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She Births: A Modern Woman's Guidebook for an Ancient Rite of Passage

by:
Marcie Macari (Author)

ISBN: 0-7414-3390-7 ©2006
Price: $23.95
Book Size: 8" x 8" , 255 pages
Category/Subject: HEALTH & FITNESS / Pregnancy & Childbirth

She Births is both a guidebook, and thought-provoking journal, calling women to explore natural childbirth as a spiritual rite of passage, and the profound impact it has on society and female identity.

Abstract:
There is more to Birth than the physical process of having a baby. Birth is a Spiritual Rite of Passage for women, offering an opportunity for profound transformation. She Births challenges each woman to consider how their Birth Choices profoundly affect not only their lives individually, but the world as a whole. No matter on what side of the Birth journey you stand, She Births offers powerful truths you can apply to the way you see yourself in the world.

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Customer Reviews

  perfect for any natural feminist , 08/14/2006
Reviewer: Jani Teeter
I read this book with great joy. It nice to FINALLY hear the other side of the story and wonderful for any new, seasoned or expectant mother interested in, passionate about or even just curious and considering a natural birth. A great venue for thinking about the spiritual aspects surrounding birth and pregnancy, finally someone realized this major life event is about more then white coats and anaesthetic. Having had a homebirth myself, I only wish this book/workbook was available during my pregnancy. Excellent ideas, extremely well written and fascinating food for thought for any woman during any stage in life.

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  Too extreme , 08/21/2006
Reviewer: Layni Mathers
I was appalled to read this book and it's extreme ideas. As a midwife with over 20 years experience, this was too extreme for even a seasoned professional who has seen it all. Do yourself a favor and stay away!

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  A fresh "take" on the subject , 08/25/2006
Reviewer: Shannon Pallazoria
I came to offer a review, and was shocked by the reviews posted here. I wonder if we did in fact read the same book? While this book is far from mainstream, I would certainly not say it is extreme. This book offers some thought provoking concepts, but it encourages women to define "natural" for themselves, and even gives a list of questions to ask for those who do choose to have a midwife or doctor. In fact, the book is very pro-midwife, and even more pro-woman. I found the journaling to be really insightful, and as a woman who is expecting (January Yea!) This book helped me feel strong and ready to deliver this baby, however I choose to do so, which is more than I can say for the so-called birth classes my BF and I have been attending! I don't know much about the medical side of hospital birth, but I do know that this book made a difference in the way I view the whole process. I'm glad I read it and I'll be recommending it to all my expecting friends!

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  Rare Find! , 08/26/2006
Reviewer: Kristen Sims
I didn't know what to expect with this book, but gave it a try anyway. I'm glad I did! This book is causing quite a controversy-even here on this review board! I think one of the things I liked best about this book is that is approaches birth from a new perspective, not the same old tired one. I bought the book based on the title and excerpt which made it clear it was free from any medical backing or etc. I like it that it presents independent thought, and offers women something rich. Well written, although the type was a bit small for me-I did really enjoy the journaling! A must read for any natural parent or attachment parent person.

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  Wonderful! , 08/26/2006
Reviewer: Julianne
I'm so glad that women are being shaken up by this book.. they SHOULD be! Complacency and acceptance of the status quo has gotten us into this mess and women are accepting their rape-births and calling them "Empowered" and convincing themselves that their choices don't bear fruit for their children's health and wellbeing. Bravo to a brave woman to swim against the tide of politically correct pap that line our bookshelves.

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  Love it , 08/26/2006
Reviewer: Cathy Breen
Awesome read! I love the part about the placenta - my hubby and I have our sons' placentas in our freezer too because we are still deciding what trees to plant over them. As a student of the classics I love the idea of birth as a rite of passage - we lack that in our society today. Kudos to the author for examining birth from a fresh, different perspective since we can get all the mainstream we need from doctors.

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  If our world was different , 08/27/2006
Reviewer: Unknown
If our world was different and women still gathered during births and had generations of experience to use, I might give this book some credit but the fact is that we don't do this anymore and for good reason. Medical research has replaced old wives tales and as such, we now live decades longer with better quality of life. Gone are the days when women died during childbirth and babies now have a chance to fulfill their lives potential. Where are the statistics for the number of babies who die during home births? I'll bet they're higher than those who's moms labor at home and give birth in a hospital.

