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Summary: Photos are out of date but I like the info
Review: This book made me feel like I was in a flashback to the 70's when I looked at the photos. It was quite graphic just to warn you if you are considering this book. I got this in preparation for my first baby and quite honestly the photos scared me. The information was really good and did help me to mentally prepare myself with what to expect. They were really big on no pain meds. I just took what I wanted from the book and added my own beliefs and feelings to what they had to say.I think that it would be a good one to read, but I don't think that I would pay full price for it.
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Summary: Great info!
Review: This book tells you in a very clear way what happens to your body during labor and delivery. I had a great labor and delivery (with an epidural!) and had no intentions of doing it "the Bradley way", but found the book to be extremely helpful in lessening my fears of childbirth. The only problem I had was that the first 50 pages of the book were jumbled so I had to hunt for each page to finish the chapters.
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Summary: Inaccurate information about Lamaze
Review: McCutcheon notes literature on Lamaze that is between 20 and 30 years old. For over a decade Lamaze has embraced a philosophy of birth that views birth as normal and natural, that builds women's confidence in their ability to give birth normally without routine interventions. Lamaze is NOT a technique of rigid breathing exercises, self massage, and following hospital policies. It is rather preparation for birth that brings women to a deep trust in her own abilities, learning ways to find comfort in response to contractions, actively working with the pain of labor -- in whatever way makes sense and feels right at the time. Husbands, family and friends do not "Coach" women in labor -- they encourage, and support throughout labor. Many sections of Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way are valuable, but the information constrasting Bradley with Lamaze is outdated and simply wrong. This book is in serious need of updating.
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Summary: Beautiful Delivery
Review: I delivered my daughter after having read this book and it was such a help to both my husband and me. The techniques are straight forward and make sense and I found it very easy to recall what to do at any given point in the labor. I loaned my last copy out so many times, I am buying a new one!
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Summary: This Book is Awesome, a must for unmedicated birth!
Review: I truly believe this book helped my natural childbirth. I just had my first child and from the start wanted it to be completely unmedicated. Although I had a doula instead of my husband for a birth coach, the importance this book had for me was education. It goes indepth about the different stages you will experience, and takes a realistic view about how every labor ' even with the same mom ' is different. When I went into labor (which was a very quick one) I could recognize my sign-posts and visualize what was going on, all thanks to this book. It also includes pictures, illustrations and photographs, that also help, including three different mothers and their labor. Although this book is older, it was still far better than the ...Lamaze/childbirth class at the hospital!
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Summary: To have your ideal natural birth experiance....
Review: This is an excellent book. I first read it 2 years before I even got pregnent. By the 4th page I knew this was the method I was ging to use. I was terrified of childbirth my whole life, but I desperatly wanted children. I knew that natural childbirth was the only option I would consider after studying the found affects of labor drugs on mothers and newborns. After reading this book I was no longer afraid to give birth. Once I got pregnant I coupled it with the book "Husband Coached Childbirth" and the 12 series Bradley classes. I had an absolutly perfect home water birth. I am now studying to become a Bradley Instructor. I would insist the Bradly Method to anyone who cares enough about themselves & their babies to want to acheive optimal health & well-being for them both .
Rating: 
Summary: A good resource, but read other books as well
Review: I read Beverly Savage's "Preparation for Birth" (the Lamaze Method) before reading "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way", and if you want a totally unmedicated birth, McCutcheon's is the book you want to read. The author states that the Lamaze method encourages women to "go along" with the Dr, and according to Savage's book, this seems to be the case. However, this book has an excellent viewpoint towards all natural childbirth. They tend to take the view that if women had babies for thousands of years with out medication, why should we allow some Dr. to medicate us if we don't want it. This book spends a lot of time going over the whole Labor process, typical drugs offered/given during labor, and spends whole chapters on usually unecessary medical interventions.
This is not a book to buy the day before your due date, the exercises and relaxation practices need to be done long before you approach your due date. Ideally, it is read before you even become pregnant. Lots of information on choosing a childbirth instructor, choosing a doctor or midwife, etc.
Yes, they do tend to be overly critical of hospitals and doctors, but if you are prepared that those scenarios might occur, you will be better prepared to stand up for what you want, not what is convenient for the hospital or doctor. And if you want to have a home birth, these people actually encourage you to go for it.
I would suggest that you read more than just this book, so you get an idea as to what is out there, but I really feel that this is an excellent book, written in such a way that if you can't take Bradley classes, you can still give birth that way. That's what I'm hoping, because my due date is fast approaching!
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Summary: It works!
Review: The visualization and relaxation taught in this book absolutely work. Although childbirth was intense, I did not experience it as "pain" but as pressure and stretching exactly as the book described. Those who found the hospital criticism overly harsh or outdated must have been at a different hospital than the one where I gave birth. The Drs there intervened without my permission, bullied me and gave me outright wrong advice. I believe that the main reason I didn't wind up with (unnecessary) ceasarean surgery is because I read this book cover to cover.
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Summary: The better book for fathers
Review: After reading many of these books, I have found that this book works great in class. I tend to encourge our dads to read this book over Husband Coached because the fathers tend to like it better.
This book is easy to read and organized very well.
The pictures may be a bit to graphic for some dads but moms will handle them just fine.
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Summary: Simply, it is the truth, and it works!!
Review: I decided, that, once I got pregnant, I wanted a natural birth... I live in Iowa. I may have well been an alien!! I was told "we'll see, once your in labor", or, "yeah, SURE you do!" Well, with the help of this book... and then I signed up for a Bradley childbirth class... I am not only living proof that this gives you the BEST most truthful infomation on the birth process and experience, but my son is proof that the benefits of taking these steps, and HAVING an unmedicated, but EDUCATED AND PREPARED birth is of benefit to you AND your child!! Why is this such and "out there" concept? People need to get back to basics!! EPIDURAL MEDICATIONS DO REACH YOUR BABY, and effect them for as much as DAYS from the time they are born!! Every nurse says it, the difference between babies born naturally vs. those via epidural, or other medication, is REMARKABLE! YOU CAN DO IT (naturally) !! If I can make it through transition, ANYONE can! (32 hours after membranes broke... 10 hours of true labor - one hour pushing...):) Do yourself a favor... educate yourself!! I also suggest the book written by Dr. Bradly himself (Husband Coached Childbirth) and to sign up for the class, to "practice the relaxation techniques! (also recommend "Good Birth, Safe Birth"
Good Luck!!
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