Epidural Without Guilt is the only book that takes the fear and mystery out of pain relief for childbirth. In this groundbreaking work, Dr. Gilbert Grant analyzes the latest medical studies about epidurals and spinals, and presents them in a commonsense, reader-friendly format. Dr. Grant delivers a completely new way to look at epidurals. Instead of focusing only on the risks of getting an epidural, he discusses something few people ever consider: the risks of NOT getting one. Mothers-to-be and even health care professionals may be surprised to learn that epidurals can speed up labor, don't increase the risk of cesarean, can reduce the likelihood of postpartum depression and can help with breast-feeding. In Epidural Without Guilt, Dr. Grant shares insights he has gained from caring for thousands of women giving birth over the past quarter-century, debunks the myths about epidurals and spinals, and explains how women can safely and comfortably enjoy the birth of their child.
Epidural Without Guilt: Childbirth Without Pain
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Editorial Reviews
Review
This slim paperback should be required reading for pregnant women. Few books get this detailed about epidural pain relief, and it is such important information for women to have as they consider their options during childbirth. --Library Journal, Oct 1, 2010
About the Author
Dr. Gilbert J. Grant is Director of Obstetric Anesthesia at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Grant has continuously been engaged in clinical and laboratory research focused on improving patient care. He was an active participant in the changeover from the old-fashioned epidural in vogue at the beginning of his career to the walking epidural he now routinely administers. Since 1989 he has worked on developing an ultra-long-acting local anesthetic designed to provide sustained pain relief. Dr. Grant has published numerous scientific papers and chapters for medical textbooks, and he lectures at educational institutions and scientific meetings in the United States and abroad.
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More About the Author
I have been practicing anesthesiology for 25 years, and I've been the Director of Obstetric Anesthesia at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City for nearly 20 years, providing pain relief to women having babies. I have found that many women are quite concerned both about the pain that will accompany delivery and the methods used to relieve the pain. But it's not so simple to find accurate, up-to-date information about epidurals and spinals. I wrote "Epidural Without Guilt" to make important information about state-of-the-art pain relief techniques for childbirth available to the public.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By Wendy Garcia
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I just read Epidural without Guilt. It is an incredibly informative book. It's a fast and easy read, but don't let that fool you, it is packed full of information. I'm passing mine to my friend who's due any second. It really helped me figure out how to try to avoid the itching and vomiting I had post my scheduled c/s, and gave me some things to discuss with the doc at my next birth, also a scheduled c/s, like I am really interested in having a epidural and spinal combo, with the spinal for the surgery and the epidural with PCEA pain relief through the Epidural line for post surgical pain.
A recurring theme in this book is to be an empowered patient. Risks and benefits are discussed. Nowhere does he imply that the idea of relieving pain in for the staff's comfort, rather for the mother, baby, and partners. Myths and half truths that exist in the popular culture are debunked. Information about the epidurals and spinals used TODAY are discussed, comparing them to the ones used 20 years ago, where many child birth educators still teach as if those are used today.
Before you judge this book, please actually read it. However I believe the negative reviews will continue based on people with a bias against women obtaining pain relief in labor. It would never be a question that anyone undergoing dental surgery would receive pain relief, however women are expected to labor without pain relief based on superstitions and half truths.
A recurring theme in this book is to be an empowered patient. Risks and benefits are discussed. Nowhere does he imply that the idea of relieving pain in for the staff's comfort, rather for the mother, baby, and partners. Myths and half truths that exist in the popular culture are debunked. Information about the epidurals and spinals used TODAY are discussed, comparing them to the ones used 20 years ago, where many child birth educators still teach as if those are used today.
Before you judge this book, please actually read it. However I believe the negative reviews will continue based on people with a bias against women obtaining pain relief in labor. It would never be a question that anyone undergoing dental surgery would receive pain relief, however women are expected to labor without pain relief based on superstitions and half truths.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Just kidding, folks.
I reviewed this book as a birth professional. I'm a doula and it's important to me to fully understand all the choices laboring women might make, so I can support them come hell or high water. This book delivers solid information and Dr. Grant very obviously cares about his patients, which goes a long way with me. Epidurals definitely can be amazing, wonderful miracles of modern medicine(they are the very model!), and since the majority of laboring women choose to have them, both mothers-to-be and birth professionals should know the facts about them. Bravo, Dr. Grant!
That being said, I felt that he overlooked the fact that natural childbirth is a valid choice for many women. Labor is such a different thing for different people that his comparisons of contractions to having teeth drilled or having surgery is really meaningless. Although he emphasized that it was a woman's choice, I felt that the whole tone of the book lent itself to "Sure, you COULD have a natural birth- but why would you ever want to??" I appreciate his emphasis on the safety of epidurals for both mother and baby, but it's not just about safety and it's not just about pain.
