Rating: 
Summary: a must read for moms to be
Review: This book gave me confidence in my ability to birth, and makes a convincing arguement for the idea that childbirth is a natural, normal process, NOT a medical condition! I think everyone should read it, especially moms-to-be. I read it 7 months before conceiving my first child, and I'm so glad. I actually brought it with me to my first prenatal appointment and made it clear that I believe in natural childbirth. I went on to give birth to my 9 lb daughter drug free and episiotomy free, and I'm looking forward to having another pleasant birth experience with baby #2.
Rating: 
Summary: Does not make a good shower gift!
Review: This book gave me confidence in my ability to birth, and makes a convincing argument for the idea that childbirth is a natural, normal process, NOT a medical condition! I think everyone should read it, especially moms-to-be. I read it 7 months before conceiving my first child, and I'm so glad. I actually brought it with me to my first prenatal appointment and made it clear that I believe in natural childbirth. I went on to give birth to my 9 lb daughter drug free and episiotomy free, and I'm looking forward to having another pleasant birth experience with baby #2.
Edited 10/21/04
Indeed I did go on to have an incredibly easy, I'd even say fun, labor and delivery the second time, on November 14, 2003, despite being induced due to low amniotic fluid (I was over a week past edd too). Still no pain drugs and I was enjoying chatting with my friend and my doula between contractions all the way up to pushing. Five hours total, and just a few pushes. I may just be lucky to have easy births, but I truly believe a lot of it has to do with being knowledgeable and relaxed, which is Arms' main point.
Rating:
Summary: A Compassionate Eye-Opener
Review: This book is a sequel to Arms' Immaculate Deception, published in the 1960s. It is immensely more compassionate and less angry than the original, and so probably more palatable to most readers.Immaculate Deception (I and II) opened my eyes to the realities of childbirth. It is not by nature a dangerous process -- an illness that modern medicine has only recently learned to deal with adequately. It is, however, a physically and emotionally demanding process for which our culture does not adequately prepare women, much like menstruation, breastfeeding, and menopause. Hospitals are not "safe" places to give birth. Women who are uneducated about and unprepared for childbirth are placing their lives and their children's lives in the hands of chance, luck, and fallible professionals. No place is a "safe" place to give birth for these women. The original ID had "conspiracy theory" overtones that Arms has eliminated in this second installment. However, both books contain frank and graphic anecdotes of actual births, photographs, and interviews. Please don't read this book if you are pregnant and have already made your healthcare decisions for prenatal care and childbirth. Above all, this book is about respecting women's natual strength and choices, and reading this book during pregnancy might cause you to second-guess yourself in an unhealthy way.
I read this book and the original ID before getting pregnant with my first child. When I did get pregnant, I was absolutely terrified of having to go to an OB and possibly give birth in a hospital. Thankfully, I had a midwife who taught me the valuable lesson of finding the inner and outer strength to cope with childbirth. Now, I am confident that I could give birth anywhere -- hospital or home -- with the right people supporting me. I hope you take this lesson from this book, instead of feeling angry, defensive, or frightened by what Arms has to say.
Rating: 
Summary: interesting information presented
Review: This book presents a very interesting sociological overview of the medicalization of the birth process. In general, the stories of women, particularly those who have had less satisfying and more traumatic birth experiences, resonated with the experiences that I have heard from people that I know. It really is such a shame that the birth experience has come to be regarded as high-risk and treated as an illness, when in fact, it doesn't have to be. This book is very helpful to present options for birth, correct some of the misunderstanding and fear surrounding natural childbirth, and is definitely a book I would recommend for empowering women regarding what kind of birth experience they want for themselves. As a skeptical and scientifically-minded person, I wondered about some of the claims that are made in the book, but, in looking up the medical research on my own, the information appears to be accurate. I am surprised (and yet not surprised) that so many obstetrical practices (i.e. high rate of episiotomies, use of fetal heart rate monitors) persist despite the fact that empirical research has generally not supported their widespread use, and in fact, has reported that the risks can far outweigh the benefits. Yet these invasive procedures continue to be used with low-risk women, sometimes without the true informed consent the women who are subjected to them, because of the almost paranoid fear that if doctors don't do EVERYTHING during a birth, that they will be sued. All in all, a very interesting book, and a nice counter-balance to the pervasive message that childbirth is something to be feared, medically managed, and endured only with much pain and distress.
Rating:
Summary: Please read this book....
Review: This book was THE most important book I read early in my pregnancy. I am a first time mom-to-be at the age of 36 and would likely be following the 'higher-risk" hospital path to childbirth if I didn't find a way to educate myself fast. This book helps to teach us what our past as pregnant and birthing women, has been like. We often see pregnancy as a medical condition and labor as a medical procedure because of historical reasons and present economic/cultural ones. It does not have to be that way. This is not an easy book to read, it will make you angry but eventually, I believe, it will inspire you. I cannot reccomend this book enough to any woman, pregnant or not. We need to know our history and this book offers a part of it, a very important part.
Rating:
Summary: Please read this book....
Review: This book was THE most important book I read early in my pregnancy. I am a first time mom-to-be at the age of 36 and would likely be following the 'higher-risk" hospital path to childbirth if I didn't find a way to educate myself fast. This book helps to teach us what our past as pregnant and birthing women, has been like. We often see pregnancy as a medical condition and labor as a medical procedure because of historical reasons and present economic/cultural ones. It does not have to be that way. This is not an easy book to read, it will make you angry but eventually, I believe, it will inspire you. I cannot reccomend this book enough to any woman, pregnant or not. We need to know our history and this book offers a part of it, a very important part.
Rating:
Summary: Uplifting look at this (extra)ordinary event!
Review: This is a wonderful book for reminding women that giving birth is something they are powerfully and fully equipped to do! Clarifies myths and questions and puts birthing where it belongs-- with women.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent book for those questioning "unnatural" birth
Review: Upon becoming pregnant for the first time, my heart told me that a "natural" birth was the type of birth that I wanted. I searched the books available and found Immaculate Deception II to be the book that told me *why* my heart felt that way. It is a wonderful combination of personal experiences and medical facts. She raises awareness as to how the birth process has become a medical condition, the effect this may have/has had on mothers and infants, and helps you realize that the mother should be the decision maker in how she brings her child into this world. She does this with little or no bias by presenting the facts and allowing the reader to draw his/her own conclusions. Most importantly, it provides you with the knowledge that there are options for birth and that you should make informed decisions about birth instead of just following the "standard procedures" that the U.S. medical profession dictates.
Rating:
Summary: Knows just enough to be dangerous
Review: While passionate about her subject, Arms simply doesn't know enough to be informed about childbirth. Yes, 85-90 out of 100 births go well, with no significant problems for mother or infant. But I have seen the results of the other 10-15 who do have difficulties, and the problem is you cannot always predict who is going to have those complications, some of them even fatal to mother and infant. Has she repaired lacerations of the vagina that extend down to the rectum? Has she seen the tragedy of an infant die at home or birthing center because no physician was around to help? I'm guessing not, because believe me once is enough to change a person's mind about playing the odds with your child. She might do well to ask an anthropologist about infant and maternal mortality rates in tribal cultures. As with many other things (and I'd say about 10-15% of the time when it comes to obstetrics) "natural" is not always better. It's a big gamble that there is simply no reason to take in our world. I guarantee you that every 3rd world native (and I've met many on medical missions) would rather deliver in Dallas, than in the jungles of Central America....
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