This is by far the best book I've read for educating women about the risks and benefits associated with various aspects of childbirth, such as where, how, and with whom to give birth.

I truly love the format of each chapter. It presents a bulleted pros/cons list of every drug and intervention one can think of. It also details the advantages and disadvantages of giving birth in different settings like the hospital, a birthing center, or at home with an OB, doctor, or midwife.

Each chapter concludes with a section titled "Gleanings from the medical literature," complete with footnotes referring to the numerous pages of appendices in the back that document medical studies on the subject. What I also appreciate is that this book is not afraid to contradict itself and openly acknowledges the unknowns, especially considering it is a pro-natural childbirth book.

Besides the pros/cons of epidurals and pitocin, here are some excerpts from some of my favorite lists.

Factors that Promote Safe Vaginal Birth include refusing oxytocin to strengthen labor before active labor (3 to 5 centimeters and painful, regular contractions), avoiding an epidural as the 10% of laboring women with an epidural-induced abnormally slow fetal heart beat are at a greater risk of emergency c-section. However, it's important to note that while it's best to avoid these, induction, oxytocin, and epidurals are used in many successful VBAC labors. Also, no arbitrary time limits should be set on labor, and continuous electronic fetal monitoring should be considered with caution for women with prior cesareans as studies show it doesn't improve outcomes but increases the cesarean and vaginal instrumental delivery rates.

(BUT) there are situations where the medical literature supports the use of continuous EFM, such as when oxytocin is used, when intermittent listening indicates a possible problem, and in VBAC cases.

Factors that promote a positive VBAC experience (of course there are many more) include planning on having an epidural for some women as it can make VBAC possible. The book also has tips on minimizing the risks of epidurals, like delaying it until 5 centimeters dilation or later, especially if it's your first baby, your prior birth was a C-section, or labor progress is slow.

Ways to Avoid Problems with the Baby (that could lead to an emergency C-section) include avoiding epidurals as they can cause problems for the baby and lead to a slippery slope of interventions like pitocin, avoiding narcotics, avoiding routine membrane rupture, avoiding lying on your back as it compresses the large blood vessels serving the uterus and placenta, and avoiding prolonged breath holding during pushing, which can compromise the baby's oxygen.

Well-rounded and upfront, I truly appreciate her style of confessing her own biases right at the beginning of the book.

This honesty sets a refreshing tone and allows the reader to approach the content with a more open mind.

Despite this initial admission, I was pleasantly surprised to find that her research was extremely thorough.

She has clearly delved deep into the topic of birth in the United States, gathering a wealth of information from various sources.

The information she provides is actually quite well balanced.

It presents different perspectives and takes into account the complex nature of the subject.

Considering the current state of birth in the United States, which is a highly debated and controversial topic, she has done an excellent job of presenting a comprehensive and objective view.

Overall, her approach and the quality of her work make this book a valuable read for anyone interested in understanding the nuances of birth in the United States.

The Thinking Woman's Guide is, in my opinion, an outstanding resource for preparing oneself for the choices related to childbirth.

Many women might not be aware of the disadvantages of common birth practices. However, this remarkable book comprehensively examines both the pros and cons. It also provides valuable insights on how to ensure that if certain interventions are chosen, they are carried out in a manner that minimizes the possible negatives.

It is an essential read for anyone who desires to have a voice in their birth experience or for those who have questions about what occurred during childbirth. This guide equips women with the knowledge and understanding they need to make informed decisions, empowering them to take control of this significant event in their lives.

By reading this book, women can gain a deeper appreciation for the various options available and make choices that are in line with their own values and preferences. It truly is a must-read for all expectant mothers.

I absolutely loved this book! It had such a profound impact on me that it completely convinced me to abandon the idea of a highly medicalized birth and instead strive for a birth that is as natural as possible.

The author's words were so persuasive and filled with valuable information and personal experiences that made me see the beauty and benefits of a natural birth. It opened my eyes to the fact that our bodies are designed to give birth in a way that is in harmony with nature.

Reading this book gave me the confidence and courage to take a different path and trust in the process. I am now looking forward to my own natural birth with excitement and anticipation, knowing that it will be a unique and empowering experience.