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  Finally! , 08/28/2006
Reviewer: Lisa Hartley-Woods
After such conflicting reviews, I honestly wasn't sure what to expect. My book arrived just a few days ago, and I'm only at the end of Chapter 3, but I did go and read the last Chapter,(this is my bad habit) and it is all about how sometimes birth isn't what we had wanted. I had a C-section and wondered if this book would be good or not for me to read. This chapter clearly says:"Birth Does NOT a Woman make". And talks about how the intention is what matters most. I will write a better review when I read the whole book, but I just had to say that so far many of these reviews are not even accurate based on the actual book. Thanks!

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  Cultish , 08/29/2006
Reviewer: Unknown
Borrowing from Nina Shapiro: "When did the movement to empower pregnant women to make informed choices turn into a guilt-laden cult?" While I do not agree with all that Shapiro says, this much I do believe. Macari claims to be non-judgemental but throughout this book, she tells us that we will not have as good of a bond with our children, our instincts will be weaker, we will need to forgive ourselves and heal, etc, if we choose not to have a natural birth or fail to do so. Until natural birth activists and writers like Macari learn that laying on the guilt so heavily and slamming the medical community only serves to drive women away, mainstream society will not make the decision to join us. Natural childbirth and the medical community can work together. The medical community is making progress because women are demanding it. Kangaroo care is on the rise. Squatting bars have even made their way into hospitals! Doctors are increasingly referring women to doulas and midwives. This book had such potential but it was wasted with the guilt.

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  Very bad , 09/01/2006
Reviewer: Liz
I had such high hopes for this book but the author failed to inspire me. This book wasn't well written and the ideas are just too far out there for "modern" women in todays world.

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  Spiritual and Interesting , 09/05/2006
Reviewer: Angela
I received my copy of She Births, and as an admitted "birth junkie", I devoured it in about 2 days. I didn't take the time to do the journaling, but plan to go back through. I'm not sure what the controversy is, but I loved it. I thought it was easy to read, and thought provoking, and an excellent addition to my ever-growing birthbook library. I recommend it!

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  Very monotonous , 09/11/2006
Reviewer: Stacy
How many different ways can you say the same thing over and over? This book tests that by saying the same thing with different words, chapter after chapter. I didn't find it offensive but I felt once the padding and fluff was removed, everything this book had to say could have been put into just a short chapter or two, at the most.

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  Well Written and refreshing , 09/13/2006
Reviewer: Mary Siever
Not surprising to see the negative reviews from fear mongers. However, in this increasingly medicalised world, it is wonderful to read peaceful and empowering words from someone who believes in the body's ability to have natural birth. Having birthed all three of my children unassisted, this isn't news to me. And being able to share these experiences through the written word, well Marcie has certainly shown courage and strength and that women are finally able to take birth back, and health and well being.

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  the statistics are... , 09/14/2006
Reviewer: Erika Carlson
I haven't read it yet, but the person who wondered where the statistics are for home births needs to use Google...the statistics are very clear that home births are *as safe* or *safer* than hospital births. there are far fewer c-sections for home birth mamas, which means easier healing, and fewer c-section complications (this is a serious surgery!). And the rates of complications for babies born at home are far lower, probably because there are less drugs used for the mama, which do transfer to the baby. I had a wonderful, peaceful, drug-free home birth myself, and can tell you that my midwife was happy to take me to the hospital if necessary, and had all the knowledge and supplies (Pitocin, supplemental oxygen) necessary for any emergency. See: http://www.aboundingjoy.com/insstats.htm

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  A Question of Safety , 09/14/2006
Reviewer: Jock Doubleday
Erika is right. Midwifery-attended home birth is safe. It is actually much safer than hospital birth for the vast majority of women (and their babies), because routine hospital interventions introduce snowballing risks. This is called "the cascade effect" in the medical literature -- one intervention leads to another. If you want to find out the real truth about home vs. hospital safety, go to http://www.SpontaneousCreation.org Sincerely, Jock Doubleday Director Natural Woman, Natural Man, Inc. A California 501(c)3 Nonprofit Corporation http://www.SpontaneousCreation.org

