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Summary: The best book for telling you what to expect, without fear.
Review: This is the best book I've found that talks about birth, without setting out to instill fear in the new mother. It does deal with all the "bad stuff" of labor and birth, such as cesareans, epidurals, and episiotomoies. But at the same time that it discusses them, the authors are honest in their suggestions of when and how to avoid them, as well as when you need to have otherwise unwanted medical interventions (and how to feel good about making a choice yourself, rather than having it forced on you). Everything they say is common sense. I particularly like their psychology of dealing with labor. (Focus on relaxing and allowing the body to do what it naturally knows how to do.) Again, it seems realistic but positive, instead of instilling fear.This book is on my list of items to take with me to the hospital, for the birth of my first child. I believe that my husband and I will be able to refer to it during labor, to help us decide how to deal with situations that may come up.
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Summary: Essential for expectant moms
Review: I read The Birth Book in my 4th month of pregnancy with my second baby. My first birth experience had been absolutely atrocious: I was drugged beyond belief by doctors and nurses who thought a groggy mother was better than one able to make choices for herself. Reading this book convinced me to dump my cattle-car OB practice and find a certified nurse-midwife/obstetrician practice, one of the best decisions of the pregnancy. Due to complications, it was of vital importance that I deliver unmedicated, something this book's wisdom enabled me to do. I had the birth I wanted under extremely difficult circumstances, and I credit this book with the knowledge of how to achieve it.
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Summary: True Birth Stories are so helpful!
Review: I agree with the other five star reviews, but want to add the thing that sets this book apart from others. This book includes true birth stories and they are wonderful! I saved them for the last month and they were a great treat. It was helpful to read about various scenarios; everything from c-section deliveries, to totally natural labor/delivery, to combinations in between. Each story described how labor began, how it progressed, pitfalls, triumphs. Each story was totally different, and hearing that there were so many "right" ways to deliver helped me relax and be open to whatever was going to happen. Even Dr. Sears's daughter-in-law's story is in the book, and her delivery was no more "perfect" than anyone else's! I've given this book to a friend who's a bit panicky about her delivery and she says it has helped! I KNOW it helped me because I advocated for what I wanted, got it, and had the most beautiful day of my life as a result!
Rating:
Summary: Empowering and informative
Review: I bought this book when I was pregnant with my first child (born three weeks ago:). At the time I was clueless and terrified about the whole birth process. This book was exactly what I needed. I found it to be very empowering in terms of helping me have confidence in my own body's ability to labor and birth a healthy child. I also felt that it gave me the information that I needed to take charge of my own experience. During the pregnancy process you hear so many rumors and you have so many options! Without more information, it is easy to end up confused and feeling like you have to follow whatever your doctor's opinion may be. This book gave me the information that I needed to be an active player in the medical decisions regarding my pregnancy and birth. Although I ended up with an emergency c-section, I felt that the knowledge and confidence gained from this book helped me to know that the section truly was necessary and that I was involved and informed mother. I would recommend this book to any pregnant woman!
Rating: 
Summary: Make me feel miserable
Review: I read this book when I was 4 months pregnant. At the very beginning of my pregnancy, I was thinking to have a C-section because I don't think I have a high tolerance towards pain. BUT, after understanding more about childbirth, I was convinced that natural birth is a better choice. When I start reading this book, I really enjoy the information provided, and it was encouraging (only at the beginning). But as I go on, I feel strange. Obviously, the author can tolerate the labor pain very well and she explained that the feeling of not experiencing the pain during the birth of her first child (she was given spinal anesthesia) makes her feel that she is a passive bystander. Well, I hope that she can understand that not every mother wants to go through this pain if there are alternatives (i.e. with the help of pain relievers ...) And as I read on, the author is getting more and more subjective. She even recommend having the birth at home... As I lived in Asia and it is not common to have birth at home as it is basically not available and not recommend ... It makes me feel uncomfortable and miserable on how I should take the natural birth ... and I have to stop reading it and I almost throw it away... I will not recommend this book unless you really are strong enough to go through a really "natural" labor (using the most primitive way)
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Summary: Put my mind at ease.
