Customer Reviews

Gentle Birth Choices

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Reading negative comments of writer who had positive hosp. birth experience in Austin, TX, i wish to point out that Texas has one of the most active midwifery associations in our country - they have been instrumental in advancing natural birth practices in Texas. You were fortunate to have the options you shared - they are still not the norm for hospital births in much of our country. I live in Virginia Beach, VA, am a nurse, mom and grandmom. Hosp. births here still leave a lot to be desired. Episotomies are standard, induction and c-section rate are very high. When I went to nursing school in the 1980's, I was not taught anything about natural childbirth, I was taught that women needed interventions and taught about the interventions. It wasn't until I became natural childbirth educator that I found out how our bodies really work during birthing and how to work with the body's natural birth capabilities. Many women live in localities where they need to be aware that they have other options than what is traditionally offered in their communities- they may have to fight for their right to have the birth of their choice. This book does an excellent job at empowering women to look for healthy birth choices- I look forward to the day when your experience of forward thinking and practices in a hospital setting is the norm, rather than the exception.

I have always been really scared of the birthing process. After reading this book, I felt much more empowered and confident about the whole process. Now I am really looking forward to it and feel like I understand so much more about how our bodies naturally can help us through birthing. This book sparked my interest and now I have learned a lot more about natural, drug-free birthing options. I am excited instead of scared. As with anything, we still need to make our own personal decisions about how we want to do things, but I really feel like reading this book opened me up to many options that I wasn't aware of or hadn't considered. It amazes me how many people go through being pregnant and birthing with a very limited view of how it "should be done". When I was reading the book, there were so many times where I thought, "yeah, that makes a lot of sense", even though I had never thought about it myself.
I highly recommend this book!

Harper has good points and empowers women to make wise choices and take responsiblity for their own labor, deliver, births. Unlike the reader who found it to be information not pertinent to today (I wish I had her hospital & doctor in my town), my birth experience with my first (& so far only child) was very much taken out of my control. My child was never in danger, I was never in danger. And despite my "birth plan" and my constantly telling my doctor that I was okay with however long my labor took as long as baby & me were fine,she intervened and eventually I ended up with a c-section. Hospital protocol dictated that I be put in hospital gown, hooked up to iv and fetal monitor despite the fact that it slowed my labor and made the pains more intense. A nurse came in every hour and offered me some sort of pain releif despite the fact that I had expressed that I didn't want it. She'd tell me I didn't have to be martyr. That was agrivating. As a result, I've been looking for hope to avoid this the next time around. Had I read this book before I believe I would NOT have the physical or emotional scars of the cesearean. I know some women are okay with their c-sections and I probably would be too if I knew that my life or my baby's life had been saved. But neither of us were ever in jeporady.

because it focuses on the mother-to-be naturally reclaiming the birth process. This book was one of my tried-and-true resources during my pregnancy while I was thoughtfully trying to decide what birth experience I wanted. I ended up making an informed decision to have a midwife-assisted natural homebirth, and it was the most exhilarating experience of my life. There is no other way I would want to bring a child into this world. I challenge any mother-to-be to think for herself, inform herself of all the options, and make the choice SHE (not just her OB/GYN) feels is right. Thank God a medically-controlled hospital birth is not the only option. Blessed are the babies who receive such a warm welcome into the world. And, my heart breaks for every innocent little soul who is yanked from his mother's womb by a pair of cold, latex-gloved hands in a cold, bright, sterilized hospital. Trust me, women...there IS a better way! You have all the resources and strength within you to have exactly the kind of birth you want.

I picked this book up at the urging of my midwife and I am so glad I did. It basically describes my entire birth plan.. it make so much sense to choose to have a birth that is calm and natural instead of the usual hospital nightmare (like my first delivery)

It goes into detail about WHY women are scared of birth and what we can do to combat that. It also gives you reasons why a "conventional" hospital birth is not all it's cracked up to be.

I recommend this book to any friends of mine that are pregnant, I think it's important to be able to make detailed choices regarding the birth of your baby.

Gentle Birth Choices is an excellent book for all expectant parents, regardless of their birthing intentions (i.e. birth center, home birth, hospital birth, natural birth or water birth). Moreover, childbirth educators of any affiliation will benefit from the information covered in the text and on video.

Gentle Birth Choices is riveting, yet powerful. Barbara Harper guides the reader through a history of birth and birthing procedures, dispels the myths perpetuated by the medical establishment and presents alternatives to hospital birth. However, for those who are unable to birth outside of a hospital, Ms. Harper provides guidance so that the reader may obtain the best, "gentle" birth possible. The book benefits expectant parents in that it presents them with options, some of which they may have not previously considered. Moreover, childbirth educators will not only find the book informative for teaching purposes, but also useful for influencing the medical establishment in a tactful manner.

Like the book, the video is an asset for both expectant parents and educators. Whether you have never seen a birth before or have witnessed thousands, the births contained in the video tape are absolutely beautiful and refreshing, relaxing yet empowering. After watching the video you will want to share it with everyone you know!

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend both book and video! In fact, I've already gone one further -- I purchased it for my cousin who is expecting in April.

This is an excellent book. The pictures are gorgeous, as usual Suzanne Arms has done terrific photography, and the descriptions of childbirth are pretty acurate. I must state though that every woman's experience of childbirth will be her own and be different so just because someone's childbirth was one way as described in this book it does not mean it will happen the same way for you. Technocratic birth is still the norm throughout the country and it is important to read books like this to prepare yourself should you be considering a hospital birth. The writer has obviously had a bad experience in the hospital, but many people have and I admire her wanting to share her experience as a warning to others. In my last hospital birth in 1999 I too was subjected to many of the interventions I did not want, for the third and final time I gave birth in the hospital. Never again. I wish I had read this back in 1995 before I had my first son and maybe things would have been different. Hospitals are for sick people, not pregnant women who are low risk. Also, someone else who reviewed here made some mention of a baby having an umbilical cord wrapped around its neck as a reason for c-sec, but that is not necessarily true. It is a small matter to unwrap a cord from around an infants neck as it is being born...I know as this happened with my son at his birth at home this past spring. If I had been in the hospital...would they have cut me open? