Meet the Authors Kalena Cook As a petite 5'2" mom, Kalena gave natural birth at age 39 to an 8 lb. 4 oz. son with a midwife's help. Afterwards, she mentored several women, "Natural birth is a powerful, life-changing event that I highly recommend. You can do it."      For Natural Birth Secrets, over 50 moms, physicians and birth professionals answer why women choose natural birth and what it's like. Included are encouraging births at hospitals, birth centers and home as well as waterbirths, hypnosis, VBACs and more. "My advice includes shop around for the right healthcare provider who supports natural birth, get informed, listen to your intuition, and don't take labor lying down!" Kalena researched the latest studies such as ultrasound as well as reveals the ingredients in an epidural.      Owning a communications company for 15 years, Kalena also earned a MFA from Syracuse University. She wrote, "Packaging Nature: The Whole Foods Industry and The Role of Packaging Design," for her thesis.      A synergistic collaboration with Margaret Christensen, M.D., a strong advocate of the midwifery model, adds holistic medical information that readers like you need to know. Member of Writers League of Texas, Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) Margaret Christensen, M.D. Dr. Christensen owns Christensen Center for Whole Life Health, a holistic outpatient gynecological practice integrating current medical research with the latest research in nutrition, herbal medicine, bio-identical hormone replacement, and women's psychology and spirituality.      From 1991 to 2001, owned Renaissance Women's Health Associates, a collaborative Ob-Gyn practice with Certified Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioner. Medical consultant for the Birth and Women's Center, a CNM-owned out-of-hospital birth center, served as medical back-up for ante partum, intra partum and post partum transports. Reviewed medical procedures and protocols.      B.A. in Biology, minor in Psychology. Graduated Cum Laude from Rice University, Houston, TX, 1982. Doctor of Medicine, with Honors, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 1986. Ob-Gyn Residency, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 1991. Fellow, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, board certified. Board member of National Association of Childbearing Centers, NACC. Mother of four children (all born drug-free) ages 9-19. Bilingual in Spanish. Visit Dr. Christensen's web site at www.christensencenter.com.