Educational Media Reviews Online

Injoy Productions adds another winner to its already super collection of birthing and parenting videos with the second edition of Understanding Birth. This educational package contains the main program on one disc (a total of about two and a half hours in length), and a second disc with a shortened version: Understanding Birth Express,, at 48 minutes. Both programs are divided into chapters and those chapters are further divided into subject sections, making this program easily adaptable to any educational setting from classroom, to clinic, to one-on-one home sessions. A free facilitator’s guide is available at the InJoy web site.

If played linearly, the program moves through each phase of the birthing process, beginning with the third trimester of pregnancy. It continues with labor and delivery, postpartum care and bringing baby home. Among the areas explored are emotional changes, warning signs, medical procedures, support mechanisms, bonding and breastfeeding, cesarean deliveries, recovery and postpartum depression. Of course the DVD can also be played according to whatever segment best fits the instructional session. There is just the right amount of repetition for both an academic student audience as well as prospective parents.

Throughout each chapter “Partner Tips” and “Take Note” segments bring out helpful ideas and guidelines for the mother as well as her support crew. These important moments help keep the production interesting and provide excellent focal points. Medical procedures and physical anatomy are clearly explained using first-rate animated sequences.

The concepts are primarily illustrated through the stories of several parents going through the birthing process. This is an invaluable way to present the material and students will connect with the subjects right away. Parents share their difficult moments, their incredible happiness, and the things they learn along the way. The program captures the physical changes, emotional changes, and every aspect that goes into the delivery process. Chapter 6, “Understanding Cesarean Birth” is particularly well done. With Daniela’s unplanned C-section everything from the risks and benefits, to breastfeeding, to a family centered birth and support systems are brought out in a way that is both informative and emotionally engaging.

As the titles states, this truly is a comprehensive guide, and includes very detailed views of the phases of human birth. The information is research based with the perfect amount of detail and presented in a clear, concise and comfortable manner. There is an emphasis on letting nature take its course and listening to the body’s signals. The breastfeeding section is quite complete, as is the importance of postpartum communication between parents and babies. In Chapter 5, “Understanding Medical Procedures,” an acronym is introduced to help mothers manage their hospital stay: BRAIN (B=benefits, R=risks, A-alternatives, I=intuition, n=no/not now questions). This also applies to the main themes in the program itself! Both the full version and express versions of this very highly recommended set will be welcome in academic library collections supporting nursing and other health sciences programs.