The Stages of Labor, 2nd Edition: A Visual Guide

Given the wide range of informational films on childbirth and labor available on the market, viewers are plenty familiar with footage of exhausted women gritting their teeth through painful contractions (and Lamaze partners working on their exercises with varying degrees of success). All of that is present here, but what makes The Stages of Labor truly stand out is the excellent use of 3-D animation to depict the various stages of labor—contractions, lightening, cervical effacement, dilation, internal rotation, birth, and delivery of the placenta. The first edition of this film was an award-winner that remains a bestseller for InJoy, but this second edition boasts all-new birth footage and animation using a pregnant three-dimensional model, while still maintaining the original's winning formula of tackling those murky questions (what does “lightening” really look like?) that doctor's explanations and static images simply can't illuminate. In addition to the eye-opening animation, the film features informative narration, clear definitions of key terms, and interviews with parents. Bundled with a facilitator's guide, this is a must for parenting courses, and highly recommended for general collections. Aud: H, C, P. (A. Cantú)