The main point the author appears to convey is that women who are unaware of their choices ultimately have no options. The author acknowledges having a bias in her interpretation of research since she is a proponent of natural birth. However, many in the mainstream medical community in the United States also tend to be biased (albeit in the opposite direction) when they disclose the risks and benefits of various birthing options.

Therefore, it is essential to become an informed parent and not rely solely on the statements of any one source. This book serves merely as a starting point. The research cited in the main text is further detailed in an appendix, enabling anyone who wishes to do so to refer to the primary sources and interpret the findings independently.

It is an enlightening and intelligent read that is likely to激怒 some people but will also inspire many others to make better decisions for themselves and their children. I refrained from awarding a full 5-star rating because the author mentions once that without epidurals or narcotics, "labor will hurt. Probably a lot." However, I personally know women who have had pain-free, easy, and comfortable births through hypnosis. So, Henci Goer, research that!

Henci is extremely upfront about her biases. However, when she approaches each option, she does so with facts, compassion, and reasoning that is easy to understand.

She doesn't shy away from revealing her own perspectives, yet she manages to present the information in a way that is both objective and empathetic.

Her approach makes it possible for pregnant women to make informed decisions based on a comprehensive understanding of the various options available to them.

I wholeheartedly recommend this to any and all pregnant women.

Whether they are first-time mothers or have had previous pregnancies, Henci's work can provide valuable insights and guidance.

It can help them navigate the often overwhelming choices and challenges that come with pregnancy, and make decisions that are right for them and their babies.

"The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer is an extremely phenomenal and educational guide for expectant women. It is truly a remarkable resource that I would highly recommend to any woman who is planning on having a baby. I had the opportunity to read this book, and it was inspiring for my grandma, who, at the age of 67, is planning on having a baby. Her due date is April 20th. Reading this book to her was a wonderful experience. It was also an emotional roller coaster for me because my mom passed away 3 months before I was born, and I never got to meet her. So, learning about what it's like to be a pregnant lady through this book was really meaningful. I truly wish that I could be pregnant when I'm older. A pregnant woman is like a whole other species, perhaps like a special dog or something. I learned that women are more obedient while pregnant, which could be useful when I marry Caroline Winrub and we have a baby. I might make her mow the lawn and pick up dog poop, as she might not question me. Maybe even consider a shock collar? Overall, I rate this book a 10 out of 10!

I absolutely adored this book!

For me, it wasn't so much a life-altering revelation as I imagine it might be for those who have never been exposed to concepts like homebirth and such. Instead, it was more of an affirmation of many of the ideas that I had intuitively felt during my pregnancy.

It was wonderful to have some scientific support though, because I often felt like a counter-culture hippy with what I thought were extreme views, as they didn't seem to be shared by many people I knew.

I will admit that I did learn a great deal. For instance, I already knew I didn't want an episiotomy, but as I read the chapter's vivid description of them and the indications for one, and physically winced, I could finally clearly express exactly why.

Goer's perspective on informed consent truly amazed me as well, especially when she explained that just because you're informed doesn't mean you have to consent. It seems obvious, but it isn't when you're in the moment and being judged and labeled as potential "Future Bad Parents of the Universe" for not following the doctor's orders.

If you are completely mainstream in your pregnancy and birthing choices, I still believe this book is extremely valuable because, as the introduction states, "If you don't know what your options are, you don't have any."

Pregnancy is an extremely vulnerable time for any woman, and feeling informed about your choices is the only way you can make them with confidence and feel good about it.

Goer's book takes the complex and scary world of pregnancy interventions and makes them understandable for the average woman.

No matter how you choose to navigate the often unclear waters of pregnancy, it's nice to know you have choices and be able to understand them.

Clear and comprehensive overview of modern birth practices and how they affect laboring women, either to their advantage or detriment.

I began reading this book, which was at the top of the stack of "natural birthing" books a friend lent me. At first, I found the tone a bit strident.

