Rating: 
Summary: The truth is long overdue
Review: I was lucky enough to take an independant child birth education class and had learnd a lot of what Naomi talks about in her book. My husband and I went into our birth with a wealth of knowledge and were able to have the birth I wanted. I listen to my friends who take the hospital endorsed classes and know they have no chance of having anything other than the birth the hospital wants. This book reveals all the truths the childbirth industry doesn't want you to know.The other aspect of the book that I really related to was the emotional side of being pregnant, and the transition into motherhood. It wasn't until I was a mother did I realize how unrespected and unsupported mothers are in the public eye. This book put into words how I was feeling, and made me feel normal, and angry and wanting to demand more.
Rating: 
Summary: What every woman should read before giving birth
Review: This is a must read for every woman. I will use this information to ask questions and advocate for myself through the medical establishment. I've recommended this book to all my women friends of child bearing age!
Rating: 
Summary: Good points but some faults also
Review: This was an eye-opening book for me. I'm not a mother, I'm not even married, so I haven't yet looked into all these issues in depth. I also don't live in the US. So it was interesting to read about the health system there, which seems to be on the one hand very much intervention-oriented but on the other hand, there is a continually growing natural-birth movement, which is very good. I've read all of Naomi Wolf's previous books, & as I can recall, each & every one was met with lots of criticism when they first came out. There are flaws in this book, but it's a 'story' that needs to be told. As many other readers have noted, Wolf is a world-known feminist, & the fact that she decided to tackle this difficult issue may help in more public awareness of the problems of childbirth & pregnancy. One criticism I found extremely unfair is that Naomi "whines". It's true that the book has a general negative feeling about pregnancy & childbirth: but it's also true that 99,9% of information for mothers-to-be show a glowing, content, totally calm & fullfilling experience. Sure, there's talk about the pain of labour. But apart from that, there's little aknowledgment in society of a)post-partum depression, b) womens' frustration & sense of failure when they don't manage as well as they hoped work & child-rearing & when their husbands are only "helpers" & not equal partners in the new responsibilities. These issues have to be handled by the woman herself, while everyone around her finds it hard to see these difficulties. I've seen this happening in many of my friends' lives, I've seen the disappointment & the difficulties, & it would be so much better, first of all for the children, if mothers were better cared-for by their husbands but also by society as whole. Naomi Wolf proposes some interesting changes & gives some ideas at the end of the book, so that's a start. Another unfair argument is that Naomi Wolf is "privileged", that she has a sense of entitlement. Also, some readers have asked- "what is she complaining about? she had a healthy baby didn't she". Since when does the fact that a woman is well-off take away her right & even responsibility to talk about everything she's learnt? Since when does that fact that a woman had a healthy baby mean that she has to forget & erase all she went through before that? It's as if she should be grateful or something, when the fact is that most women do have healthy babies but most women also aren't encouraged to talk about their negative experiences as well as the positive. Women like Wolf have the knowledge, time & yes money to do good research & to shout out loud all this information that has to be heard. So it's not only in her self-interest that she does this, it's in the interest of all women. Even though I liked this book, there are a couple of things I wasn't happy with. First, the fact that some of Wolf's points were not very clear, & they were even contradictory at times. For example her view about abortion confused & angered me. She does not take a clear pro-choice position but rather says she takes this position while on the other hand she finds herself confused & persuaded partly by pro-lifers. Also, she talks about breast-feeding glowingly, & then goes on to put down "La leche league" as "lactation fascists". A final note: the book is very very badly edited. There's not a complete bibliography in the end, & there are MANY typos. I found myself holding a pen, crossing out wrongly spelled words, or adding missing words. This to me is unacceptable & even a little embarrasing for the editors & indeed, the author. All in all, a book well worth reading, which maybe doesn't contain wide research but which definitely leads a reader to do more research on their own.
Rating:
Summary: Exposing the truths that they don't tell you ...
Review: I found this book and was intrigued - pregnant with my first child, I was very surprised to find out how much information people don't tell you about the ups-and-downs of pregnancy. I too was disturbed by the sugar-coated happy viewpoint of the "What to Expect When You're Expecting" book that was given to me upon my first doctor's visit, and was hoping that I was not the only woman out there struggling with anger and unhappiness while pregnant. "Misconceptions" assured me that I was normal. Though I do value and continue to use the "What to Expect ..." for the valuable resource that it is, I am grateful to Naomi Wolf for having the guts to write about the other emotions of pregnancy, and the difficulty that many women of today have trying to conform to the stereotypes. After reading this book, I discussed many issues with my OB, and was reassured that we were in agreement on our views of my childbirth experience. I also passed the book to my husband to read, to give him a resource for the emotions I'm dealing with and the battles I am fighting within myself. I am very grateful for this valuable resource!
