Attending Birth. Sage Femme, $19.95 DVD

Attending Birth is a two-part documentary looks at the benefits and safety of homebirth. Includes interviews with Dr. Robbie Davis-Floyd, medical anthropologist and author of several books on birth including “Birth as an American Rite of Passage”.

Birth as We Know It: Educational Edition. Elena Tonetti-Vladimirova, $48.95 (DVD format)

Two versions of the original feature film (40 minutes and 20 minutes); tailored for use in prenatal classes, parent lending libraries and midwifery clinics. The film includes footage from the Russian birth camps seen in “Birth Into Being” as well as the birth featured in the film “Orgasmic Birth”.

Birth Dialogue: a Documentary. Miri Urman & Amit Miller, $29.95 DVD 52 minutes

Birth Dialogue follows a couple living a non-traditional lifestyle, making uncommon choices as they navigate pregnancy and the homebirth of their first child. Filmed in Tel Aviv, the DVD is in Hebrew, with English subtitles.

Birth of a Family: a Glance Into the World of an Informed, Home-birthing Family. Christina van Duijn, $39.95 DVD, 30 minutes

This dynamic film portrays the strength of childbirth from a father’s perspective and tells the story of one family’s four home births over a twelve year span.

Birth Into Being: the Russian Waterbirth Experience. Tatyana & Alexi Sargunas, $55.95 DVD

Russian midwife Tatyana Sargunas and her filmmaker husband, Alexi, recorded five totally natural, incredible waterbirths. Their original footage takes you on a breathtaking expedition to witness two families birthing in the Black Sea, and into their home to see their daughter being born in a handmade clear birthing pool. Scenes of children and babies swimming with dolphins will delight and amaze audiences of all ages.

Born In Water: a Sacred Journey. Andaluz Waterbirth Center, $50.95 DVD, 33 minutes

A beautiful collection showing seven waterbirths.

The Business of Being Born. Ricki Lake & Abby Epstein, $24.95 DVD (84 minutes)

Entertaining and hugely informative, The Business of Being Born offers insight into childbirth in North America today and what women really need to know about in order to make informed decisions about their pregnancy, labour and delivery.

Choices in Childbirth. InJoy Videos, $149.95* (3 Volume DVD Set)

Choices in Childbirth guides parents step-by-step through three different childbirth interventions and provides an even-handed presentation of benefits and drawbacks.

Volume 1: Epidural Anesthesia 20 minutes. Compare and contrast two birth stories: an epidural and a non-medicated birth. Understand the epidural procedure and how it may affect labor and birth. The merits and drawbacks of this most common pain relief option are explored thoroughly.

Volume 2: Induction & Augmentation of Labor 15 minutes. This DVD offers balanced information on induction/augmentation, using actual birth footage and an obstetrician's candid discussion. Parents gain a clear understanding of when induction or augmentation may be medically indicated and when they are not. Possible effects on labor, pros and cons, and non-medical alternatives are offered.

Volume 3: Cesarean Birth 22 minutes. With first-of-its-kind, 3D cesarean animation, intertwined with one couple's unplanned cesarean birth story, viewers will have a better understanding of the procedure than ever before. (An actual surgery is included at the end to be shown at your option).

(*Home Use price only. Please contact Parentbooks for Performance Rights prices for professionals)

Finding Your Way: the Road to a Healthy Pregnancy. Ken Murch Productions. DVD format, 18 minutes $21.50

The choices a woman makes during her pregnancy will have a lifetime effect on her baby's health. Pregnancy is a good time to develop healthy lifestyle habits that will carry forward to parenthood.

Guarding the Unborn Spirit: It Takes All Nations. Ken Murch Productions. DVD format, 27 minutes $17.95

This video is about the permanent damage done to the unborn fetus when a pregnant woman consumes alcohol. It offers clear prevention strategies and intervention information to women, families, professionals and members of aboriginal communities.

It’s My Body, My Baby, My Birth: a Film about Natural Childbirth. Wisewoman Childbirth Traditions, $12.50 (DVD format, 27 minutes)

An educational birth film that tells the story of seven mothers and their emotional journeys to natural childbirth. Beautifully filmed, the DVD presents the views and experiences of mothers, their partners (including one lesbian couple), midwives, an obstetrician and a childbirth educator. Each woman’s story is unique and powerful. Pain, safety and fear are all addressed in this compelling film.

