DreamBirth: Transforming the Journey of Childbirth through Imagery

The creative imagery expertise and medical background of School of Images founder Shainberg (Kabbalah and the Power of Dreaming) joins with the wisdom of seven compassionate birth professionals in this practical, comprehensive guidebook that offers 161 targeted visualizations to address almost every situation likely to arise during pregnancy and childbirth. Gentle exercises, designed to use the body-mind connection to focus intention, dissipate fear, explore possibilities, connect with the growing child, and manage pain, are chronologically arranged to take heavy planners all the way from conception to postpartum healing. Individual exercises stand well enough alone that a doula or partner could begin using them for the first time at the hospital, or to address problems, such as relieving fetal distress, rotating a mispositioned baby, or preparing the body for a Caesarean. Shainberg comes across as a caring and trustworthy guide, offering the reins to the mother to consciously direct her experience during labor and delivery. Exercises focused on communicating with the unborn child, for both parents, will help families feel bonded well before the birth. The affirming metaphysical framework contains a surprising amount of accurate medical information about each stage of pregnancy and its associated diagnostics and procedures, without the anxious tone common to many baby books. Shainberg gives the birthing woman comfort and control as she accesses her own wisdom. (Jan.)