It reminds me to trust my body...

by Leah Rubin

I bought the 1992 OBOS edition for $2.98 in 1998 in Greenwich Village.  For years I wanted to buy the book and finally it has traveled with me from sea to shining sea.  No book compares.  It reminds me to trust my body, to not become indoctrinated by medical professionals and more often than not western connotations of labour.

Having always been confident in my body, today I read the chapters on pregnancy and this book re-established my confidence in myself and my ability to make decisions about my body.  Whilst other versions may be more up-to-date, my 1992 edition is as valid in 2011 as it was then and no website or alternative medical journal or reference book could offer me more reassurance than the pages of this book.

I am shocked by how many women to this day still know so little about their bodies.  I am 39 weeks pregnant and the chapters on pregnancy, labour, and giving birth have given me the confidence to get ready for this birth as a single female. I am finally ready to let my body tell me what it needs. Thanks for making this book a part of my life!

In this series, readers tell their stories about their experiences with the book and its impact on their lives. View more stories.