Unassisted Childbirth

Rating:
Summary: Different Perspective of Birth
Review: Ignore the negative reviews on this book because those people have obviously not experienced unassisted childbirth. This book, along with other UC books, support groups, the net, etc. has inspired me to give birth unassisted to a beautiful baby boy.If I wouldn't have come across this book when I was pregnant, I would have done the norm and invited a lot of intervention during my birth. Intervention can cause "complications". I gave birth MY WAY. The way women have been doing it for thousands of years. And I never looked back.After my birth, I gained POWER, felt STRONG, and INDEPENDANT. I wouldn't have felt like this if I had given birth in the hospital or with a midwife. In no way does this book tell you to give birth unassisted like the author, but it can be done. In order for you to have a UC, you have to get rid of your fears, shame and guilt. Birth, just like conceiving a child, is a private ordeal. You didn't conceive a child with a doctor in the bedroom, why should you give birth having a doctor between your privates? That is your spouse/partner's domain. I hope that this book will inspire you to gain back your power that society has taken away for a really long time, so you can give birth YOUR WAY.

Rating:
Summary: Philosophical psychobabble BLEH!
Review: In this book, Laura Shanley has single-handedly started a revolution, and once you have read it, there is no going back. In clear, confessional and honest prose, she tells the story of her own unassisted births and explores the mind-body-spirit connection not only as it related to childbirth, but as it relates to the human experience. Her message is clear: women are the experts when it comes to their bodies and their births, and there is no one - doctors, midwives, partners - who can do it better. She makes a powerful case for autonomous birth, and this book, if nothing else, will force you to think out of the obstetric box. If every woman in America (heck, all over the world!) got her hands on this book, we would have a calmer, more centered, and much more peaceful society where women take back the power that is inherently theirs - the power of birth.

Rating:
Summary: Powerful, Affirming, and Inspiring
Review: In this book, Laura Shanley has single-handedly started a revolution, and once you have read it, there is no going back. In clear, confessional and honest prose, she tells the story of her own unassisted births and explores the mind-body-spirit connection not only as it related to childbirth, but as it relates to the human experience. Her message is clear: women are the experts when it comes to their bodies and their births, and there is no one - doctors, midwives, partners - who can do it better. She makes a powerful case for autonomous birth, and this book, if nothing else, will force you to think out of the obstetric box. If every woman in America (heck, all over the world!) got her hands on this book, we would have a calmer, more centered, and much more peaceful society where women take back the power that is inherently theirs - the power of birth.

Rating:
Summary: Different Perspective of Birth
Review: Ladies, ignore the inflated prices on the used and "collectible" copies, and buy it directly from the author on her website for $19.95 (www.unassistedbirth.com). She'll even sign it for you; she did mine...
Thanks again Laura....just had my second Unassisted Birth 9 weeks ago!
Cherry

Rating:
Summary: Save some money, buy the book from Laura herself...
Review: Ladies, ignore the inflated prices on the used and "collectible" copies, and buy it directly from the author on her website for $19.95 (www.unassistedbirth.com). She'll even sign it for you; she did mine...
Thanks again Laura....just had my second Unassisted Birth 9 weeks ago!
Cherry

Rating:
Summary: Empowers women with trust in their bodies to give birth.
Review: Laura Kaplan Shanley shares her personal journey of self-discovery in this book which educates women about their bodies' natural instincts in childbirth. She shares many quotes from the books which inspired her to trust her body's ability to birth. Shanley demonstrates the role of psychology in the perception of pain. Through dream interpretation, meditation, and mental mantras, she shows the ability to gain control in situations which many may deem uncontrollable. It seems to have worked well for her, although I question if it would be suitable for all women, because of the immense energy and faith which one must exert in order to achieve what Shanley has. This book not only applies to childbirth, but also to the spiritual nature of life in general and the impact that it can have on our destiny

Rating:
Summary: Empowers Women to Trust Their Bodies' Ability to Give Birth
Review: Laura Kaplan Shanley shares her personal journey of self-discovery in this book which educates women about their bodies' natural instincts in childbirth. She shares many quotes from the books which inspired her to trust her body's ability to birth. Shanley demonstrates the role of psychology in the perception of pain. Through dream interpretation, meditation, and mental mantras, she shows the ability to gain control in situations which many may deem uncontrollable. It seems to have worked well for her, although I question if it would be suitable for all women, because of the immense energy and faith which one must exert in order to achieve what Shanley has. This book not only applies to childbirth, but also to the spiritual nature of life in general and the impact that it can have on our destiny.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book
Review: Laura Shanley is an amazing woman and her wonderful book really inspired me. It provides a totally different way of looking at birth. It was wonderful to read the words of someone so courageous and true to herself. Our son was born unassisted and Laura Shanley's book helped point me down the path to such a beautiful, gentle experience for my family. It is definately worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: Free your mind and your body
Review: Laura Shanley's Unassisted Childbirth is not a How To manual. These are the stories of one family's experience of birthing their own way. Laura Shanley does not say, Do what I'm doing. She does not set herself up as an expert. She says, Do it your way. Do not allow your mind or your body to be controlled by experts, even Laura Shanley. I read the book. I did not do it her way, but reading her way helped me to find my way. I birthed unassisted. I went through the whole pregnancy unassisted. I was not lucky--I was smart. For Laura Shanley to take an unpopular view, and put herself in public talking about this view, makes her a woman I can admire. This book helped me become a better me.

Rating:
Summary: Grateful for this book
Review: Laura shows how wonderful childbirth can be! There is an emphasis on enjoying childbirth, not suriving it. She writes how natural and instinctive it is. She also writes how birth has changed over the generations. This book had a surprising amount of spirituality and self -discovery that was a welcomed surprise. Laura writes (and cites other authors) about how our personal beliefs can influence birth. The best part of this book were the chapters on dreams and Laura's own story.

One last comment. In no way does Laura advocate UC for every woman. She writes "Many women simply do want want to deliver their own babies... I thoroughly support women in whatever way the choose to give birth... Therefore, I present unassisted childbirth not as a way childbirth *should* be, but rather as a way it *can* be done."

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