An inspiring and empowering celebration Sharing the extraordinary joys of giving birth, nineteen women bring you their own true stories. Honest and reassuring, their voices offer comfort and support, as well as warmth, humor, and a wealth of practical advice for mothers-to-be. Meet Ann, who reveals how it felt to give birth underwater; and Miriam, who looks back on a beautiful birth-even after 52 hours in labor. Rosemary, a first-time mother, recounts the natural childbirth of her twins, while Susan relives the birth of her fourth child. In this touching and candid collection, every common type of birth is covered, along with important questions to ask of your practitioner, the people at your delivery site, and yourself, so that you, too, can have a satisfying birth, no matter what method you choose. "An exquisitely balanced view of the various scenarios that occur in childbirth. Women would benefit greatly by using this as a primer for pregnancy preparation and planning." - Pat Burkhart, Associate Professor and Coordinator Nurse-Midwifery Program, New York University Clinical Director, Elizabeth Seton Childbearing Center "This is a great book to read both before and after having a baby. Reading these stories is like finding a soul mate." -Bonnie Rote, RN Childbirth Educator and Director of Aerobics and Fitness Association of America's Prenatal and Postnatal Exercise Educational Programs