I began reading from the back of the book as I was eager to learn about the comparison between OBs and midwives and the chapter on "location location location". This approach was okay, but I wouldn't suggest it if you can start reading earlier in your pregnancy. In fact, I'd recommend starting right away, especially when you're choosing your caregiver from the very beginning.

Especially if this is one of your first books on the subject or you're just starting to educate yourself, it can get a bit overwhelming due to the stance the author takes. The back of the book admits that it's hard to find an unbiased book, and this one is indeed biased. However, considering the current environment we're in, I still think it's necessary.

The book mainly focuses on the many misconceptions about birthing in today's culture, such as those related to hospitals, doctors, medicine, and cesarean rates. It highly promotes midwives, birth centers, and home births. Recommended to me by a doula, I was initially skeptical when I first opened it and didn't think I wanted what it was advocating. But when I brought it with me on the subway and decided to at least skim through it, I was convinced within just two pages. Seriously, I cannot recommend this enough as primary reading. At the very least, it opens your eyes to a lot of aspects of the birthing process and the knowledge you should possess, regardless of the path you ultimately choose. There's so much to learn, and I knew almost nothing before. Especially compared to what I've been fed by the media and "stories", this book provides a much bigger and more detailed picture.

The author lists a ton of sources at the back, but it bothered me that she didn't actually cite them throughout the text. So, while it seems full of statistics, you can't really tell which is which. Nevertheless, the main point comes across. And even though I found myself aggravated at times by how extremely anti-hospital/OB/drugs she is, I still found the book to be insightful and helpful, and I read the whole thing.

UPDATE: I just came across her other book, Obstetric Myths vs Research Realities. It looks amazingly comprehensive, with cited sources, research, statistics, graphs, and all kinds of case studies. I just browsed through it in Google Books, and it seems very similar in its main point to this one, but much more analytical and factual, more like a fieldwork paper with findings. If you're a skeptical person or more left-brained, this second book seems like a great companion to have while reading this one.

Even though the author clearly states her bias right from the start, after reading the book, you are left with the thought that "I don't really have a better understanding of anything at all." I am very much in favor of the whole concept of home birth and birthing centers. From a broader perspective, I do agree with the book's message. That is, unless there is a real need, it is advisable to stay at home or go to a birthing center. This is because in the US, being admitted to a hospital often triggers an "intervention cascade" which significantly increases the risk of a cesarean section.

However, I don't think Goer gave hospitals a fair assessment at all. I am actively looking for books that can provide me with a more objective view of hospitals, and unfortunately, this book didn't meet that requirement.

I gave this book three stars mainly because I already agreed with the author to some extent and also because I appreciate being able to refer to some of the studies mentioned in the book. But overall, it didn't offer a comprehensive and balanced perspective on the role and value of hospitals in the birthing process.

This book is now nearly 20 years old and is mainly based on maternity care in North America, especially in the United States. However, it is not as outdated as it might seem. This is partly because of the various setbacks in the healthcare systems.

It still has a hint of the didactic tone that is so common in US works on birth, whether progressive or not. But the work has integrity as it provides the evidence base in some detail.

I especially liked the section on communicating with medical professionals and determining whether they are communicating (and practicing) responsibly. Also, the point about checking whether a hospital actually has the specific facilities that, in an emergency, offer the only real advantage for giving birth there is very important.

This book, despite its age, still offers valuable insights and information that can be useful for those interested in maternity care, especially in understanding the complex relationship between patients and medical professionals and the importance of ensuring that hospitals have the necessary facilities for a safe and healthy birth.

I truly relished going through a review of a substantial amount of information that I had perused or learned before.

Nevertheless, I have already been highly influenced by her way of thinking and merely required some refresher details to support my stance. I firmly believe that if I were a staunch advocate of the modern obstetrical model of birth, I would be affronted by the presumption that "thinking women" uniformly opt for the more natural, midwifery model. However, if I were undecided, I surmise that this book would offer me numerous justifications to pursue the noninterventive path.

It poses a rather intricate dilemma for me as I wholeheartedly believe that minimal interventions during childbirth enhance the entire process, and I earnestly desire for more women to take control of their birthing experience rather than simply following whatever the OB dictates. Nevertheless, I have no intention of being disrespectful or petulant towards my friends who have had repeat Cesareans and such. I also opine that many women believe they are making their own choices and acting in an informed manner, yet they are actually being steered in the direction the OB desires. Consequently, I vacillate between how much to voice my opinion and how much to simply hold my tongue.