However, I then took a break and read the other books in the pile. To my surprise, I discovered that this one was the most thoughtful and least irritating among them.

Ms Goer has显然conducted extensive research on this subject, and I确实feel more informed as a result.

I'm not sure if it would necessarily persuade those who are opposed to natural birth of its necessity, unless the reader has an extremely scientific mindset.

Nevertheless, I know it has helped to confirm and support my own beliefs regarding the path I've chosen for my labor.

I absolutely adored this book. It is an essential read prior to delivery.

So much of our obstetrical care seems to be centered around what benefits the insurance companies and doctors rather than the mom and the baby. This book, however, has made me feel significantly more knowledgeable about the hospital birth process and how to maneuver through it in a manner that maximizes our odds of having a healthy natural birthing experience.

Goer doesn't promote natural childbirth and midwifery in a flaky or overly idealistic way. Instead, she presents the medical studies and literature from mainstream medical journals to support her arguments.

The book is organized into chapters based on different topics. This allows you to use it as a rapid reference for a single issue such as pitocin, c-section, epidural, episiotomy, breastfeeding, and so on. Or, you can read it from cover to cover as a comprehensive guide to birth.

The final section includes the full text of the medical studies she cites. Additionally, she provides a "highlights from the medical literature" section in each chapter, which is written in plain language, making the information easily understandable and accessible for non-medical individuals. Of course, if you have a particular interest in a specific issue, you can always refer to the full text studies in the back of the book on your own.

Overall, this book is a valuable resource for any expectant mother.

I believe this is an excellent read for anyone who is about to give birth.

However, I would like to caution against becoming too set on "best practice."

I personally ended up having pre-eclampsia and HELP syndrome.

When I requested things like Pitocin at night, they were not willing to make compromises with me due to my condition.

After reading this book, I definitely felt more informed and empowered.

But I would have been even more disappointed if the actual events had deviated from my birth plan to a greater extent.

I think the best approach is to find a hospital that aligns with your preferences in a wide range of situations, both natural and emergency.

This book will assist you in determining what you desire, but it is crucial to read it early in pregnancy and discuss your concerns promptly.

This way, you will have sufficient time to switch doctors or hospitals if the birthing plan you envision does not match the hospital's policies.

Fortunately, the hospital I selected already adhered to most of what I regarded as the best-case-scenario after reading this book.

This author holds very clear views on prenatal care and labor practices. She strongly advocates for low intervention maternal care and labors.

However, it can be argued that she may not be giving OBs and hospitals a completely fair assessment. While she presents her material in an objective manner that encourages readers to think, which is indeed the goal of the book, her stance is quite evident.

The descriptions of the various tests and procedures provided by the author are extremely valuable. Each objective description is accompanied by what Goer and many studies consider to be the pros and cons.

Even if one is completely satisfied with a hospital birth and the care provided by an OB, learning about the specific purposes of each test can still be beneficial. It allows expectant parents to make more informed decisions and have a better understanding of the processes involved in prenatal care and childbirth.

Overall, while the author's views may be one-sided, her book offers valuable insights and information that can help readers form their own opinions and make more educated choices regarding prenatal care and labor.

This book is truly an incredibly informative and helpful resource. The author, while openly showing a bias towards natural childbirth, supports her stance with unbiased and meticulous research. She documents and references her work thoroughly, providing a solid foundation for her arguments.

I firmly believe that every woman who is currently pregnant or might become pregnant in the future should read this book. In our culture, all too often, we accept the current obstetrical practices without taking the time to inform ourselves about both the benefits and the risks, as documented by evidence-based research. This book has the potential to help solve that problem.

Most American women opt for obstetrical, hospital-based births. However, this decision is often based on cultural beliefs that lack an evidence-backed foundation. Obstetricians and hospitals are indeed incredibly valuable for high-risk pregnancies, labors, and for dealing with emergency complications that may arise. Obstetricians are highly trained surgeons who approach labor and delivery from a medical, high-tech, interventionist perspective.