Laboring Under an Illusion: Mass Media Childbirth vs. the Real Thing.  Vicki Elson, $55.95 DVD format, 50 minutes

Anthropologist Vicki Elson explores media-generated myths about childbirth and how our culture influences our birth experiences. Using over 100 video clips from television and film, Elson contrasts fiction with reality and the result is hilarious, engaging and enlightening.

Life’s Greatest Miracle DVD. PBS Home Video, narrated by John Lithgow, photography by Lennart Nilsson, $28.95 DVD format, 60 minutes

It takes countless milestones to turn an undifferentiated clump of cells into a baby and normally it’s a process that happens in the dark. Lennart Nilsson brings it beautifully to light, taking us into the mysterious and beautiful world of conception, through to birth.

Maternal-Neonatal Nursing Made Incredibly Easy: a CD-ROM Interactive Review. $57.50 (for Windows and Mac)

“This handy reference … provides a basic understanding of normal anatomy and physiology of women and neonates as well as the adaptations they make during the stages of pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. The latest information on dozens of maternal-neonatal complications is presented, including addictions, multiple gestations, pre-eclampsia, and adolescent pregnancy. Special icons, bullets, quick-scan tables, illustrations, and flowcharts make essential information easy to find. Also included are two four-page, full-color inserts illustrating difficult-to-understand clinical concepts.”

Miracle of Birth 3: Five Birth Stories DVD. InJoy Videos, Home Use $49.99 (51 minutes/5 segments)

Candid interviews, real labor footage and a diverse collection of mothers and birth experiences will keep viewers entertained and informed as they prepare for their own birth experience. For information on Public Performance Rights (PPR) prices please contact Parentbooks

Positions for Labor: Maternal Movement and Optimal Fetal Positioning DVD. InJoy Vidoes, Home Use $55.00 (19 minutes)

This program uses state-of-the art 3-D  animation of fetal rotation and descent, to show moms and their support people the benefits of walking, sitting, forward leaning, side-lying and more throughout labor and birth. For information on Public Performance Rights (PPR) prices please contact Parentbooks

Prenatal Yoga. With Shiva Rea, $27.95 DVD format

The award-winning program for every trimester helps you

• Increase energy and stamina
• Build strength and flexibility during pregnancy
• Improve focus and concentration to assist labour and delivery

Relaxation, Rhythm, Ritual: the 3Rs of Childbirth DVD $58.95, 15 minutes

In this 15-minute video, Penny Simkin shares moments from the labour and birth experiences of ten women. A welcome addition to the films that childbirth educators show in their classes.

Tried and True: a Collection of Labor Techniques. InJoy Videos, DVD format 32 minutes

“If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this video is priceless. Tried & True is a visual encyclopedia of labor techniques, all clearly demonstrated using actual birth footage. Parents will learn in a whole new way, as they see moms, dads and support persons work with labor pain using a variety of comfort measures appropriate for each of the stages of labor.”

Priced according to Rights Granted:

Home Use (For non-educational, non-institutional, non-professional purchases.)

Single-Site (For family resource centers or schools that are loaning to parents/teachers. Can be used only within the center or school that purchased it.)

Multi-Site (For family resource centers, school boards, school media centers, colleges/universities, public health departments, health centers, etc., that are circulating to parents and professionals. Can be used for non-profit showings within the purchaser's jurisdiction.)

Home Use $49.99; Single Site Public Performance $129.99; Multi-Site Public Performance $251.99

Understanding Birth: a Comprehensive Guide, 2nd Edition DVD. InJoy Videos (2 DVDs, 135 minutes and 48 minutes) $149.95 home use (agencies, clinics and institutions, please contact Parentbooks for pricing and information on Public Performance Rights)

The second edition of this award-winning program includes current, evidence-based information, all new footage, and an overall fresh look. As viewers follow the featured families from pregnancy through postpartum, they see a variety of labor experiences, including a natural birth, interventions, and an unplanned cesarean section.

 2 DVDs are included with the purchase: Understanding Birth 2nd Edition Express condenses the full-length program and provides the most sought-after topics in less than an hour. The package includes a Facilitator Guide that provides discussion questions and information about the featured families.

YOU Having a Baby: the Owner’s Manual to a Happy and Healthy Pregnancy CD Audiobook. Michael Roizen & Mehmet Oz, $36.99

Filled with recipes for nutritious, satisfying snacks and meals, safe exercises for staying fit, and tons of tips that will help you stay comfortable, YOU Having a Baby is the ultimate guidebook for what to do from the moment of conception to the weeks after your child has arrived home. From morning sickness and food cravings to choosing a caregiver and changing a diaper, YOU Having a Baby will give you the real scoop about what's in store for you during this amazing time in your life.