More importantly, his terminology regarding delivery really bothered me. He consistently described laboring women as "assisting" the obstetrician or midwife, and as "participating" in their birth. This language is not appropriate, even when a woman is numb from the waist down. It reduces the mother, when, in fact, she is the one whom the obstetrician is assisting. Not participating in the birth is not a choice for her, although not complying with a doctor's requests is. I would hope that there would be a second, expanded edition of this book, and that this language would be changed.
I reviewed this book as a birth professional. I'm a doula and it's important to me to fully understand all the choices laboring women might make, so I can support them come hell or high water. This book delivers solid information and Dr. Grant very obviously cares about his patients, which goes a long way with me. Epidurals definitely can be amazing, wonderful miracles of modern medicine(they are the very model!), and since the majority of laboring women choose to have them, both mothers-to-be and birth professionals should know the facts about them. Bravo, Dr. Grant!
That being said, I felt that he overlooked the fact that natural childbirth is a valid choice for many women. Labor is such a different thing for different people that his comparisons of contractions to having teeth drilled or having surgery is really meaningless. Although he emphasized that it was a woman's choice, I felt that the whole tone of the book lent itself to "Sure, you COULD have a natural birth- but why would you ever want to??" I appreciate his emphasis on the safety of epidurals for both mother and baby, but it's not just about safety and it's not just about pain.
More importantly, his terminology regarding delivery really bothered me. He consistently described laboring women as "assisting" the obstetrician or midwife, and as "participating" in their birth. This language is not appropriate, even when a woman is numb from the waist down. It reduces the mother, when, in fact, she is the one whom the obstetrician is assisting. Not participating in the birth is not a choice for her, although not complying with a doctor's requests is. I would hope that there would be a second, expanded edition of this book, and that this language would be changed.
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Harriet Hall
Format:Paperback
The negative reviews that say this book is biased and inaccurate are simply wrong. Dr. Grant's information is consistent with the information in the medical literature, with the views of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and with a recent review article in The New England Journal of Medicine. He corrects a number of myths and misconceptions about epidurals that are outdated and don't apply to the state-of-the-art epidurals used today. Every mother-to-be could benefit from reading this informative, easy-to-understand explanation of their options. I learned a lot from it, and I'm a family physician who used to deliver babies. For those who are interested in more details, I wrote a more extensive review of the book on the Science-Based Medicine blog at [...]
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Few Facts
A friend recommended this book to me. However, I was very dissapointed with the content. The book contained few facts on the drugs used in epiderals and a description of the side... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jen
5.0 out of 5 stars
I recomend this book to pregnant friends
I am a mom to two children. My first was born naturally, my second I had an epidural. Why I took the epidural is no one else business although you would think to some women I had... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Sarah Kirkconnell
1.0 out of 5 stars
Biased and Unfounded
In short: Epidurals immobilize the woman, cervix takes longer to open up, woman cannot move to help prepare (stretch) for delivery, episiotomy is performed, woman cannot feel when... Read more
Published 20 months ago by SWich
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tremendously helpful and informative!
This work is detailed and specific and a real value. It clarifies a great deal and easily and quite convincingly communicates how the process transpires, its benefits, how... Read more
Published 20 months ago by NCB
1.0 out of 5 stars
Horrible
Stupid book. Try this instead (also written by a doctor):[...]
I can't believe someone wrote a book about the benefits of epidurals. Read more
I can't believe someone wrote a book about the benefits of epidurals. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Paula
5.0 out of 5 stars
First Time Mother to Be
As a first time mother-to-be, I didn't have much knowledge in this area. I received this book as a gift and have found it extremely informative, interesting and overall, an easy... Read more
Published 24 months ago by mother-to-be
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dr Grant is a wonderful doc and great author
I know Dr. Grant professionally and was thrilled when he was available to see me when I was in labor at NYU. Read more
Published on March 11, 2011 by epiduralfan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great source of information
For my first child's birth, I had the good fortune to have Dr. Grant as my anesthesiologist (whom I had never met before). Read more
Published on February 27, 2011 by mrslychee
1.0 out of 5 stars
Designed to make women into good patients
After viewing the FOX NEWS "interview" and going to the website for more information, I ordered this book. Read more
Published on February 18, 2011 by S. Judy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Book Based on the Latest Scientific Research
The reviewers stating that this book doesn't have the latest research have clearly never read the book, have a very specific agenda, or both. Read more
Published on February 18, 2011 by Heather J. Johnson
