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Summary: Most informative pregnancy/labor book I have found
Review: Two of my greatest passions - birth and reading - have led me to this book among pregnancy books! Even before I became a doula, I devoured pregnancy and labor books by the dozens and I can honestly say that this one is a MUST READ for anyone pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant.As a doula, I ask every one of my clients to read this book. The information on drugs, induction and other hospital protocol is on-target and backed by scientific research. It's not just about "natural birth" either - it's a comprehensive run down of everything you might encounter during your labor and how to make the best informed decision for you and your baby.
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Summary: Anyone Expecting a Child Should Read This Book
Review: A previous reviewer stated: "The author is much too eager to heap blame and criticism upon the medical profession. " That's only because they deserve it. I'm glad you had an excellent birth, but your story alone is anecdotal evidence isn't it? This book provides the scientific proof. This is not a 'touchy-feely' newage birth book. This is hard core scientific research. Does the author have a bias? Yes. But the question is why? Because study after study have shown that modern obstetrics is missing the point and ignoring the research -- and women and babies are suffering for it.
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Summary: Pregnant? Buy this book NOW.
Review: I rarely give out five stars, but being a woman who chooses to become pregnant and give birth, I have to say that this is one of the most important books I've ever read. Henci Goer knows her stuff, backing up her claims about medicalized birth with reams of clinical studies. Anyone considering a birth with an attendant who has been trained in the traditional obstetrical model of childbirth would do well to educate themselves as much as possible about the nature of that training and the assumptions (many proven false) that such attendants operate under. It truly is, at base, an issue of safety -- there are risks associated with all types of intervention, most of which are done routinely and completely regardless of whether they are actually medically necessary. I cannot emphasize this enough -- if you want the safest and most rewarding birth possible, don't just listen blindly to your doctor or midwife, do your own research so that you can make truly informed decisions regarding your care. You will be well rewarded.
Rating: 
Summary: Overly critical of the medical profession
Review: I found this book querulous and defensive. The author is much too eager to heap blame and criticism upon the medical profession. (For those curious: I am neither a doctor nor a man. I am a woman outside the medical profession, expecting my second child.) Although I read this book for the alternate viewpoint, it ultimately served to confirm my instinctive suspicions about today's birthing crusaders and the use of doulas. I had a positive experience birthing my first child in a hospital with my husband at my side and without a bunch of extraordinary demands and conditions, and look forward to a similiarly positive experience with my second child. My doctor (a male who graduated medical school in the '60s, for anyone wondering) is sensitive to my concerns, is aware of and makes use of the most modern approaches to childbirth, and is someone with whom I feel comfortable and whom I would trust with my life. Sorry to disappoint you, ladies.
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Summary: An outstanding resource for parents and professionals.
Review: Few people have read the obstetric research as thoroughly as Henci Goer. If you're pregnant and want to really understand the pros and cons of obstetric procedures, you'll find the information you need here. You'll also learn about options many people aren't aware of. If you are studying to be a doctor, nurse, midwife, doula, or childbirth educator, or if you're writing about obstetrics,this book will save you many hours of research. Need an overview or a citation? Start here. I'm always amazed at this wealth of information, and it costs less than you'd pay for a single pound of fancy coffee!
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Summary: "If you don't know your options, you don't have any."
Review: Whether your having a hospital or a homebirth, this book is relevant. Every pregnant woman will face decisions about the care of her body. This book will arm you with facts to evaluate options for yourself. That's the message of this book: you have choices, even if your doctor or midwife does not present them to you. And choosing to trust your caregiver to make decisions for you is valid for some women. But educating yourself can only make your birth better not worse.
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Summary: Why is this the only pregnancy book with statistics?
Review: I searched for books that would give me objective information using numbers and not opinions. I found most pregnancy books disagree with the statistical data. Do editors think women are too stupid for research? This book was great. The writer states her bias and then gives objective information. I hope there are fifty books like this in the future.
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Summary: Very informative...a must during pregnancy
Review: The main reason that I bought this book was for expert help with writing a birth plan. This book covered all of the questions that I had regarding my pregnancy and upcoming delivery, and even covered some things that I had not thought about. I wish I were brave enough to go the midwife/home birth route, but since I'm not, I opted for the OB/hospital setting. Now I know what all of my options are or at least what I should ask my doctor about. It's written in easy to understand language. This book also served as a refresher course for me. My first child was born 7 years ago and lots of things have changed since then.
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Summary: Not just for women!
Review: This book really helped my wife and I make some good choices, and I am sure it is one of the major factors that helped us have a 100% drug-free, natural, perfect birth. I even had it beside me just before my wife went into labor, and used it for some last minute advice. Great stuff.
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Summary: An absolute MUST!
Review: Every pregnant woman should read this book early in her pregnancy. It is packed full of clear, unbiased information and facts about the common medical interventions that take place during birth, why many of them are undesirable or even dangerous, and how they can be avoided. It is fascinating to see how most of the research proves that medical procedures that American women have come to view as normal are in fact unnecessary. This book covers topics like Cesareans, the use of IVs during birth, pain medications, epidurals, episiotomies, and electronic fetal monitoring. It shows how such common beliefs as "It's better to have a surgical episiotomy cut than a natural tear" are in fact false, and why the medical profession has pushed them so frequently that they have become a "normal" part of giving birth. This book cleared up a lot of questions that I had and made me decide very firmly that I would prefer a long and painful labor to an epidural, which might relieve my pain, but could also cause myself and, even worse, MY BABY, medical problems down the line.
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