Since the middle of the twentieth century, the development of plastics has been one of the main factors influencing the history of medicine. This development has not only transformed most medical disciplines, it has also made possible the emergence of new medical concepts. Focusing on obstetrics, this first book about the history of medicine in relation to the plastic revolution asks vit al questions about childbirth today-and tomorrow- and demonstrates that this also a turning point in the history of humanity.

Outer Origin examines the individual, social, and spiritual implications of ectogenesis, also known as artificial womb technology. Formerly considered the topic of science fiction, such devices are currently being developed and will soon be a medical reality. This book offers readers information on the status of this technology and considers the ways in which it may one day fully replace human gestation. Ectogenesis has previously been assessed with the future child in mind, but this book, instead, envisions what it might mean for women. It explores the value of pregnancy and childbirth in the twenty-first century and questions the notion that artificial wombs will lead to full equality of the sexes. Outer Origin seeks to elevate the maternal experience by reflecting on the meaning of reproductive technology in our lives. People everywhere must ponder the significance of what has heretofore been their most common link—shared natality and birth. If not, Homo sapiens will enter a deep dive into the unknown—that of not being of woman born.

This is a comprehensive and empowering guide to facilitating a positive pregnancy and birth experience, and ensuring lasting emotional and physical health for mother and baby. Countering increasingly medicalized attitudes towards pregnancy and birth among many healthcare providers, this research-based book discusses the benefits of a more natural approach. It reveals the often undisclosed effects on a child's long-term development of accepted medical practices, such as induction, C-section, surgical interventions and pain-relief medications. It offers advice on how these practices can be avoided, for example with techniques to encourage optimal fetal positioning, by optimising the birth environment, and through drug-free pain management methods. Ultimately, it enables practitioners to support parents in informed, confident decision-making by giving a balanced account of the complex array of options available throughout pregnancy and birth. With invaluable contributions from midwives, doulas, mothers, and doctors, and tried-and-tested advice on sleep, exercise, diet and therapies, this will a very useful reference for anyone working with women and babies. The information will also be relevant to prospective and new parents.

Intuitive Birthing, a term coined by Ishtara, is not about right and wrong ways of birthing, but to help you access your intuition easily in order to birth how it is right for you to birth. By following the Manifest Sacred Birth Programme you can birth connected and tuned in to follow your unique body signals and intuition, so that your birth can be blissful and pain free. If you are in a sacred place, you hear your intuition easily so you can open your light womb up wide. When you cannot hear the inner voice, you act from a place of fear, you are scared. It is this fear which blocks the birth hormones from being released and prevents you from opening up your womb easily and without pain. The key intuitive birthing techniques which are an integral part of the 40-day programme include visualisation, mantra, meditation, ceremony and more, and are designed for regular practise from around week twenty of the pregnancy, but to familiarise yourself with from before that time, then to use during the actual birth itself. You can use the Intuitive Birthing techniques contained within this programme for many other birthing and pregnancy issues - resolve conception difficulties; release, heal and forgive past birth trauma; or use them to connect to your intuition as a parent. "Packed full of birthing visualisations, this is the ultimate book in Spiritual Birth. I followed the programme in 2011 and used it to deal with issues that arose during my meditations, and unexpectedly healed old wounds, as well as my relationship, then went onto have an even more beautiful and wonderful birth than the one I imagined and asked for! Thank you Ishtara for these tools to joyfully birth our beautiful baby girl!" Christa Rose, therapist "This is a beautiful and intuitive book exploring the spiritual approach to birth preparation. Connection with your baby is the primary focus of this gentle programme by Ishtara Blue, encouraging each mother to envision and create her ideal birth using visualisation and empowerment techniques, drawing wisdom from a variety of traditional and New Age sources." Claire Arnold, doula

In this book, we make space to interrogate obstetric violence; from its historical and legal roots and contemporary realities, to responses of advocacy and resistance. Through the lens of obstetric violence, we are able to see overlap in structural vulnerability across continents as well as recognize the ways in which obstetric violence is symptomatic of larger global problems including systemic injustices related to reproductive health. Combining the perspectives of care providers, birthing people, advocates and researchers, our volume seeks to include both a systematic and structural understanding of obstetric violence. We bring together diverse voices, from practitioners, to activists, to academics, and provide a global perspective on obstetric violence with research from around the world, including indigenous communities from North America (Canada and Hawaii), examples from Latin American and Caribbean countries as well as country-specific cases from Argentina, Australia, Egypt, Mexico, Portugal, and the United States. The range of disciplinary perspectives and global experiences presented in this book demonstrates that obstetric violence is neither bound to one discipline, nor site specific. Together the chapters of this volume work to understand obstetric violence, moving beyond static definitions towards a spectrum of lived experiences that highlight three main areas: Legislation and Policy, Experiencing Obstetric Violence, and Advocacy, Resistance and Reframing. The time for a global recognition of obstetric violence &– of the larger structural forces embedded in systems that cross cultures and violate bodies in acutely vulnerable life moments &– is now. By naming it and saying it out loud we recognize obstetric violence exists and can together begin the process of systemic change necessary to prevent it.