Lynn Griesemer's Unassisted Homebirth: An Act of Love is a good resource for anyone determined to have a DIY birth (Do-it-Yourself birth). Additionally, labor support doulas, childbirth educators, and midwives can find useful information between the covers. While, of course, Griesemer's position is pro-homebirth, she fairly and consistently advises readers why they may not be candidates for unassisted homebirth. However, even though she discusses both sides, the book is clearly written for those who have already decided to give birth at home without a midwife or medical caregiver present. Griesemer makes some excellent points about the values of unassisted homebirth: empowerment, woman- and partner-centered (husband-centered) birth, and the effectiveness of labor support. The author also provides a few pages on labor doulas. She explains that some DIYs prefer to have someone other than their partner for support in attendance. In her view, the most logical choice would be a labor doula. Griesemer makes a good case for labor doulas pointing out how effective they are in reducing length of labor. I especially enjoyed the questions and answers throughout the book. Griesemer sent out questionnaires to families that experienced unassisted homebirths. Their answers ranged from the practical to the metaphysical-both of which are quite enlightening. My favorite section of this book appealed to my romantic side and I feel it is noteworthy. Griesemer's strongest reason for affirming and promoting homebirths is one of unity and love. She states, "Both partners conceived the child together and it seems logical they should both embrace the birth, the beginning of their parenting journey together. Traditional birth experiences pull a couple apart rather than strengthen their unity." Birth and sex are intimate experiences, both with similarities. Griesemer asks, if sex is intimate and private, shouldn't birth be?

I feel it does provide some great stories of UC births, and does address the fears that some people may have about having an unassisted birth. However, the authors bias against unmarried pregnant women and homosexuals ect brings nothing of value to the book. We don't need moral judgements about such things in a birth book. And I feel she does a large disservice to women everywhere who already have to deal with guilt from society at large about such things. The book also did not address what types of home prenatal care are of true benefit. I was really looking for that information. A chapter on possible concerns and remedys during pregnancy would have greatly increased the value of this book.

I hope that we will see more books being published about UC birth and that those books will prove to be a better resource than this one. Until they come along, this one is an adequate begining for those exploring unassisted birth.

The only reason I gave this book 4 stars was because it covers a topic rarely seen in print.

I am profoundly thankful for this book. Although it came out right after the birth of my first child, I got some of the advance copies and immediatly recognized what a valuable resource this was going to be for couples interested in birth.
My husband an I choose to birth our babies peacefully, and safely by ourselves. I am thankful everyday for that desision. As a Childbirth Educator, I hear, of woman being abused and violated in Birth, of babies being hurt and isolated, and I am so sad that more families couldn't have found and read this book. Lynn does an excellant job of shareing the joys of couples homebirth. The incredible attachment that forms in the family when only the family participates in the rite of passage of birth. When the baby only sees his mother and father and feels their loving bare hands, he is welcomed in the way nature intended. God, nature, what ever, did not make latex gloves growing on trees, neither is it designed for us to have strangers at this most important time in the families life.
Lynn does the world a service when she makes this information available to the public. As Suzzanne Arms says, "Only when we change the way we treat eachother at birth, will we be able to change the violence in this world." More people would reap the benifits of a connected, nurturing, caring society if they were to read and implement "Unassisted Homebirth".
This book complete with examples, stories, suggestions, and ideas will be a valuable resource to the family seeking a connected birth and parenting experiece. I applaude Lynns work, as I'm sure It will help to change our cultural beliefs about birth being a dangerous event fraght with pain. She tells quite correctly I might add, that Birth can be perfect, safe, joyful and attainable, when we give birth in the way we were intended, simply with the one person in the world that we concieved with!