Customer Reviews

Emergency Childbirth: A Manual

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first ordered this book when I was pregnant considering unassisted childbirth. You won't find any touchy-feely birth stories here. Simply put, it is a reference tool that you can use in case of an unforeseen complication during childbirth. It is laid out in an organized way and tells you what to do if you run into the most common birth complications - excessive bleeding, baby not breathing, cord prolapse, etc.

If you are considering a home birth, get this book and take an infant CPR class. Even if you plan on doing a hospital birth, this book is worthwhile. Why? because it is nice having the peace of mind to know how to handle problems yourself. It is the responsible adult thing to do. Chances are, you will not need the information presented in this book because natural births have fewer complications. However, it is good material to know.

This should be required reading for every woman of childbearing age. No matter where you are planning to birth your baby, there is nothing like knowing what can be done for specific "complications" as well as what constitutes a true emergency. There are two small things about this book, however, that I found unnecessary if not just ridiculous. First, the statement that it is "convenient to have the mother on her back." Convenient for whom? Certainly not the woman giving birth. Second, the statement as if fact and not a particular religious belief that, when a baby is not breathing and resuscitation is failing, "it is important to the eternal destiny of the baby that he be baptized." Gee, guess my whole family's up the proverbial creek then.

Nevertheless, these two minor things are easy enough to pass over and certainly don't make this book worth passing up. If you want straightforward information on what to do in even some unusual situations, this is the book to buy. It is also reassuringly slim - meaning there really isn't all that much to cover in the way of things that can go "wrong." It also has a quick reference section at the back which makes it very easy to find the information you need quickly, if the need arises.

This really should be required reading for every expectant parent. It provides a nice, reassuring counterpoint to hysterical fear mongering books like, "What to Expect (to go horribly wrong) When You're Expecting."

I hear so many stories about mothers delivering babies in the car (husband's classmate) or on the bathroom floor (my friend) that it seems everyone should be prepared by reading this short book. Birth is a natural event, but we don't have the instincts to know what to do with the cord and everything else we might worry about if birth happened at a time or a place we weren't expecting. While it's old, the facts in this book are still sound. It left me less anxious. Meanwhile I have a friend who is terrified her baby will come before the birth attendant ... perhaps she should read this!

I bought this book while I was pregnant with my second child. I found it to be a good how-to manual for delivering a baby without a doctor on hand, whether you are planning to try a homebirth on your own or if you are just paranoid of going into labor and not being able to get to the hospital on time. I recently gave birth to my third child, and I kept this book with me in my purse everywhere I went for the last month of my pregnancy.

This is a must have book for all expecting parents... or grandparents for that matter!!! Anyone can benefit from the information given in this book. It is an easy read, a short read and packed with necessary info, omitting things the average person doesn't need to know. It made my hubby feel SOOOO much better, when we were preg with our 2nd, and our first born had come 3 weeks early. My hubby was sure that one of these times (we have 6 children altogether) we surely wouldn't make it the 1 and 1/2 hour ride to the hospital, as I have VERY SHORT labors and deliveries. He even made our parents read the book, and he made copies of "the important parts" for them in case they happen to be the ones in the car with me while in transit to the hospital! Hehehhehe. Good amount of necessary info! A good buy for those expecting to deliver in the hospital or plan on home deliveries.

Every person would benefit from reading this book. Whether facing an emergency childbirth or a planned homebirth, it gets right down to the basics.
I have read many natural birth books. This is my favorite. It is short, to the point, and packed with information. Not too much, not too little, just right.

This was a good resource. The parts on emergency baptism so the baby won't be in purgatory should the worst happen threw me a little. This was obviously written quite some time ago, but it was easy to read and understand and I am glad I purchased it for my unassisted homebirth.

I bought this book because I intended to do an unassisted home birth and wanted to be prepared. It is geared more toward what do do in case baby comes early and you can't make it to the hospital, ie in the car, but is still helpful nonetheless. I think the information in it would be good for every person to know, especially the mother and father.

I am interested in purchasing this book, but it says it's unavailable. Does anyone know where I could buy or borrow this book? Thanks~