The Birth Partner cover art

The Birth Partner

A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Partners, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions (5th Edition)

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About this listen

Since the original publication of The Birth Partner, partners, friends, relatives, and doulas have relied on Penny Simkin's guidance in caring for the new mother, from her last trimester through the early postpartum period.

Now, in audio for the first time, The Birth Partner remains the definitive guide to helping a woman through labor and birth. The Birth Partner includes thorough information on:

  • Preparing for labor and knowing when it has begun
  • Normal labor and how to help the woman every step of the way
  • Epidurals and other medications for labor
  • Pitocin and other means, including natural ones, to induce or speed up labor
  • Non-drug techniques for easing labor pain
  • Cesarean birth and complications that may require it
  • Breastfeeding and newborn care
  • And much more

For the partner who wishes to be truly helpful in the birthing room, this audiobook is indispensable.

©2018 Penny Simkin (P)2020 Echo Point Books & Media, LLC Motherhood Parenting & Families Relationships Sexual & Reproductive Health Pregnancy Sexual Health Breastfeeding Health Infant Child Birth
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Most relevant
Well balanced. Not overly biased towards natural or medicinal approaches. Some sections are repeated in the narration. The inclusive words and pronouns are easy to get used to, and don't in any way lower the quality of the content. I do, however, understand that it can feel a little insincere - but the writer does a good job of making the reader and the pregnant person feel good and not scared or unprepared or ill-equiped for what lies ahead. Overall, this book is my number one recommendation for anyone looking to learn about pregnancy, birthing, and newborn feeding.

Super Informative

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The book is from the perspective of the birth partner. It also covers different stages and events during childbirth and reasoning around them, and what different roles in the delivery room usually have for responsibilities and in a simple way explain their priorities and what they usually think or do.

A little too many repetitions and debaucheries. for example, I hear at least 5 times that birth partners should think about their breath.

Very political correct, but is it needed? Most people that gives birth is women. So it feels a bit strange that the complete book has that small minority perspective in focus.. As a woman, am I the one who is different? It’s a bit cold to call me the womb bearer, don’t like that.

Great book but maybe a little to political correct

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A perfect listen for those in need 👍🏾. Enticing narration and a fountain of material to acquire.

A very resourceful book!

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I have not listened to more than the first chapter. The woman reading the books style is unbearable for me. It is incredibly robotic. Also, the use of the term “labour person” is grating.

The reviews of the book itself seem very good. So I will be buying and reading in paperback form.

If robotic, wet sounding speech is not something you like, perhaps buying the paperback would be best for you too.

Unfortunately I couldn’t listen to this book.

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I tried to listen to this book and I was so exited because I got recommendations from doulas to read it. But in a attempt to be political correct Penny Simpkins talk about expecting mothers as "The birth person" this was confusing and provocative and totally unnecessary. Could not finish the book, after three hours of hearing the birth person a hundred times I had to turn it of. Talk about butchering your good work. So sad.

So disappointed

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