The Birth Conspiracy is a comprehensive guide for women and their partners, for doulas, and for anyone who is interested in the process of birth. It provides women with a unique opportunity to transcend the pushing and pulling of ideologies in the birthing world and it gently guides and educates women about the birth process and about their options in the hospital and at home.

The overwhelming majority of women want to give birth naturally. Yet they want to do it in a hospital setting, where technology and medical expertise make them feel safe. Paradoxically, it is precisely this technology and expertise that make natural birth a rare occurrence in most hospitals. In The Birth Conspiracy, Rivka Cymbalist draws upon her experience at hundreds of births to provide an answer to the question of how women can give birth naturally in hospitals. The key to this answer is the doula.

 Put simply, a doula is someone who accompanies a woman through pregnancy, labor and the birth of her child. But there’s much more to the doula, and this comprehensive book provides a ground-breaking re invention of the role of the humble birth companion.

 In the emotionally and ideologically charged world of childbirth, Rivka Cymbalist emerges as a down-to-earth, non-judgmental voice for women who are overwhelmed by choices and opinions.

 About the author:

 Rivka Cymbalist has been involved in different aspects of women’s health care for over 30 years. She has extensive experience in maternity care, first aid, herbalism, health education, and volunteer work. She has worked as a doula since 1997, and has witnessed over 500 births. Since 1988 she has published articles on women’s health, and is frequently invited to speak at workshops and conferences. Rivka is also the director of Montreal Birth Companions, a volunteer organization that provides free doula services to refugee and immigrant women. She has been training doulas since 2004, and regularly accepts apprentices in her practice. She was born in Uganda and has travelled extensively in north, east, and southern Africa. She is married with five sons and lives with her family in Montreal and Italy.