Orgasmic Birth

By: Elizabeth Davis, Debra Pascali-Bonaro

Narrated by: Aimee Jolson

Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's Summary

Based on the hit documentary that inspired a vibrant online community, this innovative approach to birthing shows women how to maximize childbirth's emotional and physical rewards.

With more than 4 million babies born in the United States each year, too many women experience birth as nothing more than a routine or painful event. In her much-praised film Orgasmic Birth, acclaimed filmmaker Debra Pascali-Bonaro showed that in fact childbirth is a natural process to be enjoyed and cherished. Now she joins forces with renowned author and activist Elizabeth Davis to offer an enlightening program to help women attain the most empowering and satisfying birth experience possible. While an orgasmic birth can, for some, induce feelings of intense, ecstatic pleasure, it is ultimately about taking control of one's own body and making the most informed decisions to have a safe, memorable, and joyful birth day.

Whether women choose to give birth at home, in a hospital, or in a birthing center, Orgasmic Birth provides all the necessary tools and guidance to design the birth plan that's best for them. Featuring inspiring stories from mothers and their partners and filled with practical advice and solutions, this one-of-a-kind resource is the next frontier of natural, intimate childbirth.

©2010 Elizabeth Davis & Debra Pascali-Bonaro (P)2014 Audible Inc.

The narrator perhaps does not know her subject?

I'm a student midwife and this is one of my texts for a course I am taking from the author. I thought I would make some studying easier on myself by listening to this book as each chapter is assigned. I do also have the paper back book. I'm not sure I will be able to stand listening to this recording as the narrator pronounces 'episiotomy' with an extra 't' so as to say 'eh-piss-tee-ah-tuh-mee.' Now, I personally do get a little pissed when I hear a woman has been subjected to an episiotomy, but there is not a 't' there. Hearing the narrator say that is jarring, but I thought I could deal (though I KNOW this word is going to come up a lot in this book....maybe at some point somebody clued the narrator in? Maybe? I hope.) However, in finishing the intro, she adds the word 'not' in a sentence and changes the meaning. The text reads, "How do we define "orgasmic birth"? Our definition is broad enough to include those who describe birth as ecstatic and specific enough to give voice to those...." The narrator reads, "How do we define "orgasmic birth"? Our definition is 'not' broad enough....." I listened to that section three times before I went and found the book to check. Seriously? I can understand throwing in an extra 'the' at times, but adding a 'not'? That changes the meaning completely.

This is a great book that thoroughly covers a difficult subject and the author is absolutely an expert in the material. It's unfortunate the narrator has done a sloppy job reading it. I hope anyone who listens to this on audible also has the book available to double check what is actually written.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Good birth stories

I've read a lot of natural birthing books, this was not the most informative and for me it didn't speak to ne the way other books have. However the last two hours or more is nothing but inspiring uplifting and supportive birthing stories from real people and I really enjoyed that.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Preparing for first child

Following in my mom/cousins footsteps I want to have a natural-true-to-instinct birth with a midwife (we'll see how it actually goes!). Unfortunately everyone else in my life (friends/colleagues) have gone the root of epidurals, "feeling-less", laying down births lead by ob-gyns so I was after positive birth stories that reflect what I'm after. This book delivered! It paints a beautiful image to aim for and manifest but also covers the reality that birth rarely goes to plan.
It provides reasons and purposes behind each phase of labour, each pain, and how each work together when we don't fight the process. It doesn't promise pain free unrealistic expectations but doesn't help to alter the mindset around the sensations.

Expecting to actually orgasm in birth after reading this? This I find unlikely but an optimistic goal (reach for the stars to land in the clouds right?) nonetheless.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A must-read!

This is the first book that was truly empowering and honoring of what women's bodies are meant to do: bear a child. It challenges our current ideas that medical interventions are the only safe way to give birth. It also shares beautiful, powerful birth stories. His book has shifted me, from being very afraid of giving birth to my first child, to now feeling positive anticipation as to the powerful possibilities that lie ahead with my labor. From every story I heard, a woman is completely and utterly transformed in the journey of birthing. I am amazed to say that I am now looking forward to it, thanks to this book.

Also, the performance was one of the very best on Audible!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Not as cookey as I thought!

I really thought this book would be a little wild, and off putting. The way the information is presented is not at all off putting or sexual. I recommend this book to everyone!

learned so much

I learned so much from this book and beautiful stories and raw truths! I hope there more books out there like this.

Not very informative

unfortunately, this is mostly birth stories....i wanted actual tips and preperation...there was little of this.

So much more than I expected.

I'm so glad I got past my reservations about the title. There is so much information that mother and do u las should have in this book. Although I may not agree with every philosophy presented, I would still recommend this book.

loved it

amazing inspiring book. there were moments of joy and tears. perfect read for any expectant mother to explore options

I'm a realist... this one just wasn't for me!

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

no... if you are an idealist maybe - but this just got on my nerves! Especially after having a baby :)

2 of 4 people found this review helpful