Childbirth without Fear: The Principles and Practice of Natural Childbirth (Import) [Paperback]

Grantly Dick-Read (Author), Michel Odent (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2005

In an age where birth has often been overtaken by obstetrics, Dr Dick-Read's philosophy is still as fresh as it was when he originally wrote this book. He unpicks every possible root cause of western woman's fear and anxiety in pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding and does so with overwhelming heart and empathy. Essential reading for all mothers-to-be!

Editorial Reviews

Review

The most influential birthing book of the last 100 years. (Fit Pregnancy )

From the Publisher

'Reading Childbirth without Fear at age 16 provided me with the basis of knowledge of childbirth that I used as a first-time mother and still use as a midwife of more than 35 years. A brilliant, courageous classic that is still relevant today.' Ina May Gaskin - author of Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

'Childbirth Without Fear is the book that began the childbirth revolution. Dr. Grantly Dick-Read's insights about women, their bodies and birth began the transformation of pregnancy and birth. Though we are still at the beginning of this long battle, the reprint of Dick-Read's masterpiece will help.' Jan Tritton - editor Midwifery Today

'So great was my fear of childbirth that as a young girl I decided I would never have children. All that changed when at the age of 18 my husband-to-be presented me with a copy of Childbirth without Fear. I remember so clearly turning the pages and feeling my fear suddenly subside. I will always be grateful to Grantly Dick-Read for opening my eyes to the truth about birth.' Laura Shanley - author Unassisted Childbirth

'Dr Grantly Dick-Read has always been an inspiration to me. His humanity, love and above all faith in women and their innate mothering skills is truly remarkable. In an age where birth has often been overtaken by obstetrics Dr Dick-Read’s philosophy is still as fresh as it was when he originally wrote this book. I highly recommend it.' Yehudi Gordon - obstetrician & author

‘A fascinating insight into normal birth at a time when endorphins were not known, modern midwifery did not exist and women had already learned to fear labour. Dick-Read, possibly the world’s first childbirth activist, celebrates women’s innate capacity for safe and easy birth in a challenging book that will excite, amaze, infuriate and uplift its readers.' Andrea Robertson - independent childbirth educator and author

'A 21st century edition of this historic - even legendary - book must be warmly welcomed.' Michel Odent - obstetrician and author

'When I was heavily pregnant with my first child 25 years ago this book fell into my hands. That was the start of my belief in natural childbirth which eventually led to four great births of my own and the founding of my life's work in the Active Birth Movement. Grantly Dick-Read's message is inspirational and even more relevant today than when this book was first published. Every pregnant mother should read it.' Janet Balaskas - Author of New Active Birth

'Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how birth education started as well as the vision that stimulated the birth movement. Dick-Read remains an inspiration for the humanisation of childbirth.' Sheila Kitzinger - author

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Pinter & Martin Ltd. (July 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0953096467
• ISBN-13: 978-0953096466
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #123,614 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read for All Doctors and Women, August 13, 2006

By 

Elizabeth (Washington State, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Childbirth without Fear: The Principles and Practice of Natural Childbirth (Import) (Paperback)

This book describes why and how all women can and should go through pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and all of their reproductive functions without fear or pain, but rather in joy. While acknowledging the hard work and courage involved, the author (Grantly Dick-Read, by the way- only the forward is by Michel Odent) writes to help women understand what is happening in their bodies as they make their babies.

The Philosophy of the Book

What I love about this book is that the author continually re-emphasizes his faith in women, and his belief that all women are strong enough to successfully bear healthy, happy children and that this is one of their great purposes and one of the great joys of humankind.

Above all the author seems to have used his common sense when writing. He respects the common sense and experience (though not always supersitions) of ordinary women around the world, especially those who have successfully borne children happily and without pain or fear. I love that he points out that no male OBGYN has never actually done this- though being a doctor himself he does respect medical science for what it can provide.

The book has a healthy respect of religion and Dr. Dick-Read includes an entire chapter on the curse of pain on Eve and the translation of the Bible on this particular point. Humanists can skip this chapter if they don't care and I think they will find the book very inspiring from the humanist/naturalist point of view. A number of times I felt like there should be a Walt Whitman poem inserted at the beginning or end of a chapter.

Informative

It contains sections on psychological preparationg for childbirth, good nutrition, how to prepare physically for labor, pregnancy, childbirth and related issues around the world and in modern society, breastfeeding, and other related topics. There are a number of stories of happy, healthy deliveries.

Not a Reference Book

The book is not a reference book. It has a number of benefits (including the force of a well-argued essay that will help to convince people with lingering fears) that reference books do not, and there IS an index. However if you want a reference book you would want to get that in addition to this.

Old Fashioned Style?

Some commented that the style is old-fashioned. I would just emphasize that this only refers to the *style* (think: C.S. Lewis or Bertrand Russell), and not the vocabulary. The book is obviously targeted at the general population and there are not a lot of fancy words.

I am seven months pregnant and I am so happy to have found this book. It's alleviated so many of my fears and given me so much solid information. I would recommend it to all pregnant women, even if they think they can't finish the whole book before they give birth, and to their husbands.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, July 14, 2005

By 

A. Chin (New Orleans, LA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Childbirth without Fear: The Principles and Practice of Natural Childbirth (Import) (Paperback)

I read an earlier edition of Grantly Dick-Read's book and it was extremely enlightening for me. I had taken the Bradley Childbirth classes in preparation for the birth of my first baby and, unfortunately forgot everything I had been taught as soon as labor started. When I got pregnant with number 2, I decided to prepare a little better. Upon the suggestion of a friend, I read "Childbirth without Fear" and that, combined with hiring a doula and learning self hypnosis techniques (hypbirth.com) made for a very easy, quick (less than 6 hours from 1st contraction to delivery) labor. Get this book!!!

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's about the ideas..., January 17, 2006

By 

Becky - See all my reviews

This review is from: Childbirth without Fear: The Principles and Practice of Natural Childbirth (Import) (Paperback)

I have to admit that there were times that this book made me giggle simply because its age dates it and there were times that I felt that he was far too repetitive. That said, however, the ideas in this book are incredibly powerful. I was one of those people who wanted a natural birth but didn't want to spend a lot of money on classes and didn't get around to practicing much with the exercizes we learned in the hospital lamaze class (or the ones in this book, for that matter). It was the ideas in this book, in particular those concerning the fear-tension-pain cycle, that got me through what turned out to be an easy, unmedicated birth. I am firmly convinced that it was the relaxation that Dr. Dick-Reed recommended that made my labor both relatively easy and quick.