Nevertheless, it remains a fact that the majority of women are healthy, most pregnancies are low-risk, and most women would have a better labor experience with fewer complications if they were allowed to labor naturally, with minimal or no intervention.

I am a strong advocate for informed consent, and this book plays a crucial role in helping women become informed. Most women are not aware of the risks associated with obstetrical intervention. They only know that they are afraid of pain and would like it to be alleviated if possible. That choice is perfectly fine, as long as the woman is fully cognizant of the risks involved so that she can assess her own cost-benefit ratio.

The book is written in a helpful format, allowing you to easily jump around to the topics that interest you. Whether it's epidurals, cesareans, breech births, hospital vs. out-of-hospital births, induction or augmentation of labor, the obstetrical model of care vs. the midwifery model of care, etc. If you are considering a natural childbirth, this book will provide you with the essential information you need to commit to, defend, and succeed in your decision.

I picked this one up at Powell’s the other night and was immediately drawn in.

I found myself curled up for the better part of an hour, completely engrossed in reading one excellent insight after another into the dangers of invasive birth procedures.

The best part about this book is that it's fully cited, which is a huge plus compared to so many other books targeted at expectant mothers. Seriously, what's up with that? We're pregnant, but we're not stupid!

This comprehensive book covers everything related to childbirth, including cesarean section, labor induction, electronic fetal monitoring, epidurals, episiotomies, and perinatal care.

In the end, it clearly discourages any kind of unnecessary intervention and explains, through the use of statistics, logic, and basic biochemistry, why less is more in the birthing process.

If you're preparing yourself for a natural delivery, as I am, this is definitely a great read. You can even check out the book's excellent intro here.

I think it's truly fascinating that women hold such diverse opinions about childbirth.

Some believe it to be the worst pain one will ever experience, while others find it easy and a beautiful journey.

This book intrigues me as it is research-based, and the author includes all the relevant research at the end.

It's astonishing how all those interventions that are supposed to save a baby from distress can simultaneously cause extreme discomfort for a laboring mother, often leading to c-sections and other drastic measures.

I think this offers a great perspective. It helps to balance our reliance and trust in modern medicine with the understanding that birth is a natural process.

Most of the time, if mom and baby are allowed to follow a natural course, they rarely need to be rescued.

This book makes us think twice about the overuse of medical interventions during childbirth and encourages us to consider a more holistic approach.

It's essential to respect the natural process of birth while also being aware of the role that modern medicine can play when necessary.

Overall, this book provides valuable insights into the complex world of childbirth and challenges us to reevaluate our attitudes and beliefs.

Lots of extremely valuable information is presented in a well-organized manner, which greatly assists in the decision-making process. There are a large number of citations at the back of the book, enabling readers to explore more background details and refer to the sources if they so desire. I discovered that this book is truly beneficial when it comes to examining the various options that one might have to make or negotiate during the birth process.

However, what I don't like about it is the author's attitude of complete aversion towards obstetrics. While I completely agree with her that there are numerous flaws in the intervention-oriented obstetric model and I appreciate the information provided, I do feel that the way she discusses obstetricians can be very off-putting to parents who have chosen (or have no local alternatives other than) an OB. It establishes a "parent versus doctor" model that makes me uncomfortable.

If you are in a care situation where you need to assert your birth wishes, this book will be useful. But it still seems a bit too adversarial to me. Additionally, my experience with a mixed OB/midwife practice in a hospital has been very different in terms of the standards of care and routine intervention compared to what Goer describes in this book. Some of the problems she mentions do exist, but many others do not, or occur at a much lower rate than discussed in the book. This could be because the book is older, or perhaps due to the fact that where I live and the practices in my area are different from those in other places. For example, my hospital and practice's C-section rates are much lower than the national average, and there are no routine episiotomies, etc. etc. It is worth noting this difference.