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Summary: This is Daddy's guide to Mommy's Pregnancy
Review: I don't believe this book is sexist! I do, however, believe it is written to the husband and is intended to interest him and involve him in the process of pregnancy, BIRTH, and parenthood. I started reading it, and then shared it just a little bit with my dear husband, and he ended up finishing it before I was able to! If we weren't able to read it aloud together, we actually argued over who got to take it to work! I appreciated the way Dr. Bradley understands childbirth and the frankness with which he describes the "normal, and natural" procedures of the mother's body **so that her husband can understand.** The emphasis is on proper mind and body training to prepare for an athletic event that everyone should look forward to "joyfully"! I also like the practicality of the nutrition and excercise recommendations. If you are looking for a thoroughly healthful, husband-inclusive guide to "do it yourself" pregnancy, you will enjoy this book! If your situation is something different from mine, you may want to look for other options, but there is still a lot of helpful info you can take from Husband Coached Childbirth, and the Bradley Method. Good Luck Everyone!!
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Summary: Learn about Natural Childbirth
Review: I felt that this book was very well written. I got it as a gift from a friend and was very grateful. I thought that to have a baby you needed to be drugged to fight the pain, this is an untrue myth that a lot of people believe. The Bradley Method allowed me to have a drug free birth with my second child and it was the most empowering experiences that I have ever had. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about natural child birth the way God intended.
Rating: 
Summary: Too one-sided in perspective to be useful to me
Review: I found this book a big disappointment - quite egotistical and sexist in tone, and very biased in pushing one way of viewing childbirth. If you're looking for a middle way between the extreme anti-drug and pro-drug attitudes, you're likely to be disappointed as well.
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Summary: Buy "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way" instead
Review: I had a drug-free childbirth, thanks in part to the Bradley Method. To prepare, I took Bradley classes and read both "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way" by Susan McCutcheon and this book. The thing that disturbed me most about this book is that Dr. Bradley insinuates repeatedly that childbirth doesn't really hurt as long as you follow his instructions. Believe me, it hurts. I think Dr. Bradley has since passed away, but if he were alive, I'd really like to ask him how many times HE gave birth. I prefer to get my information from a more reliable source -- a woman who has given birth herself. If you're only going to read one book, read "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way." If you're an information junkie like myself, read this one too. There's certainly a lot of info and it makes for interesting reading.
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Summary: This book helped more than my Bradley Classes
Review: I read about the Bradley Method of Natural childbirth during my early months of pregnancy, was intrigued, and bought this book. I really found it helpful-- I got my husband to read it too. While the book's complete lack of pictures tended to be frustrating at times, especially in the exercise section, I found that having to read the actual description made me pay more attention and helped me remember what to do. After I read and understood the description, I wasn't dependent on the picture to do it right. The breathing description Dr. Bradley gives is the best thing I did during my labor -- before going into labor I found it also helps with headaches :) -- and they did not teach it in my Bradley class. After finishing Husband Coached Childbirth, I ended up wanting a book with pictures, and bought Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way as well. Between these two books I had a very pleasant birth experience with no pain medications. And after reading them, the Bradley classes themselves were overkill.I did like Husband Coached Childbirth quite a bit and got a lot of information from it, however, I do not think you need to own it. After reading it through once, I never felt compelled to go back and read it again. I would suggest checking this one out from your local library, reading it through, especially the breathing description, and purchasing Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way instead.
Rating: 
Summary: good background info.
Review: I Recommend this book as a companion to Natural Childbirth the Bradley way. The book has a lot of great background information and is interesting to read. It does not, however, have the practical information that you would need for childbirth, look for that in Natural Childbirth the Bradley way. It is this book that got me interested in Natural childbirth in the first place.
My mom had a horrible labor when she gave birth to me. I expected a simlar ordeal when I had my daughter. I thought for sure that I would need drugs, because if women who had drugs told me how bad the pain was it must be awful without them. When I read this book it made me feel that labor might not be so bad after all. My husband and I took the bradley classes and by the end felt educated and confident about the birthing process. I had my daughter naturally 20 days ago with no intervention. My mom was present and was amazed at how well the birth went. I am recommending this book to all my pregnant friends.
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Summary: Old fashioned, patronizing, conservative approach
Review: I was extremely disasppointed with this book. The tone caters to the lowest intellectual common denominator with overly simplistic, obvious commentary. The language and voice are stilted, and Bradley ruins content that could otherwise be useful. His statements regarding the impact of diet and drugs on the fetus are in many cases inaccurate and misleading. In addition, he makes continual references to god which are unnecessary and add no value. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
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Summary: For those of us who need convincing!
Review: I'm currently reading "Husband-Coached Childbirth" for the second time with my second pregnancy. "HCC" gave me more reasons and ammo (for those who thought I was crazy) to "go natural" with my first child. While this is a wonderful book full of labor and delivery theory, I find that Dr. Bradley is a little unrealistic about the intensity of childbirth. He states that "many women feel pain and discomfort." I felt LOTS OF PAIN AND DISCOMFORT! Couple this book with "Naural Childbirth the Bradley Way," Bradley Classes and a Doula. It provides wonderful reassurance that you aren't crazy, and YES, you can deliver without medication!
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Summary: Dr. Bradley was my mom's doctor in 1957
Review: I've never read the book, however my mom and dad were one of Dr. Bradley's "guinea pigs". In 1957, it WAS unheard of for the father to be in the delivery room, coaching his wife. The book may sound a bit out-dated, but my mother is a strong believer, even to this day. I was her third child, and I am the only birth she remembers as an enjoyable experience. She only has GREAT things to say about Dr. Bradley. Try the book - and just remember that Dr. Bradley was delivering babies in the 50's - but it's the same way we give birth today!
Rating:
Summary: Dr. Bradley was my mom's doctor in 1957
Review: I've never read the book, however my mom and dad were one of Dr. Bradley's "guinea pigs". In 1957, it WAS unheard of for the father to be in the delivery room, coaching his wife. The book may sound a bit out-dated, but my mother is a strong believer, even to this day. I was her third child, and I am the only birth she remembers as an enjoyable experience. She only has GREAT things to say about Dr. Bradley. Try the book - and just remember that Dr. Bradley was delivering babies in the 50's - but it's the same way we give birth today!
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