The Gentle Birth Method: The Month-by-Month Jeyarani Way Programme

"I read this book for before the birth of my second child and again for my third I had two pain relief free births and felt relaxed and completely in control. I didn't follow it rigidly but what I got out of it was invaluable.

This is my second time purchasing it as I lent my first copy out and never got it back.

I started training as a Reflexologist and found that before treatment using the visualisations in this book really helped relaxed the client."
~ Written on 2010-06-07

"I really enjoyed this book. It is intelligently and thoughtfully written. Even if you decide not to follow the programme you will still gather up tips and information that will be useful to you during your pregnancy."
~ Written on 2010-05-06

"I came across this book early on in my pregnancy and was very garteful of it throughout. There are so many helpful suggestions that assist you with a healthier, enjoyable pregnancy and positive birthing experience. I couldn't follow the 'programme' all of the time, and suggest that those who manage to do so have three qualities: 1) saintly; 2) considerably wealthy and 3) have a lot of time on their hands, but the overall message is one of good health and I did make some big changes. I cut out wheat almost entirely and felt great eating spelt bread/flour instead, sugar when I was feeling disciplined (unfortunatley I felt less disciplined towards the end which was the silliest time to get less disciplined!), did pregnancy yoga regularly as well as other exercises and was really quite fit throughout. I drank the tea every morning, and took 'baby pills' which unfortunately became out of stock towards the end, and I took the homeopathic pregnancy kit as prescribed and didn't get a single new stretchmark which was pretty impressive. People commeneted on how 'tidy' I looked and I put on less weight than I did with my two first babies.

I listened to the visualisation cd's which were brilliant and helped me during labour too. I enjoyed a much calmer labour and utilised the 'funny walks' the birthing ball and other tips and tricks for helping baby into the world. For those familiar with pranayama might I recommend 'golden thread' and 'ujaya breath' (obv. relaxing the bandas) for coping with contractions, they really helped me. I loved the labour massage oil and pain balm which were so nice in the early stages of labour. The smells alone are really uplifting.

I really am grateful to Dr Gowri Motha for writing this book. She is a real pregnancy guru and deserves a lot of respect. If you are reading this wondering whether to purchase.. do it! And enjoy :)"
~ Written on 2009-11-20

"I bought this book at the start of my pregnancy as I wanted a home birth and knew I would have to be totally prepared in every way. This book did not let me down. I could not have wished for a more positive experience. From my waters breaking it was only three hours til I was cuddling my baby. I didn't need any pain relief so my baby latched on with ease. This book gave me the confidence and preparation to look forward to the birth rather than dread it which is I'm sure why I had it easy.
I didn't follow the book's advice to the letter as all the therapies are not available this far north and would've been too expensive for me. I did have reflexology at my home every week instead which controlled fluid retension and gave the baby more room. I followed the exercise examples in the book (even the embarrassing ones which stop you tearing), avoided wheat (wich bloats you making less room for baby to travel down birth canal) and refined sugar for the last two months which kept my weight healthy (was back in my jeans two weeks after birth). I listened to the complimenting c.d a few times and although it was relaxing the visualisions didn't do it for me. In the event I didn't have time to visualise anything!"
~ Written on 2009-11-15

"This book was recommended by a midwife friend, so I was eager to get it. It did make me a bit depressed though, as it turned out that all the things I wanted to do while being pregnant (like stuffing myself full of baquettes) were forbidden, plus I was supposed to do a number of things too gross to mention in polite conversation in order to prepare myself for the birth.

And this is it: this book makes one feel that one can actually make the birth painless and (as a result) if it is not painless it's your fault for eating carbs, not stretching various body parts, not meditating enough, not welcoming the pain, etc... Kind of makes you guilty before you even started.
So I put it away. Perhaps that's why I ended up with a c-section.

But if you into that kind of thing - it's a very well written and is user friendly book."
~ Written on 2009-04-26