Review: I am a first time mother. Until I read this book, I was terrified of the birthing process. I have had sever menstrual cramps my entire life and since my first miscarriage the cramps came like contractions. I had found that moving around (pacing and squatting) helped to elevate the pain. Would I be able to do that during labor? Would I have control of what was done to me during labor? This book was very empowering for me. It explains in detail the birthing process and gave me the courage to say "No, I DON'T want to be tied to a bed during labor." Of course every hospital and OB/GYN is different, but this book gave me the courage to shop around and find MY preferred birth attendant and facility. It also reminded me that "things" can happen and to not be disappointed if I don't deliver "au natural". In my opinion, if you're a first time mother, know a first time mother, or know a mother who had a disappointing delivery, this book is a must. ******UPDATE*************** Thanks to this book I had the birth of my dreams. 20 hr undmedicated, no epi, labor tub, doula, and husband supported birth.
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Summary: This is a wonderful book...
Review: I really loved this book. I wasn't even pregnant when I read it, but I still couldn't put it down. It isn't just a book for women who want to have a natural birth, but for all women who are going through birth. I would recomend it to everyone!
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Summary: Choices, YOU have a CHOICE in how your birth goes.
Review: All i know is that this book OPENED my eyes on birthing and how we as woman have a CHOICE in how we choose to have our babies. The book talks about how midwifery started and that not many OB's stay with a laboring mother due to the fact that they are not trained for NORMAL births, for which my OB informed me, when I opened my mouth that i was going to have a Home birth, she said, so what happens if something goes wrong and just the negativity from everyone didn't help when i chose that i WAS going to have MY birth the WAY I Wanted it. My son is now a year old and my labor didn't have anything go wrong, other than the fact that i highly DOUBT the docs would have let me birth him standing up when i was having back labor the whole 1hour 15 min. stood up and there he was and i tore with my second one badly that this last one my midwife helped massage(has how to do that in the book) me enough that i got just a surface tear, for which i doubt if the doc would have done such a thing but then there are too many things i had changed when i had my third. The book talks about birthing plans and gives you the information to make the right choice for you. and it does almost cover(since i am not an expert)everything about birth. And I like the way the book is written, it has some humor in it and experiences. I wish i would have had this book for my first birthing expereince, it would have answered so many questions and also ease the fears i had of labor. with each child i am learning, I had my 3rd at home, and hope to have a home/water birth for my fourth. I highly recommend this book for any woman.
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Summary: Beautifully Written, Informative Advocacy for Natural Birth
Review: This book is SO much more accessible than the Bradley book which we used for our childbirth class. I wish I had had it before having two babies! I really enjoy the personal stories that the Sears use in all their books to illustrate their points... at the beginning of this book they describe the births of all 8 of their children. I found the section on prenatal tests particularly illuminating. Most books talk about amnios and such, but few talk about the consequences of fetal monitoring or ultrasounds in much detail. After reading this book I feel much more equipped to attempt a second natural birth... I have even had thoughts about home birth, but fear we are too far from the hospital. The Sears' make a strong point that fear and tension during labor greatly contributes to pain. They see pain as a natural barometer and suggest that severe pain indicates a change is needed. This change could be as simple as changing positions and moving about, or it might indicate that some intervention is needed. Although they strongly advocate natural birth, the Sears' view medication during birth as one tool (not without possible complications) to help achieve a satisfying birth experience. Much emphasis is put on upright laboring and birthing positions, to increase mobility and to utilize gravity. Having found it a great help myself, I enjoyed reading about using the tub during labor and wished they had spent more time talking about birthing in water. I am strongly considering this possibility in my next birth. The final section of the book contains references and suggestions for further reading on particular topics. Overall a very useful book which does a wonderful job of balancing their advocacy for natural unmedciated birth with respect for what medicine has to offer!
Rating:
Summary: This is a must have for anyone preparing for their own event
Review: This book gives a woman power to make decisions through education about her decision making in her "ideal birth". It is also great for the expentant father to read because it helps him know and feel that he is truly a part of that momentous event. I would recommend this book to any and everyone.
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