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evaseyler's review against another edition
4.0
All I can say is... wow. I've been really perturbed already from my varied reading (both pro- and con-hospital) about the way hospitals handle things (while realising, of course, that not every hospital birth is ALL bad, and that there are situations that legitimately require hospital births and c-sections).
Sometimes I think the author is a bit over the top and does come across with the idea that hospitals are evil incarnate, but the point remains that to birth at home is the safer, healthier way physically and emotionally for both mom and baby - most of the time. She shares some interesting studies and statistics relating to home vs. hospital birth and the ensuing infant mortality rates as well.
I've got to say that this book has definitely inspired in me a great longing to experience the birthing process, pain and all. I can honestly say I'm truly excited about it now, whereas before I really had no strong feelings one way or the other, just looking at it as something I have to do to get the baby in my arms.
Sometimes I think the author is a bit over the top and does come across with the idea that hospitals are evil incarnate, but the point remains that to birth at home is the safer, healthier way physically and emotionally for both mom and baby - most of the time. She shares some interesting studies and statistics relating to home vs. hospital birth and the ensuing infant mortality rates as well.
I've got to say that this book has definitely inspired in me a great longing to experience the birthing process, pain and all. I can honestly say I'm truly excited about it now, whereas before I really had no strong feelings one way or the other, just looking at it as something I have to do to get the baby in my arms.
bestpartofafire's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book for the first time when I was 14-15 while babysitting. I picked it up out of curiosity because I knew nothing about birth and couldn’t put it down (weird? Maybe). I just read it again and still found it fascinating and beautiful— it focuses on the power of women in birthing their babies, and I really love that. It also gives a lot of information about the birth process, non-medical pain management techniques, etc.
miss_tricia's review against another edition
2.0
I wouldn't put this at the top of my list for childbirth resources. Summary: Being born is stressful for baby. Make it less stressful by avoiding drugs and giving birth in a warm, quiet, dimly lit environment.
In an ideal world, we would recognize that most mothers have their baby’s best interests at heart. Rather than setting things up in an oppositional context (mom’s desires vs. baby’s needs), we would view childbirth through the lens of the loving mother and educate mothers to give birth in the way that’s healthiest for them, realizing that what’s best for mom is often what’s best for mom AND baby.
In an ideal world, we would recognize that most mothers have their baby’s best interests at heart. Rather than setting things up in an oppositional context (mom’s desires vs. baby’s needs), we would view childbirth through the lens of the loving mother and educate mothers to give birth in the way that’s healthiest for them, realizing that what’s best for mom is often what’s best for mom AND baby.
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