Rating: 
Summary: Unbalanced, biased, and dangerous
Review: I purchased this book partially because of the reviews it received on Amazon, but also because it was included in a book list from the hospital where I will be taking my birthing classes. And there is interesting information in there about the birthing process, what to expect, and what a woman's options are.However, that's information you can get elsewhere. I would highly discourage any woman from reading this book, but particularly other women who are experiencing the pressure and issues related to high risk pregnancies. I would agree with the above reviews that this book is not anti-Doctor. However, I couldn't help but feel as if the author was being judgmental towards those women who decide to give birth (naturally or otherwise) in a hospital. As a juvenile diabetic, I view my pregnancy as something of a miracle which would not have been able to happen unless I was under the wonderful, and supportive, care of my doctor and hospital staff - the same institutions Kitzinger is obviously weary of. And as a woman, I fully believe that we're suppose to be able to choose whatever methods are best for us, even if that means medical assistance or having our babies in a hospital instead of at home. It's hard enough having a high risk pregnancy without having to feel as if we're still doing something wrong. That would have been enough for me to just set this book aside and turn to another. But than Kitzinger, who even quotes studies suggesting that you're doing something wrong if you want to have even an ultrasound, states the following: "However, most women can drink in moderation during pregnancy and have a perfect baby. Limit your intake to 10 units of alcohol a week and do spread them out over the week." This is someone who has no problem throwing at the reader every obscure study she can find about how dangerous medical treatment can be during pregnancy, but she ignores all the studies which point out, over and over again, how dangerous it is to drink? I was horrified and outraged at the double standard. If you're going to read this book, just make sure you understand where her obvious bias is coming from. And please, please, don't actually think it's okay to have ten glasses of wine a week while pregnant. It will do serious damage to your baby.
Rating: 
Summary: I have to rethink my review...
Review: I read this book when I was pregnant with my son, who is now almost 10 months old. It was very interesting reading, no doubt about it. However, Ms. Kitzinger is very anti-doctor. Don't get me wrong, it's a good thing that she encourages women to ask questions, but obstetricians do know what they're doing. She is anti-pain medication, and anti-episiotomy, both of which helped me out a great deal. I spent 15 hours in labor, and my contractions were 3 to 5 minutes apart the whole time, and I wouldn't have had the strength to push without the pain medication. As for the episiotomy, it truly puzzles me why she'd be against that. I mean, there's a 10 cm. opening, and a baby with a 15 inch head. You do the math! I'm sure mine saved me at least half an hour of pushing time, and that's a big deal after 14 1/2 hours of labor. I believe that Ms. Kitzinger is British, if I remember right. I think that childbirth is less intrusive, less medical in Great Britain. I know that women all over the world have their babies at home, and even did in the U.S. for many years, but I think a hospital is the way to go, even for young, healthy women with normal pregnancies. I have to comment on one previous review. NOWHERE in this book do I remember reading that the author said it was OK to drink any alcohol or a lot of coffee. I think the person who wrote that review meant well, but is totally mixed up. I don't believe there's any pregnancy book out there that condones drinking alcohol.
Rating: 
Summary: Very informative and reassuring
Review: I really liked this book. I thought it was much better than What to Expect When You're Expecting. It has all the same information, but it won't make you feel like every little thing you do during pregnancy will harm your baby. She speaks out very strongly that hospitals and doctors ought to take the patients needs into account above and beyond anything else. I agree with that, but you still need to listen to your doctor! You do have to think for yourself. There is a section on gestational diabetes, and she thinks that the tests for it are intrusive, and that they don't do much good. I don't think diabetes is something you should fool around with, period, and that the tests for it are a good idea.
She gives a lot of options for birth, most of which hadn't occured to me, like a water birth. She encourages you to speak up if something is going on that you don't like during your pregnancy or birth. She encourages fathers to get involved, but realizes that not everyone has a faithful partner. There is helpful information on ways to get ready for giving birth, and useful ideas for recovering in the postpartum period. Read this book with an open mind, though. Some of the ideas do seem radical. The message I like the best in this book is that the woman should do what is right for her, not what is right for the doctor or hospital.
