Product Name: "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" by Ina May Gaskins
Submitted by: Brannan Sirratt; Fayetteville, AR
Rating: 10+
Where to buy: http://www.half.com

Description:  Ina May is one of the leading midwives in the country, having been in practice for upwards of 30 years.  She begins the book with page after page of birth stories from women that delivered at "The Farm," her birthing community. No two stories are alike, but they are all woven with a common thread: Each mother thoroughly enjoyed her birth.

Review:  I was given this book by a family member. I had told her I couldn't find it and it was in my mailbox that same week.  We all get more than our share of advice from the moment we see that plus sign in the test window.  Some of it is priceless, some of it is laughable.  In any case, this is one of those priceless gems.

The second half of the book forever changed my views of labor and delivery. Ina May explains how each step of the process works and what you can do (or not do) to work with your body, rather than against it.  It's not a book exclusive to those planning a home birth, either.  There are birth stories that are located in hospitals and birthing centers and Ina May's wisdom is applicable to any and all birth settings. 

After reading this book (in each trimester!), passing it around to pregnant friends and highlighting important parts for my husband to read, I felt as prepared as one can be for the birth of my child.

Criticism:  I will say that the book is missing one thing...my story!