Rating: 
Summary: The BEST one out there...
Review: I am 32 weeks pregnant with my second child and I just got done reading this book. I wanted to see what other people thought of it and read some of the reveiws. After reading a few negative ones I wanted to warn people that the book is very open to every option not just homebirth. This book takes evey birthing situation (even c-section) and tells you how to make it a positive and beautiful experence. I have to admit though some people might think the book way out there, but keep your mind open and give it a try. I've read a LOT of pregnancy/childbirth books and this one is by far the BEST one.
***and if you read the book you will notice that never does it say to "howl like a wolf" when in labor, so don't worry when you read those reveiws that say that, those people misunderstood it.***
Rating:
Summary: Awesome!
Review: As an artist I totally love this book. Before I was even finished I completely rewrote my "birth plan" posted it on my front door for when my husband came home and sparked a three hour meaningful and positive discussion with my husband about my wishes for our baby's birth. I was surprised to learn that my husband had concerns regarding my wish for a medication free birth. He was worried if he wasn't "strong" and didn't follow a set list of rules refusing all pain relief that I would have a major sense of failure over the birth. Reading more into the book I found that this is a legitimate feeling that many women cope with when things don't go as planned and a pitfall I could see myself falling into. I was amazed at how perceptive my husband was! The book attacks this issue by covering ways to make even the most medicated birth a spiritual birthing journey. Some people may find this book a bit "out there" but even people planning the most mainstream bith will learn and be able to give greater meaning to their experience. The book gives many options, for medicated and non-medicated births and is not preachy one way or the other. I am only four months pregnant and already hearing comments like "nowadays why have pain when the epidurals are so good?" This book gives you ways to work through your fears, hopes and confront negative ideas that may lurk around you. I also loved the suggestion to have a way to communicate to your partner without speaking. We are planning on using simple sign languange words like yes, no and hug if I can't speak. This book has already improved my relationship with my partner and has made us more prepared to deal with the issues regarding our baby's birth. This is definitely a book for anyone looking to infuse some deeper meaning, personal growth and tangible techniques into the most important event of your life. This is the only book I have seen that actually suggests exercise to work through the pain of birth and doesn't just tell you what happens during birth. If you are looking for more than just the "BREATH, RELAX, BREATH" mentality then this is it. Buy this book. Prepare yourself to be a powerful birthing mother!
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing, should limit to birth stories only!!
Review: I bought this book because I wanted to add to my existing knowledge of the birthing experience and to aid me in my journey with my second birth. She really should have just stuck to the positive birth stories because that is where she does the best job.
I was very disappointed in it (outside of the birth stories which where very interesting and uplifting) for several reasons:
1. It is ethnocentric, assuming certain beliefs about other cultures in an overly romanticized manner that is not always true of those cultures. This is something a lot of us in the West do, we tend to place our cultural ideals onto others without a full understanding of what those other cultural beliefs, values, and practices really mean.
2. Out dated data. Many of the sources cited are from more than 10 years ago and lack some of the current trends and changes in health care, medicinal use, and childbirth. The data is also when read in its original context highly flawed and largely based on observations that make bio-medical claims, claims that can only be made by doing bio-medical tests not just observing something. But perhaps an new edition could fix this.
3. The art projects are definitely not for everyone. I love my body but don't need to draw pictures of my birth canal to get in touch with it. This is something some may enjoy but I found this section to be targeted to a small audience, and I am a more "new-age" than not.
4. There is a common misconception that childbirth has been female-centered in past history and this was because women enjoyed it this way. This is not completely true, men have been involved in the birth process across the world for centuries and when women are regulated to the tending of the birth process it is because men believe it to be beneath them not because women think it is a wonderful, beautiful female act. Although there are some cultures where this may be true it is applied in a blanket way that is overreaching.
5. She says we should reconceive problems/complications that arise as being a natural part of the birth process (Cesarian Birth, instead of C-Section). But then gives a back-handed blame to mothers who do have complications or receive medical intervention.
6. She also gives the impression that all mothers who receives more "mainstream" medical care (i.e. ob/gyn, hospital, pain relief medication) so so because they are uneducated. When we are actually finding that women who opt for these things, especially elective cesarians, tend to be 30+years professionals highly educated and well versed in the choices they are making. I am not arguing these are choices all women would make but they are choices that a lot of women do make.
7. Her claim that pain relief and medicine has not been used in the past history of childbirth is not true. Herbal remedies have been used, just because it's closer to the earth and it's natural state does not mean it isn't a pain reliever and is "healthy" for the body.
Rating: 
Summary: Good for some, not for all...
Review: Ok, let me preface this by saying that as a labor doula, for the most part, I love this book! However, if you fall into any of the following categories, you will hate this book, or at the very least, be offended or not like many parts of it. If you are a Born again Christian or do not believe in Evolution, or do not like to do art projects to get "in touch" with your feelings, or can not imagine yourself birthing with every other woman at the same time in a sort of sisterhood, are easily offended by hippies or earthy/new agey types...than this is not the book for you. If however any of those things are things that you love or agree with, you'll love this book! I must say, that to my clients who are in the above categories, I tell them that they can borrow it from me, save their money, and just skip to chapter 16 and read from there. The pain relief and focusing techniques are quite helpful and empowering and the portions for fathers are very relevant. Being able to trust the birth process and how natural birth is is emphasized heavily and quite correctly in this book. I love that part of this book! So empowering!
