This book presented a wealth of valuable and useful information.

Particularly, the interview questions for care providers were highly beneficial.

Moreover, there was a significant amount of research in the back that one could explore and sift through.

However, my main grievance is that, despite the author stating upfront that she is biased, the way she presented the research made it rather frustrating to read.

It gave the impression that she was manipulating the facts.

Phrases such as "some research suggests" led me to believe that the research being referred to might not be very robust or might have been poorly executed, without the author being transparent about it.

And this criticism is coming from someone who desires an unmedicated home birth!

Nevertheless, overall, the book did contain good information, but it was challenging to filter out the bias.

A lot of the content in this book covers aspects that I was already somewhat inclined towards. However, it provides me with even more research and preparation to defend those viewpoints if the need arises.

It does worry me a bit that so many things could potentially happen to a person, and they might not know how to respond or even have an informed opinion.

I've read some of the other reviews of this book, and I don't believe the title is condescending in the slightest. I think many women simply accept whatever their doctors tell them without much thought. They don't actively participate in their own healthcare decisions.

Since becoming pregnant, I've been watching a lot of the show "A Baby Story". I'm astonished by how many women simply state that they're getting an epidural, having a c-section, or whatever, without really considering the implications. Their only thought seems to be that "birth should be easy and painless". They don't take into account the risks involved and just go along with what "technology" has to offer. It makes me really angry when I see the women on the show get an epidural, and then their dilation progress slows. Subsequently, their doctors recommend a c-section due to lack of adequate progress. It's so obvious that they were progressing just fine before the epidural, and then the epidural messes everything up.

This remarkable book offers comprehensive answers to a plethora of questions that you might not even be aware of having.

Whether you're a first-time mom, experiencing the joys and uncertainties of pregnancy for the very first time, or a second-time or fifth-time mom, this book is an absolute must-read.

Pregnancy and childbirth are indeed normal physiological processes, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be well-prepared. In fact, it is crucial that we do a better job of educating ourselves, especially during pregnancy.

By reading this book, you will be able to ask the appropriate questions and be well-informed when it comes to making choices regarding labor and birth.

It provides valuable insights, practical tips, and expert advice that will empower you to make the best decisions for yourself and your baby.

Every woman, regardless of her pregnancy history, should pick up this book and embark on a journey of knowledge and preparation. It truly is a game-changer.

When I first picked up this book as required pre-reading for my studies into becoming a Doula, I thought it would be great.

As an educated woman, "The Thinking Woman's Guide" particularly appealed to me.

However, this book is the last in a series of other readings I've recently done into childbirth (including authors such as Ina May Gaskin, Michel Odent, Klaus & Kennell, Penny Simkin, Janet Balaskas), and the title, when I finally picked up the book, didn't seem to fit.

For a "better birth", a mother needs to be in control of the situation, yes, but she also needs to STOP THINKING and just let herself go (some educators/midwives/doulas talk about finding your inner primate or your Lucy).

To do so, she needs to feel secure (she doesn't necessarily need support to labour, she needs labour companions that will help her feel secure).

Now, let's talk about the content. I found myself jotting things down in pencil and updating as I went along.

Either next to ideas that were questionable or that parents should delve further into by looking at more recent writings and research.

In particular, the author makes no distinction between the two types of in-labour caesareans vs. elective pre-labour caesareans.

According to Michel Odent, these are important distinctions in terms of safety, outcome, and even a woman's relationship to her child (see his book The Caesarean, (c) 2004).

There is A LOT of childbirth research out there right now, and as this book was written in 1999, it seems really overdue for a new edition (I haven't seen one out there).

So, reading it in 2011, I'm only going to give it 2 stars.

If you are committed to an intervention-free birth, there are better books out there.