Excerpt from: "This Sacred Life, Transforming Our World through Birth,"
Ch 2 "Parent's Responsibility & Informed Consent"

"We are in this world together to learn and share how to care for one another in a more humane and compassionate way. Doctors, midwives, nurses and doulas are only human and are fallible. We are all doing a job, providing a service for those who want to use our knowledge. This does not mean, however, that anyone should be taken advantage of, pay outrageous fees, not get educated about their own body and options, or be operated on unnecessarily. This is why we need to be "working” together with our health care system instead of being co-dependent on them to do "it” for us. Then we will begin to have better results when we actually, truly need them for something."

Beginning the Journey............................................................................................................................... 1

Parent's Responsibility & Informed Consent...................................................................................... 21

The Pregnant “Patient’s Bill of Rights”.................................................................................................. 21

Food & Herbal Nutrition.........................................................................................................................35

Intervention & Complications, Go Hand in Hand........................................................................... 53

Parent Assisted Childbirth: Its Rewards and Challenges. .........................................................54

"All is Possible Within You”. ......................................................................................................70

Prenatal Care & All Care Concerned............................................................................................ 73

Standard Tests and Alternatives.......................................................................................................74

Communicating & Making Agreements............................................................................................ 97

Redesigning Our Mind & Body Image..............................................................................................107

Fear & Birth.................................................................................................................................... 123

Relaxation.................................................................................................................................. 124

History & Birth Politics............................................................................................................ 137

Fathers & Partners of Birth........................................................................................................... 159

Myths & Midwives.............................................................................................................................. 173

Anatomy & Physiology of Pregnancy & Birth................................................................................... 185

Priority List for Life.................................................................................................................................. 201

Living Simply............................................................................................................................................... 217

Care for Newborn Babies & the Whole Family..................................................................................... 235

“Attachment Parenting,” by Joy Shanley..................................................................................... 236

Practical Thinking, Embracing Our Bodies & Souls............................................................ 265

Alternative Modalities........................................................................................................... 271

Various Birth Stories................................................................................................................ 309

Giving Thanks to:.......................................................................................................................... 371

References & Resources.................................................................................................................... 379

Index....................................................................................................................................................... 390

“This Sacred Life,” is an inspiring, honest, and warm book. From her own remarkable story, and her many years experience as a midwife, Zuki generously shares her knowledge, wisdom and insights. “This Sacred Life” shows us the beautiful and profound truth about childbearing, and its imprint on family life, and inspires us all to claim our authority in birth and parenting. Zuki lights the path for, I hope, many many, families in conscious birth and living.

Sarah J. Buckley
Author of “Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering:”
The Wisdom and science of gentle choices in pregnancy, birth, and parenting.
http://sarahjbuckley.com/

“In the world of childbirth. Zuki Abbott is a rare find! In “This Sacred Life” she combines her innate wisdom of pregnancy and birth with her many years of research and experience of unobtrusively guiding women through the sacred time of birth. The result is an outstanding book that enlightens, informs, inspires and entertains. This book will indeed transform our world, one woman at a time, by opening their eyes to the beauty and safety of TRUE natural childbirth.”

Laura Shanley,
Author of “Unassisted Child Birth”
www.unassistedchildbirth.com

In Southern Colorado, Zuki had been creating a center for gathering aspiring doulas, midwives and parents to learn and share the ancient ways of birth. The “Birth Boot Camp” encompasses many avenues of choices in which people live close to nature, in order to re-remember their own innate wisdom. Facilitating their unique path they choose.

Excerpt from: "This Sacred Life, Transforming Our World through Birth," Ch 2 "Parent's Responsibility & Informed Consent"

Table of Contents

Excerpt from: "This Sacred Life, Transforming Our World through Birth,"
Ch 2 "Parent's Responsibility & Informed Consent"