Some of the newborn information is dated and is not correct, but then I have yet to meet a mom to be who doesn't read MANY different books on birth and childcare so most likely you'll find what you are looking for from another source. It is a great book, and I'm glad I have it, I just don't think it is THE book. This book combined with Bradley is so much better of a well rounded birthing experience. Just as I would not suggest only reading bradley, I would not suggest ONLY reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: Empowering
Review: This book is certainly biased towards natural birthing, but it is also empowering in the general sense of allowing women to listen to their own gut/voice/inkling/whatever comes from inside. So, if you are considering natural birth (or just want to know more in case), read on.
This book is like a guide, but most of it seems totally foreign (even after reading) if you are in your first pregnancy. How can you REALLY know what its going to feel like to give birth, and try to "read up" on it? You don't. No matter how many books you read, you simply don't know until you go through it.
Having said that, you (and your partner) can learn tools, tactics, and ideas on how to achieve a natural birth by reading this book. One misconception that I had was that I would `remember' all of my feelings, but when you are knee-deep in labor there isn't much time to remember. Your partner, however, can help guide you, and if he or she reads this book too, they will have ideas. When I walked into the hospital I clenched up; I was afraid, and the fear overwhelmed me. It IS painful to give birth, and it IS hard to maintain your own sense of dignity/integrity in a mainstream hospital. In the United States many hospitals follow formula birth = IV, monitor, epidural, controlled pushing, baby. Mention you don't want the IV, and suddenly you are in conflict with the person who is there to take care of you - the nurse. (My husband brought StarBucks Gift cards and they certainly sweetened up our nurses).
Ultimately what I took from this book is not how I could have a natural childbirth, how I could control what happens in a hospital birth, how I could cope with pain, but rather it was how I could embrace the experience, whatever it may be. To me Birthing From Within means really listening to your own story, your own art, your own family and trying to take steps that are best for your baby and yourself. There is no formula. There is no one right way.
Side note: Birthing From Within also has a website with an excellent network of doulas. If your considering natural birth in a hospital, take a moment to consider a birthing doula.
Rating:
Summary: Creative Birthing to Wholeness
Review: This is the title I gave to my workshops where I led women in creative activities based on this book, preparing them for a wholistic experience of pregnancy & childbirth. This book is just wonderful--many artsy & creative activities to celebrate the pregnancy & prepare oneself & partner for the birth of your choice. It talks quite a bit on alternative options for birthing and convinced me to have a home birth--which was the best choice ever. I did have a wonderful birth experience and enjoyed my pregnancy thoroughly while reading this book. I recommend it to all my friends.
Rating:
Summary: Big waste of money!
Review: I regret wasting my money and time on this book. I have read everything that I could get my hands on during pregnancy and this book was absolutely useless. For a natural birth, I highly recommend Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way.
Rating:
Summary: "Labor is hard work, it hurts, AND you can do it."
Review: I used the techniques in this book while delivering my son at the hospital, naturally with no drugs and a 10 hour labor. It was absolutely fabulous, the Dr. told me he had never seen any woman handle it so well.
What I liked best about this book was that it is not about pain AVOIDANCE, but pain ACCEPTANCE. Some of the exercises encourage you to feel/hear/see everything that is going on around you and immerse yourself in the sensations.
Birthing from Within also reminds you that you are not alone, many women are giving birth the same time as you. When I focused on that it helped me feel a part of something much larger than myself.
Rating:
Summary: Empowering Book!
Review: Like Pam England, I am also a certified nurse-midwife. My midwifery journey has my train currently stationed at Birthing From Within. The framework this book provides is allowing me a context from which to help women that I never received in my midwifery education or my own pregnancy and mothering experience. The book highlights what happens in the BFW classroom, the real transformative journey. If there is any way that you can take a BFW series in your pregnancy, it will be a life changing event that will help you see your pregnancy, birth, and parenting from a very deep spiritual, emotional, and intimate way. BFW can create the connectedness to your soul, your partner, your baby, and your family that is your heart's desire. BFW answers those deep hidden questions that are part of your belief system that you most assuredly don't even know are there, driving your choices for your entire pregnancy journey. BFW also promotes midwifery as the model of choice and I hope it creates more midwifery converts, especially those that have done the required hard internal, personal work that it takes to be truly "with women".
Rating: 
Summary: Not into the art stuff AT ALL- but very empowering
Review: In natural birth - PAIN IS A REALITY! Pain is my biggest fear, and this book offers fabulous coping techniques and methods to pratice them before labor using ice cubes as the pain for you to manage. Women I mentioned this to said that was a very ingenious method they wish they could've used.The art stuff I just skipped over.. I don't know how one reviewer thinks this focuses on New Mexico and Indians, the author refers to women all over the world who birth naturally and how us Westernized women can empower ourselves with these other women's natural strengths and resources to get through labor. I mean, c'mon, we wimp out at a headache and have Advil at our fingertips.. we Americans don't deal with pain very well. This book DOES NOT BEAT DOWN HOSPITALS NOR DOES IT GIVE NOTHING BUT HORROR STORIES! Even though homebirth is ideal, the book offers many ways to make the hospitals more comforting, and relaxing (and stories of how it worked for others). Howling like a coyote is not what she recommends! Any form of vocalization is encouraged, even chanting the f-word if that's what suits you. Vocalization is natural and helps cope with pain. The howling happened in one of the classes only to get women comfortable with making noise. Most of us are embarrassed to, and are shushed by the hospital staff in labor. I am certainly not going to use all the techniques here, but the imagery and pain techniques and ways to progress labor effectively are INSPIRING! I can't wait to try them out when I give birth this summer.
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