Book Reviews
Yvette O’Dowd has been a passionate reader since childhood. Her first pregnancy in the early 1980s saw her consuming the local library collection of books about pregnancy, childbirth, child development and child care. Having ignited a life-long interest in these subjects, Yvette went on to work at Merrily Merrily Enterprises [the retail arm of the Nursing Mothers’ Association of Australia (now known as The Australian Breastfeeding Association)] from 1995 - 2000. This included the recommendation and sale of books on breastfeeding and human lactation, parenting and related titles to both parents and health professionals.
From 2008 - 2013, Yvette ran The Breastfeeding Centre In Dandenong, Victoria - the Victorian Branch Office of the Australian Breastfeeding Association. Here she curated and maintained an extensive library of books available to both members and volunteers. When establishing the Southern Natural Parenting Network in 2014, Yvette had a vision of a collection of books available to members and the wider community, establishing a community library on wheels available at meets and events. Yvette’ family are resigned to her extensive personal collection! (Thank goodness for the digital revolution!)
Yvette also has a passion for children’s books - particularly picture books - and her collection expanded as her family has. Books for children about babies are of particular interest. Stay tuned for review soon!
Browse Yvette’s recommendations:
Rediscovering Birth
In Rediscovering Birth, Sheila Kitzinger calls for a return to birth as a transformative, embodied, and empowering rite of passage. Drawing from global traditions, historical practices, and women’s lived experiences, she critiques the medicalisation of birth and advocates for respectful, woman-centred care that honours autonomy and cultural wisdom.
Birth And Breastfeeding: Rediscovering The Needs Of Women During Pregnancy And Childbirth
French obstetrician Michel Odent draws on decades of experience to explore how modern maternity practices interfere with women’s innate physiological processes during birth and breastfeeding. He explains how medicalised environments, stress, and lack of privacy can inhibit oxytocin — the hormone responsible for labour, bonding, and milk ejection — and argues for a return to instinctive, uninterrupted birthing and breastfeeding experiences. Odent’s writing is grounded in his research on primal health and his clinical innovations supporting undisturbed birth.
Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage
This book reclaims birth as a sacred rite of passage rather than a clinical event. Drawing on anthropology, history, and real birth stories, Rachel Reed explores how modern maternity systems disrupt women’s autonomy and intuition, and how reconnecting with traditional wisdom can restore meaning, agency, and connection in childbirth.
The Birth Space
Written by a birth doula and mother, this deeply personal and empowering book explores pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period as transformative rites of passage. With stories from diverse voices, it centres the emotional and spiritual experiences of birthing people alongside practical reflections and guidance. It includes space for journaling and self-reflection.
The Fourth Trimester
This book reframes the postpartum period as a vital rite of passage deserving of deep rest, support, and nourishment. Kimberly Ann Johnson — a doula, bodyworker, and somatic educator — brings together traditional wisdom and modern understanding of nervous system health, trauma, and relationships. It offers compassionate, embodied guidance for navigating physical recovery, emotional shifts, and identity transformation in the early months of mothering.
Nourishing Newborn Mothers
Written by an Australian postpartum doula and Ayurvedic practitioner, this book is a gentle invitation to honour the inner transformation of new motherhood. It weaves together ancient postpartum wisdom, modern insights, and a nourishing food philosophy that supports emotional healing and rest. The focus is not on baby care but on deeply caring for the mother — recognising her needs, emotions, and spiritual growth.
The First Forty Days
Rooted in the Chinese tradition of “zuo yuezi” (sitting the month), this book offers a gentle, respectful approach to postpartum care. It blends storytelling, cultural wisdom, and over 60 nutrient-dense recipes to support a mother's physical and emotional recovery. The tone is reverent and nurturing, focused on warmth, rest, and being cared for by others during this critical transition.
A Passion for Birth
This engaging and visually rich book offers a sweeping look at the journey of birth around the world. Through photographs, personal stories, cultural commentary, and evidence-based insight, renowned social anthropologist and birth advocate Sheila Kitzinger celebrates the diversity and power of childbirth. It is part celebration, part critique of modern obstetrics, and entirely dedicated to honouring women's voices.
The Politics of Birth
In this powerful and provocative work, Sheila Kitzinger explores how birth has become a battleground shaped by institutional power, medicalisation, and cultural control. Drawing on decades of advocacy, research, and lived experience, she highlights the importance of informed choice, bodily autonomy, and respectful care — calling for a transformation in the way society treats birthing women.