaining psychological concepts such as the “second victim” (a person, such as a partner or a midwife who didn’t experience the trauma directly but is still affected by it) and at summarising the most relevant and up-to-date research. Her chapter on healing provides a highly accessible introduction to the two principal treatments for birth trauma – trauma-focused CBT and EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing) – and how they work. It also offers helpful suggestions for accessing other treatments that may be useful, such as yoga or peer support (including the Birth Trauma Association’s Facebook group). I can see why it probably doesn’t make easy reading if you’re part of the system that this book highlights to be the problem. However, if you can persevere with it there are some very valid and accurate points made. This book is helpful in opening up the conversation around how we can all do better in supporting women to birth in ways that avoid unnecessary trauma. I think it is one which would make interesting reading for both women experiencing birth trauma, and professionals, alike. A rallying cry for women everywhere…everyone should read this book and look at childbirth through a feminist lens.”

How to Heal a Bad Birth: making sense, making peace and moving on Recommended by Emily Roffe-Silvester I did not find this book helpful at all. In my view the book approaches birth trauma from the viewpoint that natural birth is best and that doctors are to be avoided. It makes medics sound hell bent on interfering with 'nature' and taking control of the birth from the woman. Given my own birth experience, which I really struggled to get over, this was very unhelpful and in my case also wrong. If I had done this I would be dead and my baby also. I think this book just proves the need for every woman to be treated individually and to make her own choices about how she gives birth. There can never be a one-size-fits-all when it comes to giving birth, although you wouldn't know it after reading this book." For anyone that has experienced birth trauma, is supporting someone through birth trauma or is a professional dealing with birth or postpartum issues – this book is A MUST READ! The content is broken down methodically and is extremely easy to read.You won’t find some of the more well-known and most marketed childbirth books on BellyBelly’s list, but it’s for very good reason. For someone who is just starting out or only going to buy a couple of books, the top two books are my bare basics – the must have’s for the woman starting out with childbirth education. 10 Best Childbirth Books

If simplicity is what you’re looking for, this book is broken down into three simple sections: Pregnancy, Birth and Afterwards. Let’s face it, up-to-date, unbiased information and advice is what mums-to-be crave the most during pregnancy, and this book provides all that and more. A must read for anybody suffering from birth trauma or knows somebody that is suffering to get a better understanding of what they are going through and how they can help. This book has given me another viewpoint of my ptsd following the difficult birth of my son and allowed me to realise I am not alone in what I have experienced. I love how it has included other people’s experiences and how they have coped and recovered. The book is well written and gives a fantastic guide about making a complaint and taking legal action, which is currently what I am in the first stages of doing, so has this been a massive help. This book has given me hope that you can overcome trauma and has already had a positive impact on my mental health. I’m thrilled birth trauma is being written and spoken about.

The book I wish I read before I had my own children. There are huge benefits in having an active birth, and you’ll learn all about how to have one in this essential reading book. A zip file with all 98 icons individually as jpg files, which you can drop into Word documents, etc. Finally, we can put to bed the old saying that, ‘as long as mother and baby are healthy that is all that matters’. Having a positive birth experience can be even more healthy, not just for the physical well being of mom and newborn, but for their state of mind. This book shows how birth can be transformative. Don’t give birth without it!” Getting your first period can be exciting – but there are a lot of questions you might be too embarrassed to ask. Like how much will I bleed? Does it hurt? How can I prepare? And what’s the point of a period anyway? The author also shares her knowledge on the importance of the essential nutrient choline during pregnancy, and other subjects including diet, supplements, toxin reductions, day-to-day care and breastfeeding. Parents felt that the information and statistics provided in this book are ones that are not widely discussed elsewhere, making this a unique read.