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  a divine topic , 09/14/2006
Reviewer: Hilary
i have just given birth to my second child in a water home birth. my first was induced in a hospital birth. i whole heartedly recommend that women inform themselves about their options and the benifits of each one. i am not anti medical, i am very thankful to medical science and doctors who heal the sick. however when there is no problem why fix it? birth is mostly without problems needing a whole medical team. in cases of complications home birth is never recommended.for the other critic who critised home birth without their facts i suggest some research. the number of home birth deaths is lower than hospital births. partly due to more at risk birth in hospitals. the number of episiotomies, dislocated shoulders(babies), use of forcepts/suckion is all considerably lower in home births: i could go on. to reply to the critic that natural is not modern, i disagree. we are now at a stage where we have the luxury to have safe and spiritual births where ever we choose. that is entirely modern. thanks to everthing research has revealed we are more informed about a birthing womens body and how best th assist her, than ever before. on a personal note, having already given birth i could not imagine that birthing your child could be such an awe inspiring experiance through which i felt the power creation working through me. my body has the wisdom to things i did not consciously know how to do. if that is not a devine experiance i dont know what is. bravo to Marcie for braking through the old wives tales and myths that the best place to birth is hospital.

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  I too have a placenta in my freezer , 09/16/2006
Reviewer: Michelle
I too have a placenta in my freezer. Though it was not from my dream birth. It is from a heart wrenching c-section 4 years ago. In viewing some of the negative reviews, I am concerned that we are at a time where simple discussions of the value of natural and/or drug free birth are a cause for alarm and negativity. Having walked an extremely difficult (yet empowered) medical birth path, I do recognise the value of birth as a transition. While this book does not tell my story, I believe this book represents women who choose to experience their birth-rite of passage in a beautiful and time-honoured way. While I am not surprised at the negativity, I am saddened by it. I believe this book represents an element of choice for women, and I fear that such reactive negativity represents a fear of *that* choice. I find this indicative of the lack of choice in mainstream medicalized birth. I believe that women should celebrate each other and our births. I would never judge a women for her c-section, nor would I for her home water birth. I thank Marci Macari for writing a celebration of natural birth. Perhaps there are a few women out there who had not been offered a choice, who always look back at their births and ask, "Did it need to be that way?" and for them, this book offers a new point of view.

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  Narcissistic , 09/17/2006
Reviewer: Chrissie Dalton
This book disgusted me. It's truly for the narcissistic who feel that the world should revolve around them. As a proud home-birther of 3 children, I know that giving birth isn't only all about me; it's about my child, my family and my choice.

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  Totally stunned , 09/18/2006
Reviewer: Anita Ducharme
Wow! A lot has happened here since I ordered this book and it's not all about the book! First, I didn't care for this book at all. I found far too much homoginized paganism and ill-advice. And yes, lots of padding and fluff. Second, for anyone who knows anything about statistics, the ones for home births are skewed. Home births will always seem safer because if there's a problem, Moms and babies end up in the hospital. Third, if it ain't broke, don't fix it? Curious how anyone could apply that to birth. How do you know it ain't broke until you're using it? And how do you know it won't break while you're using it? Very amusing....

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  New Perspectives , 10/31/2006
Reviewer: Jamie
I thought this book had some really amazing points. I'm glad I read it, and particularly glad I did so before my baby was born. I wanted a natural birth from the start, but have so many things challenging my decision. I feel more able to make my own choice after reading this book. I feel strong and capable, and that's a gift noone can say isn't worth a LOT. The reason I didn't rate this a 5, is because I would've liked to see more conversation about how to handle a partner's disapproval of your birth choices. Other than than, I thought it was fantastic!

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  Not gathering dust! , 03/20/2007
Reviewer: Krista
Ever since I read this book, it has been constantly out on loan, delighting one mother after another in my circle of friends. It is not a suprise to me when I see viciously negative reviews, many women are threatened by something so daring and radical. But thankfully there are many more women open to their own power and possibilities and who have done their research. My only quibble is that my pages are getting dog-earred! :-)

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