Rating:
Summary: Revealing, on target and a bit disappointing
Review: I picked up this book with great anticipation, after hearing that Naomi Wolf had just given a reading in Seattle. My midwife friend who attended the reading told me it was clear Wolf had a lot of anger, still, about her birth experiences. As a sociologist writing a book about the doula movement, (professional labor support), I was curious to see what Wolf could add to the volumes of social science research out there about the American way of birth. There is still work cut out for those of us who take all this for granted. I can only hope that this book will attract readers who will be inspired to do further research on their own, who would otherwise take the system as is, unquestioned. I was disappointed that Naomi Wolf failed to cite more of the research that shows how skewed American obstetrics is toward pathologizing normal reproduction and protecting itself against a litigious consumer base. I was disappointed that Naomi chose (again) to represent her own upper middle class experience as the gauge against which our social treatment of reproduction and motherhood should be measured. And yet, her story shows that even women with resources and education are left blindsided by their transition to motherhood... However, I was touched by the emotional voice that she shared--one which cried out for what should be (but really isn't) the right of every woman going through pregnancy and childbirth--unconditional emotional support, information geared toward her particular situation and effective advocacy at the birth itself. I felt the book did not go far enough in showing women the kinds of resources available for finding this, once the problem had been identified. There are many Internet parenting websites that contain a full spectrum of information regarding childbirth options. There are many doula organizations with information and referrals to labor support in every state in the country. There are compassionate mothers' groups and nursing support groups in most major cities. Unfortunately, a new mother often has to actively seek out this information and support, and recognize that she needs it. The status quo does indeed expect new mothers to accept far too much with too little authentic support for the transition they have experienced. If Wolf's book is taken seriously (and with the charges of 'whininess' that concerns me), and more women read it than would otherwise read the many wonderful, well researched scholarly books out there (by Sheila Kitzinger, Ann Oakley, Barbara Katz Rothman, Robbie Pfeufer Kahn, Robbie Davis-Floyd, Brigitte Jordan, Penny Armstrong), then it will have served a good purpose. While Wolf mentioned doulas, or labor support, she failed to articulate that this professional niche is attempting to bridge the two worlds of high tech obstetrics and midwifery. Doulas put the birthing woman at the center of their care. Doulas inform and education women about their choices in childbirth (and in too few locations around the country do women have TRUE choices between ob/gyn, nurse-midwifery and licensed midwifery care). In the end, however, doulas accept the woman's choices as right for her, (including pain medication), and their stated goal is to unconditionally accept and support that woman and her partner throughout the birth. Wolf expected emotional support from her hospital care team (ob/CNM/nurses) and was surprised to find this lacking. Hiring a doula is one way a woman can be sure that she receives the emotional nurturing and reassurance necessary to an emotionally satistfied birth experience. Doulas take the pressure off the father to be the sole source of emotional support; they remember the childbirth class information that fathers forget; and they support the male partner as he also undergoes a transformation into father--something Wolf gives short shrift to in her book. Doulas may not be for everyone but good labor support should be. In the absence of true choices in childbirth, doulas offer the next best thing. While they are powerless to change the obstetrician's episiotomy or c-section rate or the nurses' gruff manner, they can provide an emotional shield for the woman undergoing what otherwise is a dehumanizing, frightening experience. Not perfect, but let's advocate for change, here. My final comment has to do with the editing. I found it unacceptable that glaring errors occurred not once, but twice, in citing feminist sociologist PAULA England, who is referred to as 'Paul' in the text on page 257 and as PAT in the Index!! Her work is not even included in the selected bibliography. There were other typographical errors here and there which made me distrust the care and accuracy of the citations. In short, disappointing for those of us who know this stuff and yet hopeful that it may reach audiences we obviously still need to reach.
Rating:
Summary: A Book Who's Time Has Come
Review: This book isn't perfect but its time is long overdue. Wolf is the first feminist with her level of exposure to tackle the issue of birth in the US. This is one of the first times this issue has been raised by a feminist. This issue has been raised by many a birth activist, birth educator, and midwife, but Wolf has the level of recognition needed to make some real noise. My "problem" with the book isn't what has been expressed in other reviews. She is effective at indicting the OB and hospital run medical establishment as abusive to women but ineffective at adequately supporting the alternatives especially out of hospital birth. (Most women don't realize they are hiring a pelvic surgeon when they hire an OB/GYN to attend their birth.) She does site references to the safety of out of hospital birth (home birth) but uses verbal imagery that portrays homebirth as somewhat extremist and unpalatable for most women, including herself. This is the only issue I have with her book. Whether she would choose it or not, I think she should throw her support behind home birth for the benefit of other women looking for an alternative. It's interesting to keep in mind her level of fear about birth and examine your own during the reading. I think this is a must read for all women especially those of childbearing age. The chapters on post-partum are also enlightening, might be most effective to have men read. It's high time we had some truth telling about the experience of birth in the US and the sanctioned abuse of pregnant and birthing women.
Rating:
Summary: If it's been said before, why has nothing changed?
Review: Perhaps we have come a long way baby. But the phenomenon described in "Misconceptions" - that is, the THEFT of birth away from moms and the systematic disrepect doled out to pregnant women in America - has NEVER been expressed in a way that received much widespread attention. Naomi Wolf acurately describes the corruption of our "mainstream" medical institution, as well as the varied thoughts and feelings which are unique to pregnancy, yet experienced by MANY.
