Massage for Pregnancy and Labor
by Dr. Frederick LeBoyer
Publisher: Newmarket Press (October, 1997)
review by Adelie

Frederick LeBoyer is the French obstetrician who pioneered the "gentle birth" process with his first book, "Birth Without Violence." Having succeeded in getting babies born gently, into a dim, quiet, warm environment, he has now taken the logical next step with this book.

Baby massage is a practice begun in India, and simply stated, involves sitting with the baby on your lap and massaging "it" gently with oil. There is very little text in this book - it's mostly photographs, of a beautiful young Indian mother, sitting on the ground with her baby on her outstretched legs. The photographs are sequential and show the various moves - gently tugging at opposite arms and legs, rubbing circular motions on the torso, massaging tiny hands and feet, and so on.

The baby is clearly blissed out in the pictures, as yours will be, too if you try this! And the very act of spending that kind of time in close communion with your baby will elevate your soul as well as the baby's.

I recommend this book to all new parents and give it as a "Welcome to the world" gift when their babies are born.