This book was truly of great help!

In the introduction, Goer clearly presents her preference for "natural" childbirth in a very pleasant and straightforward manner. However, as someone who hasn't yet decided against an epidural, I didn't find this book to be alarmist or one-sided in the slightest.

In fact, by the end of the book, I was convinced that fewer medical interventions are better, and this was solely due to Goer's meticulous research. Her research is presented not only in a bulleted summary at the end of each chapter but also in a comprehensive annotated bibliography at the end of the book.

Another aspect of this book that I really appreciated is that it doesn't take an all-or-nothing approach. Goer doesn't simply list the benefits of an epidural, such as near total pain relief and relaxation that might assist in the progress of labor, and the drawbacks, like its tendency to slow down labor and cause many more interventions, each with their own risks. Instead, she also provides a list of ways to reduce the risks associated with an epidural if one decides to have it.

For some, reading all of these details about labor and the research behind it might seem overwhelming. But for my information-hungry mind, it was precisely what I needed to ease my nerves. After reading this book, I feel better equipped to make informed decisions without being influenced by the pressure of an emotional philosophy.

Overall, this book is a valuable resource for anyone preparing for childbirth.

This is the gold standard, in my opinion.

When it comes to getting informed about your options and the likelihood of interventions during labor, as well as how to prevent and better manage your birth, this resource is top-notch.

Everything one needs to know is presented here in a straightforward and factual manner. Of course, it is heavily biased towards achieving a natural birth, so it is probably more suitable for the woman who already knows she would like to take that approach.

It is also good to note that after listing every outcome and intervention, the author provides tips on how to best avoid this or that happening or the chain of events. I personally felt more informed after reading it, even though the title may seem a bit elitist.

This article offers valuable insights and practical advice for women who are preparing for childbirth and want to make informed decisions about their birthing experience.

The author of this piece is extremely biased, yet she makes no attempt to conceal her pro-home birth and natural labor stance. It is filled with an abundance of statistics and data, which unfortunately makes it a bit tiresome to read. However, it does provide a great overall view.

From "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer:

"In the interest of full disclosure, I am a proponent of natural childbirth. I firmly believe that labor presents an unrivaled opportunity to uncover your inner resources, capacities, and strengths that you were previously unaware of. I know this both from personal experience and from hearing the stories of others, and I understand that such an experience can hold great value. However, I also recognize that women approach labor with widely diverse beliefs, goals, and past experiences. Many women do not wish to pursue natural childbirth, and desiring a narcotic or an epidural does not in any way reflect on the strength of their character. Nor does it mean that women who initially want natural childbirth but change their minds during labor have somehow 'failed'. No one can accurately predict how long or difficult a labor will be, and everyone has a point at which they say 'enough'. Still, it is important to keep in mind that many hospitals are not conducive to a natural childbirth. Many women who desire natural childbirth ultimately end up taking pain medication because they do not receive the necessary emotional support or practical help from the hospital staff, and sometimes not even from their closest loved ones who may be too uncomfortable witnessing their loved one's pain.

Pain serves as a guide. Usually, the positions and activities that you find most comfortable are also those that promote good labor progress or help the baby assume the best position for birth." - pgs 136-138

Another book that vividly highlights the rather frightening aspects of medical childbirth is one that I was already somewhat wary of even before delving into its pages.

Now, after reading, I have been left with a new and truly horrifying image of a vertical c-section scar splitting open during a VBAC. It seems that the author of this book is definitely very much biased in favor of midwifery.

Nevertheless, despite this apparent bias, the information provided within the book is overall both interesting and, to a certain extent, helpful. In fact, I have received some really great tips that I can put to good use during my pregnancy and the subsequent birthing process.

These tips, I believe, will prove invaluable in ensuring a more positive and less stressful experience for me and my baby.

Although the book has its flaws in terms of the author's bias, it still manages to offer some useful insights and practical advice that I am grateful to have come across.

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

So much of our obstetrical care seems to be centered around what is most beneficial for insurance companies and doctors rather than for the mother and baby. However, this book has made me feel far more informed about the process of giving birth in a hospital and how to maneuver through that process in a manner that maximizes our odds of having a healthy natural birthing experience.

Goer doesn't promote natural childbirth and midwifery in a "hippy dippy" fashion. Instead, she presents the medical studies and literature from mainstream medical journals to support her arguments. The book is divided into chapters based on different topics. Thus, you can utilize 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 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 quickly accessible for non-medical individuals. Of course, if you have an interest in a specific issue, you can always read the full text of the studies in the back on your own as well.

I only managed to get through the introduction and a sampling of two other chapters to determine if the tone of the book altered. Honestly, I just didn't have the inclination to wade through such an overwhelming amount of negativity. In this particular book, Henci Goer seems to be on the offensive. The text on the back cover highlights the difficulty of finding unbiased information regarding childbirth, and if you're perusing this book, that assertion is indeed accurate.

To be fair, Henci Goer does point out in the introduction that she has a bias, and I don't hold that against her. However, the contents of this book generally follow a pattern. It goes like this: obstetricians are depicted as stupid or malevolent, there's an enumeration of the stupid things they frequently do, and then there are the pros and cons of the alternatives. So, it's generally a sequence of negative, negative, and then neutral.

