Can anyone recommend some books about natural childbirth, positioning during labor, etc. I want to get some books for my friend so that she can know the things I didn't when I went through labor for the first time. TIA!

Active Birth by Janet Balaskas :) It was actually one that Tara recommended to me. It was very informative.

yup yup
that's THE book
LOVE that book! It really shows how moving and positions can be sooooo beneficial to the birthing process. And the 'downfalls' of the standard hospital position.

The only one I read was Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. She's a little out there with her "birthing farm" in Tennessee (she's a midwife), but I got the jist of the book and how hospital's really mess with the natural birth process, even how we women mess with the natural process by fighting the pain, stressing out, etc. I found the book to be enlightening, and it certainly empowered me to do a drug-free birth for my second go-round.

I second Ina May's book!

I found Hypno-birthing (despite its scary name!) pretty helpful with my second. I had never done any classes or anything with either pg, but found it very encouraging in that it focuses on the fact that laboring/delivering is what our bodies are made for :) Because I didn't have a "coach" I really had to rely on myself to "get into the groove" and go with it.

THinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth- Henci Goer
It talks about choices to make about interventions, but if I recall, doesn't talk about positioning and such.
Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn- Penny Simkin

I hope they help. If I can think of one for positioning- I'll see what I can find.
Try googling: natural childbirth positions or see what International Childbirth has.

d:)

Yes, Ina May's books are great. :)
There's some crass language in there and some otherwise 'hokey' kind of stuff, but the INFORMATION is irreplicable. She knows her stuff. She's not the be all and end all..meaning..don't take absolutely everything she says as THE ultimate truth and THE only way, but, there is some really good information to be found in her books. Another title of hers is Ina May's Guide to Childbirth or something similar...I don't have that one, borrowed it from the library not long ago, just forget for sure about the title..like..if there's ONE word missing or something :p

I generally recommend both Spiritual Midwifery AND Active Birth be looked at...simultaneously. With SM one can see what birth can really be. But, with all the 'hokey' stuff that floats around, sometimes that makes it hard for a woman to realize how obtainable that is...thus enters Active Birth. :)