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michelekendzie's review
5.0
Below, I will paste the reviews I wrote for this book after each of my daughters' births. I'd add now that I had my third baby at home and it was wonderful and easy in part because of my confidence in my body that began with reading this book in 2000.
My review on Amazon:
This book gave me confidence in my ability to birth, and makes a convincing argument for the idea that childbirth is a natural, normal process, NOT a medical condition! I think everyone should read it, especially moms-to-be. I read it 7 months before conceiving my first child, and I'm so glad. I actually brought it with me to my first prenatal appointment and made it clear that I believe in natural childbirth. I went on to give birth to my 9 lb daughter drug free and episiotomy free, and I'm looking forward to having another pleasant birth experience with baby #2.
Edited 10/21/04
Indeed I did go on to have an incredibly easy, I'd even say fun, labor and delivery the second time, on November 14, 2003, despite being induced due to low amniotic fluid (I was over a week past edd too). Still no pain drugs and I was enjoying chatting with my friend and my doula between contractions all the way up to pushing. Five hours total, and just a few pushes. I may just be lucky to have easy births, but I truly believe a lot of it has to do with being knowledgeable and relaxed, which is Arms' main point.
(end of my Amazon review)
My review on Amazon:
This book gave me confidence in my ability to birth, and makes a convincing argument for the idea that childbirth is a natural, normal process, NOT a medical condition! I think everyone should read it, especially moms-to-be. I read it 7 months before conceiving my first child, and I'm so glad. I actually brought it with me to my first prenatal appointment and made it clear that I believe in natural childbirth. I went on to give birth to my 9 lb daughter drug free and episiotomy free, and I'm looking forward to having another pleasant birth experience with baby #2.
Edited 10/21/04
Indeed I did go on to have an incredibly easy, I'd even say fun, labor and delivery the second time, on November 14, 2003, despite being induced due to low amniotic fluid (I was over a week past edd too). Still no pain drugs and I was enjoying chatting with my friend and my doula between contractions all the way up to pushing. Five hours total, and just a few pushes. I may just be lucky to have easy births, but I truly believe a lot of it has to do with being knowledgeable and relaxed, which is Arms' main point.
(end of my Amazon review)
lauriesand82's review
5.0
A great read! Although the book is primarily a critique of "pathologized" childbirth, it is also applicable as a critique of our hyper-specialized healthcare system that profoundly fails to treat patients as whole people with complex health needs that go beyond simply reacting to urgent medical crises. As a woman, Arms' perspective on women and mothers was incredibly refreshing to me. The work we do is absolutely essential to the continuation of the human race after all, why SHOULDN'T we demand the respect we deserve? I didn't agree with all of Arms' perspectives (particularly regarding epidurals and formula feeding), but I found them thought provoking.
justliketitanium's review
4.0
Published in 1994 (it seems to have also been published in 1997 with a different subtitle, but the copy I read was from ’94), this book is out of date in some respects; however, much of the information it contains is timeless. I would be interested to see what an updated version would say (this is itself a follow up to the original published in 1975, so we’re due for a new one).
I consider what I learned reading Immaculate Deception II an invaluable addition to my preparations for what is certain to be one of the most profound and challenging experiences of my life. I have new confidence in myself and renewed gratitude for my midwife!
There were times I found myself wishing Arms had stuck a little closer to the topic of childbirth—I thought passages touching on homeopathy and immunizations were particularly suspect. Like all advice, it is up to the recipient to evaluate and decide for themselves whether or not to accept it. I also got a funny feeling from some of the descriptions of what life and childbirth would have been like in ancient human tribes. I think Arms tread a little too close to the noble savage trope at times, and I hope that those sections would come under more scrutiny if an updated version was published today.
To sum up: it’s old, and it’s not 100% pure good advice, but if you are pregnant or hoping to become pregnant or in a supportive role to someone who is preparing for childbirth, I highly encourage you to have a look through Immaculate Deception II.
I consider what I learned reading Immaculate Deception II an invaluable addition to my preparations for what is certain to be one of the most profound and challenging experiences of my life. I have new confidence in myself and renewed gratitude for my midwife!
There were times I found myself wishing Arms had stuck a little closer to the topic of childbirth—I thought passages touching on homeopathy and immunizations were particularly suspect. Like all advice, it is up to the recipient to evaluate and decide for themselves whether or not to accept it. I also got a funny feeling from some of the descriptions of what life and childbirth would have been like in ancient human tribes. I think Arms tread a little too close to the noble savage trope at times, and I hope that those sections would come under more scrutiny if an updated version was published today.
To sum up: it’s old, and it’s not 100% pure good advice, but if you are pregnant or hoping to become pregnant or in a supportive role to someone who is preparing for childbirth, I highly encourage you to have a look through Immaculate Deception II.
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