THE NATURAL CHILDBIRTH PRIMER - by GRANTLY DICK-READ - Pregnancy and childbirth fear-reduction primer

Oct 13, 2026

Upload by Connor

A primer explaining natural childbirth to expectant mothers in clear, easy language. It explains how fear and tension can cause pain in labor, and how a woman can help herself avoid pain. The book provides practical guidance on proper breathing and relaxation, includes gentle exercises during pregnancy, and covers pregnancy hygiene. It also provides a correlation chart of labor stages and illustrates key concepts with diagrams and patient photographs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages72

Reading Time3 h 1 min

AccessFree to download

To Women Who Are Going to Have Babies

The Antenatal Class

Education

Fertilization

Menstruation

The Womb

Growth

Full Term

Labor — The Expected Date

The Onset of Labor

The Cause of Pain in Normal Labor

Fear — Tension — Pain

The Correlation Chart

Respiration

Relaxation

Positions for Labor

Exercises

The Hygiene of Pregnancy

Preparation and Care of the Breasts

Food

Clothing

Feet

Husbands

Wearing Apparel

Appendix

Index

College of the_Redwoods LIbrarRG 661 .R391956EUSPCOLDick-Read,Grantly/The natural childbirtIIII|!8身! 39300000619410TheNatural'hldbrtnPTimer Ⅲm mm GRANTLY DICK-READ,M.D.Author of "Childbirth Without Fear # THE NATURALCHILDBIRTH PRIMER By GRANTLY DiCK-READ,M.D.Author of Childbirth Without Fear The world-famous exponent of naturalchildbirth has now prepared a primerfor expectant mothers.In simple,easyto-understand language he explainswhat women should know about preg-nancy and childbirth.He shows whyand how fear and tension can causepain,and how a woman can help her-self to avoid pain in childbirth. 0y0y 6172第820R0 fg L330i Dr.Dick-Read gives directions forproper breathing and relaxation,withgentle exercises to be practiced duringpregnancy.Also included is a sectionon the hygiene of pregnancy and achart explaining what happens at eachstage of labor. 7EG Illustrated with four diagrams andthirty-two photographs of patients inan antenatal clinic,The Natural Child-birth Primer explains the rudiments ofnatural childbirth in simplest terms.Dr.Dick-Read's understanding ap-proach to the subject willhelp womento meet this great experience withoutfear. RG 661 .R391956 Dick-Read,Grantly,1890-1959. The natural childbirthprimer r DATL | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 53182 # The NaturalChildbirthPrimer By the Same Author # CHILDBIRTH WITHOUT FEAR INTRODUCTION TO MOTHERHOOD NO TIME FOR FEAR # The NaturalChildbirth Primer By GRANTLY DICK-READ M.A.,M.D.(Cantab.) HARPER &ROW,PUBLISHERSNew York and Evanston 53182 To JESS,My dear wife and counselor # THE NATURAL CHILDBIRTH PRIMER Copyright @1955 by Grantly Dick ReadPrinted in the United States of AmericaAll rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in anymanner whatsoever without written permission except inthe case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles andreviews.For information address Harperd Row,Publishers,Inc.10 East 53rd Street,New York,N.Y.10022 This book is published in Englandunder the title of Antenatal Illustrated Library of Congress catalog card number:56-6913 Contents PageiXTo WoMEN WHo ARE GOING TO HAVE BABIES1THE ANTENATAL CLASS5EDUCATION:6Fertilization8Menstruation9The Womb9Growth9Full Term10Labor—the Expected Date11The Onset of Labor11The Cause of Pain in Normal Labor12Fear-Tension-Pain15THE CORRELATION CHART17RESPIRATION20RELAXATION23PoSITIONS FOR LABOR28EXERCISES33THE HYGIENE OF PREGNANCY:Preparation and Care of the Breasts43The Skin44The Hair44Fingernails45Teeth45Food46Clothing47Feet47HUSBANDS48WEARING APPAREL49APPENDIX52INDEX54 PREFACE # Illustrations FETUS in Utero AT FULL TERMFrontispieceTHE ANTENATAL CLASSpage 5MUSCLES OF THE UTERUS13CORRELATION CHART18RELAXATION NEAR FULL TERMLateral Position26On Back26CLASS PRACTICING RELAXATION27CLASS RESTS AFTER PRACTICING RELAXATION27FIRST STAGE OF LABOR Patient in Relaxed Position with Attendant RubbingBack30Patient Relaxing to Contraction in Advanced FirstStage30SECOND STAGE OF LABOR Patient in Position for Bearing-Down Effort31Patient Relaxed between Contractions with Attend-ant on Either Side31Patient Relaxed at Period of Crowning32Patient in Position for Expulsive Effort with Attend-ant Holding Limbs32EXERCISES—FIFTEEN IILUSTRATIONS35GRANTLY DICK-KEAD MATERNITY BELT49Two FoRMS OF STOCKING SUPPORTERS50GRANTLY DiCK-READ MATERNITY AND NURSINGBRASSIERES51

FAQs

How does fear and tension relate to pain in childbirth?

The primer explains that fear and tension can cause pain in normal labor. It connects emotional strain with physical discomfort and presents natural strategies to reduce that effect.

What breathing and relaxation practices are recommended during pregnancy?

It provides directions for proper breathing and relaxation, along with gentle exercises to practice during pregnancy. These practices are also supported by structured sections later in the book.

What topics does the book cover besides labor techniques?

It includes a section on the hygiene of pregnancy, guidance on preparation and care (such as breasts, skin, hair, nails, teeth, food, and clothing), and advice for husbands, plus an appendix and index.

Oct 13, 2026

Upload by Connor