Here's an example passage from the beginning of the first chapter: "Obstetrics (as opposed to midwifery) is based on the principal that the obstetrician's job is to use a full panoply of tests, drugs, and procedures to preserve mothers and babies from nature's 'inept' process." It reads very much like political arguments for candidate A that solely focus on why candidate B is so dreadful. I would much rather hear about why candidate A is so great, followed by a comparison to candidate B. For a book on childbirth that presents a more positive perspective on why childbirth doesn't necessarily demand drugs and operations, one can refer to Ina May's Guide to Childbirth: Updated With New Material. I'm truly glad that I read that book first because if I had read this one initially, I might have abandoned the idea of reading books on natural childbirth altogether.

The author holds a rather one-sided perspective that leans heavily towards natural birth procedures without medical assistance, to the greatest extent possible.

Although she attempts to present her arguments objectively, the language she uses is tinged with a certain disdain for anything considered "unnatural," such as C-sections, epidurals, and any form of medical intervention.

Halfway through the book, I began to sense that the author is strongly advocating for doulas or midwives over obstetricians. However, I was hoping for a more balanced view - or at least the opportunity to be educated rather than being simply told how to make (informed) choices on my own.

All in all, I felt that the book failed to achieve its objective of assisting "the thinking woman" or clearly explaining what a "better birth" ultimately is, because that is all too subjective in any case.

This lack of balance and clarity left me feeling somewhat disappointed with the book's overall message and its ability to provide useful and comprehensive guidance on the topic of childbirth.

Perhaps I read this a little late in the game. I am almost 8 months pregnant.

I felt that while this book did provide some useful tips here and there, there were a great many scary statistics that frankly made me freak out and second-guess some of the birth decisions I have made so far. The positive side of this is that I re-evaluated my birth plan and it strengthened my decision to have a natural childbirth, unless there are any medical complications.

Having said that, this book is nearly 15 years old, and I think hospitals and some OB/GYNs, including mine hopefully, have advanced a great deal since then. My OB has not raised any objections to my current birth plan, which includes having a doula, being able to eat and drink during labor, and using non-standard childbirth positions.

The author did seem rather biased against hospital births, which was frustrating because I believe that hospitals are working hard to do a better job of being more accommodating to women who desire natural childbirth options.

A comprehensive informative book that delves into the process of childbirth and the commonly used medical protocols, analyzing their pros and cons.

Based on numerous studies it refers to, and boasting appendices that span approximately 130 pages, this book becomes an invaluable tool for all those with an interest in this subject.

In the same vein, I recommend watching the documentary "Loba" by Catherine Béchard. Here, I leave you with the trailer: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/loba.

The book not only provides detailed information about the physical aspects of childbirth but also explores the medical procedures involved. By examining the advantages and disadvantages of different protocols, readers can gain a more in-depth understanding of the choices available.

The extensive appendices offer additional resources and references, further enhancing the book's value.

As for the documentary, it likely offers a unique perspective on childbirth, perhaps through the eyes of those directly involved. The trailer provides a tantalizing glimpse into what viewers can expect, making it an enticing option for those looking to learn more about this important topic.

I'm finding that a LOT of birth books are both hit and miss with me.

On the one hand, there are some definite positives. The book was super easy to read, even with my then pregnancy-addled mind. It was well put together and well researched. The information was presented in easy-to-digest clumps, with the use of bullet points and such, which was great.

However, there were also some aspects that I didn't quite like. Firstly, it's an older book, and in some places, the data is outdated. In the field of medicine, information is constantly evolving, and this book is in need of an update. Additionally, I thought that the 'pros and cons' tables were somewhat poorly organized, although they were still somewhat helpful.

Finally, I have to say that none of the information in this book was anything that I hadn't read before or read presented better elsewhere. That being said, the author did have a nice sense of humor that shone through from time to time, which was a pleasant surprise.

Overall, while this book had some good points, it also had several areas that could be improved upon.

I truly adored Goer's format.

She begins with a mini summary or overview, which provides a concise introduction to the topic. Then, she delves into the details of what each procedure actually entails, offering a comprehensive understanding.

Subsequently, she presents the pros and cons, as well as a brief review of medical research from the 1990s. This balanced approach allows readers to make informed decisions.

In addition, nearly half of the book is dedicated to her further explanation of research results and statements on various topics. Moreover, there is an extensive bibliography at the back, which serves as a valuable resource for those who wish to explore the subject further.

While it is true that she may have some bias, what intrigues me is how she repeatedly uses research to show that the birth process in a hospital setting is often approached not based on statistically significant evidentiary results, but rather from a perspective of "this is how we do things" and "this will simplify the lives of medical professionals."

As a first-time mom planning a natural delivery, it was extremely beneficial for me to have a reminder of what an "epidural" or "c-section" truly means and looks like, as well as the possible side effects of other medical interventions.

I would highly anticipate a revised and updated edition of this book to discover what recent research has uncovered on these topics.

I'm truly surprised that this book has received such a high rating. It is evident that it is biased, despite its attempts to appear objective by listing pros and cons and backing up claims with literature and so on.

This book is useful for obtaining an overview of the various birth intervention procedures available, the motivation behind each procedure, and it also criticizes the tendency of obstetricians to opt for these interventions even when they could potentially be avoided. The overall message is well-intentioned. However, in my opinion, the way the message is delivered is rather harsh and borderlines on fear-mongering. Additionally, it's important to note that this book is very American-centered and was written in 1999. Some countries in Europe, as far as I know, already have a midwife-centered approach when it comes to birth procedures, even in hospitals.

I did manage to learn a few tips on how to prepare myself in order to minimize the need for intervention during childbirth. At the very least, I got a picture of what the available intervention options are and why someone might or might not require them. I would say that if you ever decide to read this book, it would be beneficial to complement it with other resources on childbirth to achieve a more balanced view on the topic.