Customer Reviews

Easy Labor: Every Woman's Guide to Choosing Less Pain and More Joy During Childbirth

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As a childbirth educator and founder of Hypnobabies, I very much enjoyed seeing the authors provide us all such a nicely balanced collection of ideas for being more confident and comfortable during childbirth. I always love to see expectant moms research their choices for childbirth and this book has many. Easy Labor starts out with excellent information on choosing your birthing environment and caregivers, addressing childbirth fears and concerns, and giving wonderful resources.

The next section is all about epidurals and medications for birthing, with the information women need about the benefits, risks and side effects for each one as well as how and when they are administered, and how a birth partner can help if meds are chosen. Especially helpful are the comments from caregivers and mothers who have experienced using these medications for childbirth. There is even a chapter on medication for Cesarean births that answers many questions for women.

Of course the part of the book I am most impressed with is the section on Complementary and Alternative Approaches to Labor-Pain Relief. The authors very sensitively and concisely researched various forms of "CAMS" (complimentary and alternative medicine) from natural childbirth classes and waterbirthing to using hypnosis, acupuncture, aromatherapy and labor support. Resources are given throughout and the information is very comprehensive.

Incredibly fascinating are the chapters on the history of pain relief in childbirth and the birth stories from medical caregivers - their own birth stories! Doulas, OBs, nurses and midwives tell what they experienced, learned, and found helpful for their own baby's births. They also share perspectives on how their own attitudes impact their patient's childbirth experience. Great book. Get it, read it!

Kerry Tuschhoff, Hypnobabies

This book is an excellent survey of labor options and pain relief methods. It seems fairly un-biased - not pulling either to home birth or to hospital birth. It is explains different medications and alternative methods and has quotes from mothers and practitioners on their experiences. It emphasizes the need to think ahead, to be flexible, and to be prepared for the unexpected turns that labor and delivery can take. I am on the brink of my third delivery and I agree with the authors that all expectant mothers should be "armed" with information about both natural and medical pain relief because labor does not always go according to your plan. Even if you plan on getting an epidural, you should know some comfort measures, in case you can't get that epidural right away.

One thing to note however is that this book will not really "teach" you much about breathing or relaxation. It will give you an idea of where to turn to find out more about a given method. I was hoping it would have more specific instruction on calming techniques. I recommend perhaps starting with this book earlier in your pregnancy so that you have time to research some of the methods that appeal to you in more detail. (For example, Bradley method takes 12 weeks of instruction and HypnoBirth techniques can take months to learn! And you need to find an instructor.)

But overall, it is a good practical guide to options.

I'm 4 months pregnant and have started reading about various labor options and philosophies. I'm pretty middle-of-the-road and have no issue with medical pain intervention. I'd also like to have some alternative methods in my back pocket, too. The information on pain management is useful. However, the pages and pages detailing the incredible pain of labor were not exactly comforting. I read this right after reading a book on hypnobirthing, which had the opposite philosophy, so perhaps the contrast was even greater. For me, the idea that the pain is "horrible, terrifying and excruciating" is not what I want to focus on for the next five months. I am using this book for the factual parts, which is useful. Then I'm looking elsewhere to help me manage my own fears and nerves about having my first baby. If this were the only book I'd looked at, I would be VERY scared about having this baby. Luckily, there are some books that are more reassuring and confidence-building that I'm reading as well. It's good to have info, it's not great to be terrified for months on end.

I'm a mother of two - and had difficult labor with both my daughters (3 1/2 years & 5 months). I wish this book had been published a few months earlier to help me understand ALL of my options for pain relief - not just "natural" techniques. Why must labor be so painful, and why arent doctors and caregivers more honest about how painful labor can be-- even a normal labor? This book is the first I have seen that explains what to REALLY expect in the labor and delivery room! I recommend it to every expectant mom. It educates and empowers you to take charge of your labor and delivery!

This book is terrific. The majority of books available on this subject are medically inaccurate and continue to make women feel like they are "giving in", potentially harming their babies or increasing the chance of a C-section by getting an epidural or pain medication. This is the only book I am aware of that "tells it like it really is'. As an Obstetrician and a mother, I should know! It is also very readable, very interesting, and not in the least bit condescending. This book is appropriate if you know nothing about childbirth, medicine and the options that are available to you. It is equally appropriate if you consider yourself to be pretty savvy about the whole process but need a perspective and up to date information not offered in other books. Every pregnant woman should read this book...Even if you decide that a low intervention birth is your preference, the information is invaluable and will allow you to make an informed decision (whatever it is) based on REAL information.

I'm not sure if the title Easy Labor is a good one for this book, but I did get a lot of information about different pain relief options available for/during labor and delivery. It was a good source to use when discussing options with my doctor.

I am hoping to have a natural childbirth, but bought this book to better understand options in pain relief. Unfortunately, I didn't feel the book was very supportive of that at all. Lots of information on how excruciating childbirth is, how many women are not in any way prepared for it, how it will be a pain like one you have never experienced and cannot comprehend, etc. I don't mind a medically-oriented approach, but if you're planning to try to have a natural childbirth, this book is a bit scary! Good overview of medication options.

Being a scientist, I really value good research and objective writing. These two things are lacking in most of the books on birth, but I found it in this one. The authors cite credible studies and provide a very balanced view about labor and pain management options. They describe the pros and cons of everything from epidurals to hynpborths, from c-sections to water births and everything in between without offering any judgment or opinions on which methods are "better". The idea of the book is to give pregnant women as much information as possible so they can make their own choices. My only complaint about the book is the title. I feel it does not at all describe the information given within the book.

Written by an anesthesiologist, this objective and comprehensive guide outlines the pros and cons of pain relief options in childbirth. From acupuncture to hydrotherapy to hypnosis to the Bradley method to the epidural, you'll find it here. This book is the best and only one of its kind - readers will learn about labor from professionals (midwives, nurses, obstetricians) and moms in a clear, easy-to-read text. If you want to be "prepared" for labor (if that's possible), look no further. This is a book designed for middle-of-the-road, level-headed mamas - it's neither extremely naturalistic and anti-medicine nor overly cold and sterile.

Don't go to the hospital without reading this book. It gives you the knowledge to ask specifically for the pain relief you need. I was going the natural route until my labor had gone on for 30 hours. I had to take a detour from my original plan after being stuck at 9 cm for hours and enduring Pitocin without an epidural. I had to break down and ask for the epidural. It was going to take the anesthesiologist (sp?) a 1/2 hour to get to me, so I asked for narcotic in my IV. The nurses said no, but I asked them to call the doctor (b/c I had read in this book that it was ok), and the doctor said yes, of course. I had relief right away and did not have to suffer for another minute.