Childbirth Book Recommendations

Birthing from Within is an excellent choice. I would also recommend Hypnobirthing. And I second taking prenatal yoga classes or hypnobirthing class. Although the hypnobirthing encourages partners, it isn't necessary. I was going to take a class without my husband because he didn't buy into it.

Not sure if you don't want a partner, doula, etc or are just expecting not to have one at your birth. Many hospitals have volunteer doulas that are free and that you can request and there are women going through the training of midwifery or being a doula that would work for you for free or for a nominal fee.

Here's to your peaceful birth. I wish you well on your journey.

I loved "Birthing from Within" - you kind of have to look past the Hippie stuff, but the stories are very empowering. I also ready Spiritual Midwifery from I. May Gaskin. It's a bit more technical and I wanted to get some more "background" info.
If you don't have a partner and no funds for a Doula, I can only recommend getting a midwife! I had one and had a beautiful, natural birth experience.
Good luck!

you might want to try one on hypno birthing or something like that.

Oh, take a Hypnobabies class. I found it to be wonderful!

http://www.hypnosis4birth.com/

I don't have a suggestion about a book that fits your criteria, but I wanted to suggest prenatal yoga. I was in a class with a great instructor and we did a lot of meditation and relaxation techniques that I found very useful during labor. It was also nice to be in a supportive environment with other women that also had natural childbirth as a goal. (In my experience elsewhere people looked at me like I had three heads when I said I didn't want an epidural.)

An additional benefit was that I made some friends that all have babies about the same age as my son and we get together for playgroups occasionally .

I love my one from Better Homes and Garden.

Birthing From Within is wonderful, also try Hypnobirthing.

Birthing From Within has good, specific pain control techniques.

I'd like to suggest that you pay a quick visit to the list of birthing practitioners at http://naturalbabypros.com and pose this question to them. I bet you're going to get a ton of recommendations!

Congratulations on baby #3!

Hypnobirthing, hypnobabies, birthing from within, ina may's guide to childbirth and/or spiritual midwifery, grantly dick-read's birthing without fear. Hypnobirthing is based on the last one I mentioned. Make sure you practice the techniques! Without practice it doesn't become a conditioned response and the techniques are not as likely to succeed.
I'm working on my doula certification, if you're interested at all.

Articles and books by M Odent ( OB who pioneered waterbirth in France back in the 70's) point out that, if left in a private, calm, familiar environment, most women instinctively "go somewhere else". Read up on undisturbed instinctual birth for more information. Unfortunately most hospital environments in the USA are exactly the opposite...which is why I chose home birth with a midwife.
Hypnosis for birth can be good, but again, the hospital staff and policies can get in the way of practicing it the way it was intended. Or at least, that has been the experience of a doula friend of mine.
Good luck!

I really liked Active Birth by Jane Balaskas. It talks about good yoga and breathing excercises to prepare yourself, and then, of course, the birth. Really great stuff! (I'm due with my first in 2 weeks, and I feel really prepared, although a little anxious, which I know is natural.)

I am amazed that you are going to go through this without a partner/coach! I don't know how much money you want to spend, but a Hypnotherapy class is probably what you want. It is pretty expensive, compared to your average hospital birthing class, but you get lots of weeks of classes and lots of materials to help you including CDs to play during labor, etc. I really wanted to do it, but it's around $500 here. I've read women's stories about their hypnotherapy birth and they said it was so amazing...they were totally awake and aware of their surroundings, but they felt absolutely no pain! One woman described the fact that as she labored at home in the beginning, she was interrupted by her cat jumping up on her lap, and it woke her out of her meditative state. Then she really felt it! But she was able to relax and get into her deep meditation again and was fine for the rest of labor and delivery.