After having a baby myself, I realized what a sexist world we still live in. American women are possibily never more disrespected than during pregnancy and childbirth - the most "womanly" time of their lives.
I find it not coincidental that (...) review (...) dismisses this VERY important work. Yes, other books have been written about similar subjects. But even more are needed!
They may be able to shut us up for awhile. But not forever!
Rating:
Summary: Research good, Self-Absorption Bad
Review: Wolf's indictment of birthing practices in America is worth a read, especially if you are not familiar with the workings of the hospital birthing industry, the slippery slope of medical interventions, or the possibilities of natural birth and midwifery. When she is synthesizing her research on these topics, Wolf is at her best. However, she becomes (as others have noted) whiny and solipsistic. I couldn't help but wonder, with her education and money, why she didn't garner better resources for herself? (For goodness sake, I kept wanting to shout to her, why didn't you put down _What to Expect_ and pick up the Sears' Pregnancy Book?) Also, while I agree with her larger point about our culture's problematic attitudes toward parenting, she seemed to seek out research that confirmed her husband and brother's selfish attitudes. The one man that she represents as taking a more active part in parenting is derided (Dan, the goateed Gen-Xer on p. 226). If she really wanted to understand how men might actually take on more responsibility for caretaking, why did her macho brother get the last word? Why not interview Dan to look at the shift in men's attitudes in younger generations? Her catty put-down of La Leche League only confirmed my suspicion that her research went only as far as her anger: she was (angry) about her C-sections, so the birthing industry gets it bad; she's kinda mad at her husband, so men's role in parenting gets a lighter treatment; she's ambivalent about breastfeeding, so she cites the kinds of statistics-lite that are readily available in any OB waiting room and then pokes fun at "lactation fascists." Not much integrity there. And of course she makes the old school feminist error of overrepresenting white, middle class experience.
Rating: 
Summary: Please Take Some Responsibility, Naomi
Review: I read this book with a 3 month old on my breast. When I found out I was pregnant last year with my 1st cherub, I toured the 3 hospitals in the area: one is the Ritz Carlton of Hospitals and nearly every woman gets an epidural; one is a large teaching hospital with lots of medical backup available; and one is smaller, cozier, has a lower-profile,and the lowest C-section rate of the three. I chose the latter. Then I chose a small OB practice, 2 women doctors, not on any "Best of" lists, but I could talk to them (and there weren't 15 doctors that I had to rotate through). Then I wrote up a birth plan and shared it with my OBs: I wanted minimal medical intervention, no drugs, I wanted to move around, I wanted to be told what was going on, I wanted dim lighting, etc. They said fine (if they didn't, I would have went elsewhere). I also sent a copy to the nursing staff at the hospital. When I arrived at the hospital at midnight, the nurse knew what I expected from them -- basically to be left alone. I had the baby 3 hours later, with no intervention. The OB did ask if she could break my water but I said no -- because I had read over and over that one intervention leads to another, and another. Also, I hired a doula, which cost $600 out-of-pocket (and I am not a wealthy person) because I had read that, statistically, women have better labors and less pain with a doula. Anyway, my point is, I did my reading and research, decided what kind of birth I wanted, made my desires clear, and had a wonderful (and yes, painful!) labor and delivery in a hospital. I am a legal secretary, I am not a world-famous feminist. But I did it. So can you. In Misconceptions, Naomi doesn't do her research, doesn't decide what she wants, has a poor birth experience and blames the doctors and the hospital. Then she does it AGAIN with baby no. 2. Look, the birthing situation in America is far from ideal, but if you take responsibility for your experience, it will probably turn out well . . .
Rating:
Summary: AN ABSOLUTE MUST GIFT FOR EVERY GUY GETTING MARRIED
Review: Every guy who has the gall to marry a woman owes it to her to understand what's ahead, especially for her but also for himself, when they become parents. Because I'd have given more than I can say to have had the chance to learn what having children means for a woman when I married the love of my life, I wish to God Naomi Wolf had been around for our sake back then. To help make up for what I will never forgive myself for having missed, and for having failed to do for her what Wolf lets us all know a guy owes his wife during the months leading up to
motherhood for her and fatherhood for him and shared parenthood for them both, I hereby resolve to make sure everybody who sends me a wedding invitation gets a copy of Naomi Wolf's wonderfully readable, factually informative, and delightfully witty, savvy, smart and realistic treatment of The Universal Process of Getting Here, childbirth and a woman's central role in making the end-game of lovemaking happen, Misconceptions: Truth, Lies and the Unexpected on the Journey to Motherhood. God bless this generous woman whose great and challenging spirit has delivered itself of a classic that deserves endless reprinting and distribution from here to eternity. I personally thank God for her, not least because her great and generous soul so profoundly reminds me of how my own wife, Dorothy Donnelly Conniff, in her own words "took to mothering the way a cat takes to milk." I just wish I'd had this book to help me do a better job of helping her on the journey. The least I can do is see to it that other guys get the chance when their turn comes.
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