In terms of the information presented, I think this book excels at presenting a wealth of data within a relatively concise space. However, I do believe that it could benefit from an updated edition incorporating a few of the more recent studies and an analysis of the current state of childbirth in the US as well.

This book was recommended to me. However, I wouldn't have bothered to order it from the library if I had realized that it was published in 1999 and hadn't been updated since. I had several issues with this book, aside from the outdated research and statistics.

First, I find the title pretentious. It implies that any person who wants to have any sort of medication or intervention during birth is empty-minded. This is a rather harsh and unfair assumption.

Beyond that, I found the book extremely biased and fear-mongering. There was one portion mid-way through the book where the author does disclose that she's a big fan of home birth over hospital. But by that point, even a non-thinking woman has already figured that out. There was literally one section where it warned that many certified nurse-midwives are merely "obstetricians in midwives' clothing." This statement seems rather extreme and unsubstantiated.

The book did have a few helpful techniques on how to avoid certain interventions in the hospital. However, I think you'd definitely be better off reading "Natural Hospital Birth" by Cynthia Gabriel. It offers a great, non-judgemental, non-fearful take on how to have a "natural" birth, regardless of what that means to you. Honestly, I'd recommend it to anyone, even if you're 100% planning on an epidural or other medication, as it has really useful advice and descriptions of labor beyond the physiological definitions.

If you also want to know more about birth techniques and statistics on various interventions (using actual, up-to-date research), I highly suggest you check out the Evidence Based Birth website, classes, or podcast. It's operated by a nurse with her PhD, and the articles and videos are updated as new studies are published. This provides a more reliable and current source of information compared to the outdated book I reviewed.

This is such an outstanding book.

I have only given it three stars, but let me clarify. In terms of it being an ESSENTIAL read, it truly deserves five stars. However, I chose three because every single time I pick it up and start reading, I become so overwhelmed with intense emotions that I end up losing sleep.

The author's ideas on how to navigate within the context of the medical model are truly remarkable. Her information is firmly rooted in current research and is "evidence-based", which provides genuine value not only for the expectant mother but also for the birthing attendant.

She offers an in-depth and comprehensive analysis of a wide variety of issues related to pregnancy and birth. This includes exploring the pros and cons of different treatments, all while presenting the reader with the necessary information to make informed and meaningful choices.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the topic of pregnancy and childbirth.

I'm skimming this book again several years after reading it, and I realize that I never left a review.

The main point I took away is that when making birthing choices, we must always carefully weigh the risk of intervening against the risk of not. Often, allowing things to follow their natural, biologically-intuitive course is the least risky, even if it is less predictable. This message is both good and valuable. Goer, a doula and birth activist (not a midwife), supports this message with information from medical research articles and what is standard practice in other countries. I think this book does a great job of providing women with the information they need to give informed consent and make informed refusals.

Another take-away is that what matters in a provider is how much they will allow you to deviate from the very strict definition of normal progression that modern American obstetrics/midwifery adheres to. Some midwives can be very interventionist if you deviate from the textbook birth progression.

However, I found the format of the book not very helpful for a quick lookup in the heat of the moment. Although there are tables with pros and cons that are good summaries, finding specific information can be difficult. Additionally, the tone of the book is very negative. When a patient refuses to let a provider do what they think is best, it requires the patient to be truly knowledgeable and also gentle so as not to trample on people's egos, as the provider only wants to help. There must be similar information presented in a more gentle way and in a more easily referenceable format.

OK, so all my friends in the burg are pregnant or have children.

This has led me to fast-forward my research in order to be able to speak the jargon.

I came across a book that minces no words in advocating for natural childbirth with little intervention.

However, if you can work with the ideology presented, then there is a wealth of good information within its pages.

The reason I like this book is because, unlike many "flower-power" natural childbirth texts that focus solely on the mystical power of childbirth, it takes a different approach.

It is more of a critique of the current pathological view of childbirth.

As such, it punches holes in the current expected norms and then patches those holes with alternative options.

Moreover, it's a relatively quick read, which is an added bonus.

Overall, this book offers a refreshing perspective on childbirth and provides valuable insights for those interested in natural childbirth methods.