The Roots of Natural Mothering By Janice Marsh-Prelesnik

This book was quite appealing to me. It’s a short, easy read. I enjoy reading books that center around natural mothering. I really believe in listening to our instincts as parents. This book devoted an entire chapter to discussing intuition. It describes the difference between simply instincts and listening to one’s intuition. This was very enlightening to me. This book could be best described as having little tidbits of information; little gems littered here and there on the pages. There are no lengthy or deep discussions on any one topic, but a small rainbow of topics are briefly touched upon. I found many things the author said that resonated into my being and filled my spirit.

There is such a deep respect in this book for the sacredness of pregnancy, birth, and the mother-baby bond. I found this gratifying to read as it reminded me of how truly a wonderful time these events are. In the midst of them, it is easy to forget how treasured the memories will one day be.
According to the book, instinct is the same within an entire species. Intuition is individual. Instincts basically mean things such as the ability to protect our young and sense danger. Instincts do help make good decisions. Intuition seems to go a bit deeper in my opinion. It allows for more individualized decision making. Sometimes, this is described as an “ah ha” moment, where you were able to see things clearly in a way you hadn’t before.

The author is a midwife, so she offers information on pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. There is a decent amount of good information, but since nothing is described quite in depth, this is not really a resource type book. The author is also an herbalist, so there is emphasis on the use of herbs. She offers a good amount of information in this area.

I did enjoy reading this book. It is peaceful, and you can almost feel a gentle breeze while you read it. I don’t think it would make a good book to refer back to however. I probably won’t read it again simply because it’s just a one-time read type of book. The only thing I could potentially see referencing again is some of the herbal recipes listed. Those could come in handy. Ultimately, this book offers insight, encouragement, and empowerment. There are many things said that are right on and ring true. Try to find this book at the library, however, I don’t think I would necessarily run out and buy it.