Rating: 
Summary: life saver for first time parents
Review: Living in a very remote part of the country we decided to have a non-medicated home birth but i was not sure that was the right choice for my baby's health.After reading this book i feel confident we made the right choice.We will consider going to a hospital only in an emergency. this is the tool you need to become an active part of your birth experience rather than a victim of hospital practices and their estatistics.
Rating: 
Summary: Great information for those interested in birthing naturally
Review: This is a great book for those interested in giving birth naturally. Combined with a series of childbirth classes this book helped my husband and I labor naturally for over 50 hours. I do feel however, it can give high expectations to parents and could cause feelings of failure if medical intervention ends up being necessary. The Bradley Method followers tend to feel their way is the only way. Further research into other childbirth alternatives is recommended so an informed decision can be made.
Rating:
Summary: Best labor book ever
Review: I bought the first edition of this book in 1987 for my pregnant sister. Since her childbirth classes boiled down to C-section classes, she used it as a guide for her labor. She took it to the hospital with her - her husband hadn't read it all yet! She was pleased at the preparation the book gave her, and annotated the margins. That book made the rounds of her friends, and I borrowed it back for my pregnancy in 1992. It was the only book of many I read that described what I went through exactly. It gave me the courage to have a midwife-assisted home birth that was perfect. I made my home-birth annotations, and the original book, now held together with twine, is still making the rounds of pregnant friends. I've read the new edition - bought it for my birth center's library - the new breastfeeding section is great. Can't recommend it enough.
Rating:
Summary: Gave me the control and enjoyment I wanted from childbirth.
Review: Reading this book made me much more educated and excited about the birth of my son. I am a first time mom and had my baby with no drugs or interventions with a midwife in the hospital. This book gave me the information and incentive I needed to accomplish this.
Rating:
Summary: This book changed my second childbirth experience 100%!
Review: The Bradley Childbirth method is simply and clearly defined and taught in this easy to read, handbook-style guide. After a 22hr labour using Demerol, and an Epidural resulting in a C-section delivery I was determined to find a better way. I read about the Bradley method and got this book. Since I am from Canada this book was my only source of teaching for the Bradley method as there are very few qualified teachers up here (and it is very difficult to even find the book). I am happy to report a hard-working but not painful completely natural second birth and I credit it all to my training received from this book. I believe it can truly transform a woman's childbirth experience and recommend it to every pregnant woman I meet.
Rating:
Summary: The best pregnancy and childbirth book currently available.
Review: If I was pregnant and stuck on a desert island, this is the one book I would wish to have. Every woman should pick this one up before she even becomes pregnant. Reading this book gives one a wonderful sense of empowerment.
The book begins with an excellent comparison of The Bradley Method(r) versus Lamaze. It goes on to thoroughly and thoughtfully compare the differences between caregivers, i.e. obstetricians, certified nurse-midwives and direct-entry midwives. It lists very direct questions to ask your caregiver which I have not found in any other book of its kind. It describes the Brewer Medical Diet which has been shown to significantly reduce one's chances of developing toxemia. Relaxation practice is gone into in great detail. It explains why many obstetricians commonly overuse interventions and why they are potentially dangerous. The final chapter is an excellent introduction to the tremendous benefits of breastfeeding.
The only other book of its kind which comes close to this one is "The Birth Book" by William and Martha Sears. "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way" takes a no-holds-barred approach to pregnancy and childbirth preparation. Women should use this book to select a caregiver and then continue studying it throughout pregnancy (if possible, in conjunction with a Bradley(r) class) in order to have the best possible birth. experience.
Rating:
Summary: The relaxation book you've been looking for...
Review: This book has been the mainstay in many of the Bradley childbirth classes for years, now it is becoming a mainstream book.
This book contains the relaxation practices that you need to help you learn to relax during pregnancy and birth. It also has practical information for partners, a section on controversies,
and sections on postpartum and cesareans as well.
Using this book to supplement childbirth classes is an excellent idea, but it can also be used without the classes. SO, if you are on bedrest and not able to take a childbirth class, this is your class in a book.
Good luck and good birth!
Rating:
Summary: An excellent supplement to any childbirth classes.
Review: It has been several years since I first read this book but
I still remember that "ah ha!" feeling of how well it
answered my questions. Included is one of the best
summaries of how labor can start (not just the standard
one-style-fits-all so many books mention). The book is
written in the format of childbirth classes, with each
chapter replacing one of the classes, and with assignments.
In fact, for someone who is unable to take childbirth
classes I would highly recommend this book; and for others
who do take classes, using this book as a supplement might be the best decision they ever make.
Rating:
Summary: Very educational
Review: Okay, I have not yet birthed a baby as I am 33 weeks pregnant, so I can't make any claims regarding the use of the information I received from this book regarding labor. However, I would like to give my opinion of the book. I am in my first pregnancy, and before I read this book, I was pretty clueless of what all the hype about "natural childbirth" was about. Several of my friends have had babies the Bradley way and recommended this book to me so I read it, needing all the help I could get. Not only did I find out that the Bradley way made sense, but I cannot believe why anyone, who after gaining knowledge by reading this book, would not completely support natural childbirth. Of course there are emergencies when C-sections or other un-natural birthing methods are necessary, but this book explains to you that the female body was made to deliver babies. Most medications and other un-natural ways you may be tempted to use for your baby's birth will end up either slowing down the birth or postponing pain. Come to find out, my husband was delivered by Dr. Bradley himself, and my mother-in-law was very thankful to have him deliver 3 of her 4 babies. Overall, even if I decided to ditch natural childbirth, I would still be thankful for the knowledge that was passed on to me via this book. I learned so much from it!
Rating:
Summary: Helpfull hints
Review: This book was a wonderful tool in my child birthing experience. I recommend that all expecting mothers read this book for the best experience in child birthing. Thank you Susan for a great book!
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