Rating: 
Summary: one of the best
Review: I recntly attended a baby shower with three generations of woman who each have had several children. After talking with them and many elderly women in my community about pregnancy and childbirth, I feel incredibly luck to have this book available to me and other women in my generation. It was only a short itme ago when these women had no books to read about this subject and if they were lucky they had a pamflet giving the most juvenile and conservative information. During my own pregancy just one year ago I found this book to be the most helpful and validating to my own opinions. I have read many books regarding getting pregnant like Taking Charge of Your Fertility. I have read books about being pregnant such as What to Expect When You are Expcting, The Complete Book to Pregnancy and Childbirth, and Your Pregnancy Week by Week.I of course have also read many books about parenting ranging from Dr.Sears Baby Book, Penelope Leach's Your Baby and Child to the Baby wise series and What to Expect the First Year and Toddler Years. All these books have valid points and intersting ideas. To be educated and well informed you need to read all sides, views and ideas! Shelia does a wonderful job giving a well rounded scope of information pulling from all resources available. As an anthropologist or even if she were a doctor she gave us a knowledgable and well designed book reagring such a wonderful experience as preganacy and childbirth! I found it to always be my favorite general information book during my pregnancy.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully informative and pro-woman, pro-child
Review: I've read a lot of books about childbirth while preparing to give birth, and I got this one because my midwife specifically recommended I read "anything" by Sheila Kitzinger. Of all the books I've read, this one ranks as one of my two favorites. I like the author's attitude about birth: it is a natural, normal physiological process in the overwhelming majority of cases, and should be treated as such. The pros and cons of drugs and other interventions are also presented, and while Ms. Kitzinger is undoubtedly pro-natural, I really would not say she is anti-doctor (as some have claimed). She is anti-routine-intervention, and anti-unecessary-intervention, but otherwise I feel that she's simply presenting facts for readers to consider. As the only way to make an intelligent, informed decision about your body and your experience of birth is to be informed, I feel this book goes a very long way toward providing necessary and helpful information to women and their partners.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully informative and pro-woman, pro-child
Review: I've read a lot of books about childbirth while preparing to give birth, and I got this one because my midwife specifically recommended I read "anything" by Sheila Kitzinger. Of all the books I've read, this one ranks as one of my two favorites. I like the author's attitude about birth: it is a natural, normal physiological process in the overwhelming majority of cases, and should be treated as such. The pros and cons of drugs and other interventions are also presented, and while Ms. Kitzinger is undoubtedly pro-natural, I really would not say she is anti-doctor (as some have claimed). She is anti-routine-intervention, and anti-unecessary-intervention, but otherwise I feel that she's simply presenting facts for readers to consider. As the only way to make an intelligent, informed decision about your body and your experience of birth is to be informed, I feel this book goes a very long way toward providing necessary and helpful information to women and their partners.
Rating:
Summary: A childbirth book for women who hate men
Review: If you're a shouting feminist and single mother-to-be, you'll probably enjoy this book. If, however, you aren't, then read "What to Expect When You're Expecting" instead of this screed. Kitzinger can't seem to help editorializing about the supposed past degradation of women in childbirth, all at the hands of men. The commentary was both insulting and irrelevant. Beyond that, the book is nothing more--or less--than your run-of-the-mill informative book on childbrith.
Rating: 
Summary: Very informative but not gospel
Review: Ms. Kitzinger's book was recommended during my childbirth class and is very helpful in its description of medical terms, procedures, and fetal development. Looking at the other reviews, I, too, thought that there could be no way any pregnancy book would condone drinking alcohol during pregnancy. However, I went home and continued reading the book and came across the section on drugs and was horrified to see that she does. After talking about the potentially harmful effects of alcohol during pregnancy, Ms. Kitzinger goes on to say that most women can drink moderately and have "perfect babies". She says to limit yourself to 10 units of alcohol per week and spread it out during the week; one unit being a glass of wine or half a pint of beer. That sounds like an awful lot of alcohol even if it is spread out during the week, who should take the risk? I don't have the book with me so I don't know what page exactly but it was in the section about drugs during pregnancy. Besides this, I agree with most of what Ms. Kitzinger says and truly enjoy the pictures that illustrate different positions to take during labor, and relaxation exercises. Like any other book, take the information that makes sense to you and discard what doesn't. Still a valuable book.
Rating:
Summary: Empowering Informative and Beautiful
Review: My husband and I are planning to start a family next year. This is by far the best book I have read on preganancy and childbirth. Ms. Kitzinger provides readers with a wealth of medical information on their bodies and pregancy in simple and concise terms. She also devotes much time to exploring the emotional and social issues of being pregnant and having a family. I feel so much more prepared and empowered to make well educated decisions about my health care in regards to my planned pregancy. The photos of the birth process and the newborns are spectacular! I can look at them for hours. It is so nice to see women giving birth in different positions, and especially to see photos of the time just after birth where the parents greet their new addition. This is a must for any woman who is pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant.
Rating:
Summary: Indispensible guide for the pregnancy journey
Review: Seven years ago, going through an unmarried pregnancy, 1000 miles away from my family and support system, this book provided real and intelligent answers to my questions about the changes in my body, what was happening with my unborn baby and what I could expect after his birth. The book provided specific and relavant answers my questions and even gave me answers to questions I would not have thought to ask. I give this book to all my friends who are expecting.
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