Birthing
The Future
Suzanne
Arms, an acclaimed author, photojournalist, and midwifery
advocate, has been a recognized leader of the natural birthing
movement for many years. She is the author of seven influential
books, including Immaculate Deception: A New Look at Women
and Childbirth and Giving Birth: Challenges and Choices, published
in 1975 and named a Best Book of the Year by The New York
Times, and her 1998 video "Giving Birth: Challenges and
Choices". Suzanne has made significant contributions
to our knowledge and appreciation of birth issues and the
critical importance of the early years of childhood.
Her well-designed site, Birthing The Future™,
is subtitled "Where the heart's knowing meets the edge of
science and ancient wisdom guides our future." The site is
relatively new and is still being developed, but it already
includes a wealth of information. It currently includes a
section about Suzanne and her company's vision; descriptions and
information on ordering her books and videos; several birth
photos; and an exceptional collection of informative essays on
birth-related issues such as common misconceptions, changes in
hospital births, midwifery care, doulas, epidurals, cesareans,
and breastfeeding. This entire section, called Birth Today,
can easily be considered one of the best "books" on
the subject of birth and birthing practices available today. The
essay "The Big Picture" establishes the importance of
the work in this field by noting:
"We are led to believe our birth, infancy and early
mothering experiences have no lasting significance on the rest
of our lives. Current scientific research and mounting clinical
evidence show the opposite - our earliest experiences, from womb
to toddlerhood, create patterns in our nervous system and brain
that become the physiological foundation for life-long thinking,
feeling and behavior."
The purpose of Birthing The Future™ is "to make
parenting easier and more joyful, and childhood happier".
This site is a significant contribution toward that inspiring
goal.
"If we hope to create a non-violent world where
respect and kindness replace fear and hatred, we must begin
with how we treat each other at the beginning of life. For
that is where our deepest patterns are set. From these roots
grow fear and alienation - or love and trust."
- Suzanne Arms
from the video
Giving Birth: Challenges & Choices
Reviews
Book: Immaculate
Deception II: Myth, Magic & Birth
"Suzanne Arms is an astute observer, fine writer and
photographer who tells us what childbirth is truly like today
and how it could and should be for all women and their
families. This is valuable reading for anyone planning a
birth, as well as perinatal caregivers."
- Marshall Klaus,
Neonatologist and researcher
Film: Giving
Birth: Challenges and Choices
"Spectacular photography, top-notch editing, riveting
information. This is one elegant package that will open the
eyes of expectant couples everywhere."
- Henci Goer,
Lamaze instructor, author of Obstetrical
Myths versus Research Realities and The Thinking
Woman's Guide to a Better Birth
"An inspiration to mothers and fathers, and a powerful
tool for sensitizing health care professionals to the
opportunities for improving the most important event in the
lives of most families: birthing. This film continues the
tradition Arms started in 1975 by her seminal and original
book, 'Immaculate Deception'."
- Robert J. Massad, M.D.,
Professor and Chairman, Department of Family
Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York
