Rating: 
Summary: Book is great regardless of intent to use medication
Review: I think those who said this book is only for those who want a perfectly "natural" childbirth didn't read the whole thing. The very beginning discusses the authors' births and a little history of birthing and says negative things about the way medications used to be used in labor and delivery (I don't think anyone today is going to have ether suggested to them) the book does however, later, paint a positive picture of ways medical intervention can be good, and sometimes necessary. There is actually a part in the book that states not to be disappointed if you and your caregiver decide you need pain relief/further medical intervention. The book is designed to give information to help women make informed choices about their labor and encourages women to try and have a birthing experience designed the way they want it. I honestly wish I had purchased this book when I was pregnant with my first child. Information on the various forms of pain relief, while included in the book, are most definitely available from a variety of sources, where as very few explain that labor does not always and does not have to hurt and few explain alternative ways of dealing with pain beyond breathing and focal points. This book does that. I do wish that an updated version would be written (the copywrite date on this is 1994). Also people should remember that this is a Birth book, primarily about labor and childbirth (but still should be read in the beginning of pregnancy, or even before getting pregnant). Some noted that they were disappointed about the lack of information on pregnancy. Purchase the Sears' Pregnancy book for such information. I would also strongly recommend information on HypnoBirthing or birthing hypnosis for those that would like to avoid using pain medications or those interested in a VBAC. These aren't as strange as they might sound, they really honestly deal with teaching the mother how to relax her body so that it does not work against itself, causing pain, and instead the muscles work together. I believe there is a statistic 90% or more who use hypnobirthing need no medication or medical intervention during labor and delivery and most say they experienced no pain and had complete awareness of the delivery and their surroundings.
Rating: 
Summary: The Birth Book
Review: I am greatly disappointed by this book. While it does provide a great deal of valuable informaion about all types of birthing styles and options available to birthing mothers, there is a strong tendency of the authors to be quite negative toward the main-stream hospital birth with an OBGYN. It is quite evident that the authors feel that all natural, even home delivery is the best way to go. As an expecting mother, I find this infomation and how it is presented to be condesending and full of guilt/shame for those of us not interested in the "all-natural" delivery. I feel that a more objective approach would be more helpful. Furthermore, the other books by Sears, MD and Sears, RN are much the same way. If you are even thinking you might breast and bottle feed...don't bother reading their breastfeeding book...you'll just feel guilty and bad if you don't succeed with their way.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Read!
Review: This is one of the best birth books we have come across! There are many different philosophies to child birth, and while Sears does have his own opinion, he provides information regarding all your birth choices in an accurate and non-judgemental way. I would recommend this book regardless of the birthing style you are wishing to pursue, as this book will give you honest, complete, and accurate information about all your choices.
Rating: 
Summary: Read this book with a grain of salt
Review: This book is increadibly biased. The theme is unmedicated home births attended by your doula and midwife. If you are planning to deliver in a hospital with a ob/gyn and don't want to feel like a failure for considering medication, this book is definately not for you. The book basically blames the majority of things that can go awry on medication and zealous doctors. My biggest complaint is it equates your degree of womanhood to your ability to have a vaginal unmedicated birth. Funny, I never knew the size of my pelvis determined my womanhood. A much better balanced choice is Pregnancy Chilbirth & the Newborn by Simkin, Whalley and Keppler
Rating:
Summary: Great book for first timers!
Review: As a first time mom-to-be, I was very nervous and scared about labor. A lady on one of my Yahoo pregnancy groups recommended this book to the group and I'm soooo glad she did!! It has helped calm so many of my fears and prepare myself both physically and emotionally for the birth of my child. I have recommended this book already to several other first time moms who are scared about labor. Given, they do encourage a drug-free delivery, but they do cover ALL the options available and give you the information you need to make an educated decision. If you have any fear about labor, you must give this book a try! It really will help! :)
Rating:
Summary: The Birth Book; Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe
Review: I was thrilled at the prospect of husband/wife team of authors then I opened this book and was greatly disappointed. If you prefer a birthing center, midwives, and giving birth in water -this is the book for you. If you are looking for a book about routine HMO covered hospital births, ob/gyns, or possible use of anesthesia - this book IS NOT FOR YOU.
Rating:
Summary: excellent birth wisdom
Review: My wife and I used all the Sears books as our main reference. This one provided fabulous guidance through the whole birth process. Yes it advocates natural birth, and many people don't suscribe to that birth philosophy. But in the end everybody has to decide whether they trust their own bodies and mother nature, or modern medical science and hospitals. We put our money on mother nature and had a relatively problem free natural birth! And while this did create some tension at the very technology rich hospital, I feel that our baby, with a 9.9 Agpar score, was very much the better for it. And while the birth was no picnic for my wife, she says it wasn't unbearable, and she highly recomends natural birth.
Rating: 
Summary: I learned all the info in here somewhere else.
Review: I bought both this and the pregnancy book by Sears and I never read this one. I opened it a few times and skimmed through just to notice that all the info I had alrady read in the pregnancy book. I still have it if you want to buy it. Mint Condition.
Rating:
Summary: What a Great Reference Book!
Review: I picked this book up when I was in my seventh month, and boy was I glad I did. It not only prepared me for what options I have, but also prepared me what may happen if things don't go perfectly (when do they ever?). I had a harrowing 24 hour induced labor, and I honestly don't think it would have still been a rewarding experience without having read this book first. I strongly recommend this to anyone expecting their first baby (fathers included!!).
Rating:
Summary: best birth book I read
Review: This is an informative but very readable source for just about every question you could have about birth and labor. The authors favor a low-intervention, "natural" style of labor, but present options for pain medication in a balanced way and help you make the choices that are right for YOU after getting all the relevant facts. There are excellent sections on stages of labor, relaxation techniques (which you will still need even if you do get medical pain relief), medical interventions such as forceps, vacuum, c-section, etc., birthing positions and prenatal preparatory exercises, birth plans, and choosing your provider and birth setting. There is also a nice section of individual birth stories to illustrate the variety of experiences women have in labor and birth.
The book only gets four stars because it was written 8 or 10 years ago and really needs to be updated. Some of the medical info is a little behind, and some of the hospital policies they discuss such as rooming-in, labor whirlpools, delaying nursery interventions, and others are standard now in many hospitals.
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