Understanding Birth 2nd Edition

With help from a team of childbirth educators, we completely recreated our award-winning bestseller, Understanding Birth DVD. This comprehensive program delivers all the essential information you need in eight convenient chapters—perfect for classes or home visits. This powerful teaching tool uses 3D animation, genuine birth footage, and illuminating parent commentary to provide your students with all the important research-based information they need to prepare for their own birth experience.

What’s New?

• Fresh, updated look
• All new birth stories and families
• Includes Express version bonus DVD
• More 3D animation of medical procedures
• “Take Note” and “Partner Tips” segments help viewers pay attention
• Emphasis on the benefits of breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact
• Facilitator’s guide with discussion questions, teaching tips, and more

• All-in-one – the most important information educators want
• 8 easy-to-use segments – perfect for classroom or home visits
• 3D animation – illustrates the labor process and medical procedures
• Baby friendly – rooming-in, breastfeeding, and skin-to-skin contact
• Look inside – 4D ultrasound images show fetal development
• Natural options – intervention alternatives and an unmedicated birth
• Research-based – the most accurate and up-to-date information

1. Understanding Pregnancy – fetal development, anatomy, emotions, discomforts, general and preterm labor warning signs, nutrition, hazards, exercise, and more


2. Understanding Labor – signs of prelabor, onset of labor, stages of labor with 3D animation and all new footage, emotions, skin-to-skin contact, and more


3. Christina’s Birth – viewers follow a couple that has an unmedicated vaginal birth to see how the stages of labor unfold in real life, learn natural coping techniques, and see examples of effective partner support


4. Understanding Comfort Techniques – labor support, breathing, relaxation, massage, visualization, focal points, hydrotherapy, labor & pushing positions, back labor, advice for partners, and more


5. Understanding Medical Procedures – birth plans, questions to ask caregivers, induction, fetal monitoring, IVs, pain medication, augmentation, second-stage interventions, nonmedical alternatives, and more


6. Understanding Cesarean Birth – unplanned cesarean birth story, reasons for cesareans, the surgical procedure with 3D animation, family-centered birth tips, recovery, breastfeeding, and more


7. Understanding Newborns – newborn hospital procedures with an emphasis on skin-to-skin contact, first feeding, newborn appearance, newborn’s world, senses, behaviors, safety issues, and more


8. Understanding Postpartum – involution, lochia, perineum care, rooming-in, baby blues, postpartum depression, healthy habits, breastfeeding, hunger signs, feeding frequency, effective latch, getting support, and more

Segments Include:

1. Pregnancy (4:11)
2. Labor (15:20)
3. Medical Procedures (19:20)
4. Cesarean Birth (8:50)