1. Patient Hospital and Home Bill of Rights and
Homebirth Bill of Responsibility
In the hospital maternity patients have legal rights that they are often not aware of. This chapter explains their rights and also covers a mom's rights if she chooses to deliver at home, including her responsibility to herself and her child.

2. Hiring the Help: Physicians, Midwives, and Doulas
Physicians: Explains the different types and how their practices vary. Shows how to effectively conduct an interview and includes a workbook.
Midwives: Explains the different legal regulations of midwives and what they are allowed to do and where they are allowed to practice. Shows how to interview and choose one. Includes a workbook.
Doulas: Explains what a doula is and their variety of experiences and skills. How to interview and chose one that matches your needs. Workbook included.

3. Medications in Labor
This chapter is pretty much the reason why I wrote this book. Medications in labor are so much the norm and parents aren’t aware of their horrendous side effects on not only the baby but the whole laboring process. The focus is on epidurals, Pitocin and any narcotic given through IM or IV. My desire is to help the moms make wise choices.

4. Herbs in Pregnancy and Childbirth
Parents that choose to have a vaginal birth are likely to choose herbs for everything from morning sickness to stretch marks. This chapter presents several ideas of what may work throughout pregnancy and labor. It also shows how to make tinctures, concoctions, salves, and infusions.

5. Complementary Methods of Childbirth and Labor Management
There are many complementary methods of childbirth that are a step away from the traditional labor management—like Reflexology, Acupressure, HypnoBirthing®, and Yoga. The information I’ve included here was compiled from various birth professionals across the U.S. and Canada. I introduce and briefly outline each method and encourage parents to seek out specialists. This also has a very extensive section on inductions.

6. Vaginal Birth After Cesarean
This covers the preparation necessary for helping a mom deliver her baby vaginally after having a cesarean birth. The information was partially obtained from ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network) and VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). There is a workbook to help the mom remember important information and keep her focused.

7. Homebirth
This is a favorite. I discuss homebirths, statistics, responsibility of the parent, how to hire the people needed, how to make a back up plan, and how to organize your home to create a safe and healthy birth for your baby. There is a workbook included which is very helpful in all the planning.

8. Waterbirths
This is a bonus chapter written by Barbara Harper author of Gentle Birth Choices. Realizing my desire to include a chapter on waterbirths, she offered this valuable information and I’m so honored to present it in my book.

9. Birth Plans
Every parent entering the hospital should have a birth plan—a detailed outline of what they want to have happen during their hospital stay. It covers medical and personal desires for her, her baby, and her family. There is a workbook to help her make decisions and create a birth plan that she can take to her doctor.

10. Breastfeeding
This covers it all. It’s written in a question and answer format and leaves nothing unanswered, giving enough information to help a mom create a successful nursing history with her baby. The workbook included will help with decisions for working moms, premature babies, and long term nursing.

11. Birthing Wisdom from Across the Country
A compilation of advice and suggestions on pregnancy, labor, and delivery management from interviews of hundreds of birth professionals across the United States and Canada. It’s fun to read and covers relaxation techniques throughout pregnancy and labor, birth plan ideas, breathing and pushing techniques, breastfeeding tips, pain management, recipes, father's role, and much more.

12. Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS)
This chapter was included to honor this organization that has made wonderful changes in hospital policies to make the birthing experience a better one. They encourage hospitals and clinics to adopt a mother-friendly attitude that encourages a safer birth.