Active Birth: The New Approach to Giving Birth Naturally

Rating:
Summary: Most helpful birth book I read.
Review: I read 22 birth books to prepare for a home birth, and this book was the best. I recommend it to any pregnant woman for a more relaxed, normal birth in or out of the hospital.

Rating:
Summary: Very informative
Review: I read this book in preparation for the birth of my first. In addition to Lamaze instruction, I found this book to be very informative in describing techniques to help prepare me for the birth itself. It outlined pain management techniques, which seemed practical. The technical and scientific explanations of how the body changes during pregnancy and birth and made me feel very comfortable with the birthing experience. The only thing it didn't really touch on was cesearean delivery and how to be actively particapating in this procedure or what to do afterward in terms of bonding while being separated from the baby. I never got to use the active birthing techniques as my son was delivered 6 weeks prematurely through an emergency cesearan, but I felt that I was prepared for the active birth experience I wanted and felt very confident about it after reading this book.

Rating:
Summary: Helpful for ANY type of birth
Review: I read this book to prepare for labor thinking, like most women, that there was no chance of complications if I prepared properly for a natural birth. Alas, we never know exactly how it will turn out, and both of my children were born by caesarian section. BUT, this book was invaluable in preparing for labor! The yoga exercises not only help to prepare for birth, but offer ways to exercise gently, improve circulation, and quiet your mind in the late months of pregnancy. The skills of meditation I learned by doing the exercises were useful in dealing with whatever occurred during my labor, including the unexpected. I credit the insights and skills taught in this book for the empowerment I felt at the birth of my children.

Rating:
Summary: Highly recommend for all pregnant women!
Review: I recommend this book for all pregnant women- whether you are determined to have a natural childbirth, know for sure you will use drugs, or somewhere in between. After reading this book, I am less scared of the childbirth process.
The book is wonderful. It explains some positions that can help in childbirth, and that will make contractions more effective (and offers good explanations as to why) and has a section of pregnancy yoga so you are prepared to use those positions. There also is a section on how to cope with pain.
As far as the pictures in the book go- if you are offended by the childbirth process and pictures depicting it, then you may not want to get this book. These are natural pictures of women having babies. Yes some are naked, but I don't find them offensive at all.
I *know* I will use some kind of painkiller during childbirth, but I am determined to go as long as I can without them. This book makes a very stong and logical case for being active during labor and delivery. I didn't feel that the author put down anyone who preferred a hospital birth - there's a chapter on how to have an active birth in a hospital. She did make strong points against using drugs in labor, but again, I didn't feel she was totally against using them- she said that there are some cases where the benefits of painkillers may be worth the risks. I definitely didn't get a sense of "hospitals and painkillers are evil" like I have with other birthing books. Another birthing book you may want to look into that doesn't have that attitude is "Birthing Partner."
Again, I cannot recommend this book enough. It offers a lot of knowledge and reassurance for pregnant women.

Rating:
Summary: help to birth at home
Review: I used it succesfully,and I give it to friends wich attend child.The best book I had during my pregnancy,better than french ones.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent resource for Pregnant women and their caregiver
Review: I wanted detailed information about how to use various supported squat positions to give birth, but had trouble finding a book that did anything more than say "squatting is best..."
This book delivered big time! Not only did it give detailed pictures and written instructions for how the woman can squat, it also told exactly how the partner can physically support the different squat positions, and why they work best for birth. I feel like now I can go to my caregiver (I am birthing in the hospital) equipped to explain why I wish to give birth in the position that feels best to me, instead of flat on my back with my feet in stirrups as I did last time. The only thing about this book that was a little "freakish" to me was the photos from the early 90's of naked hippie women and their partners during bith. While the photos were helpful in and of themselves because they further illustrate the positions, it was a little off-putting to see a man with a giant afro holding his partner... :)

Rating:
Summary: An excellent resource for Pregnant women and their caregiver
Review: I wanted detailed information about how to use various supported squat positions to give birth, but had trouble finding a book that did anything more than say "squatting is best..."
This book delivered big time! Not only did it give detailed pictures and written instructions for how the woman can squat, it also told exactly how the partner can physically support the different squat positions, and why they work best for birth. I feel like now I can go to my caregiver (I am birthing in the hospital) equipped to explain why I wish to give birth in the position that feels best to me, instead of flat on my back with my feet in stirrups as I did last time. The only thing about this book that was a little "freakish" to me was the photos from the early 90's of naked hippie women and their partners during bith. While the photos were helpful in and of themselves because they further illustrate the positions, it was a little off-putting to see a man with a giant afro holding his partner... :)

Rating:
Summary: Helped me have a much easier birth....
Review: I was induced, but with the information and techniques I learned from this book, I was able to still have an unmedicated birth. I was able to keep my induction from turning into a C-section, kept myself relatively comfortable, and birthed my child within a few minutes of pushing.
My sister-in-law was in much better shape going into her pregnancy, and she couldn't believe that I was able to do the things I did without running out of energy or strength. I didn't even begin these techniques until I was a month away from my delivery!!!

Rating:
Summary: Completely Inspiring!
Review: I wasn't very happy with my first child's birth and felt like I had very little control over my health care. My 2nd pregnancy I used this book and I felt very empowered to make decisions about the way I wanted to have the baby. The breathing recommended in the book is yoga-based and I found it gave me more control during labor. I've decided to give a copy to every pregnant friend in the hopes that they'll have a better birthing experience because of it.

Rating:
Summary: A great guide for my 2nd birth
Review: I wasn't very happy with my first child's birth and felt like I had very little control over my health care. My 2nd pregnancy I used this book and I felt very empowered to make decisions about the way I wanted to have the baby. The breathing recommended in the book is yoga-based and I found it gave me more control during labor. I've decided to give a copy to every pregnant friend in the hopes that they'll have a better birthing experience because of it.