The Rights of the Pregnant Parent

Ingrid conHausen was a librarian in New Hamburg, Ontario.

Elkins is a childbirth educator, obstetrical program director at McGill’s School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, designer of Canada’s first birthing room program, and director of Birthworks, a child-birth education centre in Montreal. This book was first written in 1976, revised in 1980, and revised and expanded once more in this 1985 edition.

The author examines childbirth from all aspects, from the “managed” type of procedure to a “shared” birth; family-centred maternity care, preparation for childbirth (including nutrition and exercises), and midwifery are explored. Personal experiences, hers and others’, make this book extremely readable. The extent of the change in attitudes in this area is clearly revealed.

Elkins calls this a biased book: she is totally committed to “the simplest, least medicated method of childbirth,” which is “normally best for mother and infant — and for the father as well.” People who share this conviction will be greatly encouraged and use the book as a vade mecum. Those who are not convinced would nevertheless greatly benefit from reading at least parts of this book — most notably the chapters on having a healthy baby. A passionate, convincing book!