Rating: Summary: birthingnaturally.net recommends this book. Review: This was the first book I bought about birth, and it is still the best. Rather than being another version of the same old tired and useless "just be happy do what you're told" you get from other books, the authors have created a source of information that is relevant and actually helpful to parents. The authors (a pediatriction and a nurse) begin by making it clear that they are supporters of natural birth, and explain why using their experiences, published research and history. However, they go on to present the most unbiased collection of information I have found in any book promoting natural or medicated birth. They not only explain why you might not want a test or procedure (missing in most childbirth books), but also why and when it is helpful and necessary (missing in many 'natural birth' books). If you are looking for a book that will tell you "what to expect" from your ob, this book is not it. The authors write about every decision that is made as the parents decision, supporting the parents right to choose how they give birth. Having both sides of the issue provides families with the information they need to make decisions for themselves. The authors provide the information in a way that makes it easy to bring the book with you to your doctor/midwife appointments as a tool to discuss your birth options. Most of the "labor" information is how to labor without medication. This makes sense when you realize that it only takes a couple pages to expain what medications are available and how they work, but volumes have been written on other things that can be done to help a woman in labor. Additionally, because there is less health risk involved with natural birth any true review of the pros and cons of medicated vs. natural will always appear to favor natural. In addition to providing information about ways to handle labor, the authors have written a book that encourages mothers and builds confidence in birthing abilty (which according to published research is the main contributing factor to being successful in natural birth plans).
|