AMANI Birth Certified Childbirth Educator and Doula, Sagal Shirdon, shares her impressions after reading the AMANI Birth book, authored by Aisha Al Hajjar:
"This book is a great gift for expectant mothers. It is a comprehensive book that covers everything an expecting mother and father need to know. This book covers topics such as the physiology of labor and birth, pregnancy nutrition and exercise, risks, complications, and the importance of a mother having a supportive team where a mother feels comfortable following her instincts. This book is great for parents as well as medical professionals, and doulas. It helps birth attendants understand natural birth and what a mother needs.
Complications and risks associated with medical interventions are repeated throughout the book to drive home how medical interventions can hinder birth and cause problems. One intervention can lead to a cascade of interventions leading a mother further and further away from a natural birth.
The importance of preparation and education for a birth is crucial for achieving a natural birth. Education empowers a woman to know what is harmful to her and her baby. An educated woman can navigate medical care throughout pregnancy and birth and advocate for what is best for her and her baby. Birth is like a marathon and without preparation the outcomes will be far from positive.
This book is infused with references from the Qur'an and Hadith and presents a strong case of why a natural birth is what Allah (swt) wanted for us. This book proves why a natural birth is so important. This one event can define how a mother and child bond with each other, as well as determine the state of a mother’s mental, psychological, and physical well-being, and that of the baby too.
I really enjoyed reading this book and had a hard time putting it down. I like how this book is detailed and covers everything a pregnant mother needs to know from pregnancy to labor to breastfeeding. I would definitely recommend this to expecting mothers! This book provides information on how to achieve a natural birth. I like that this is a well researched book; not only based on opinions but facts as well."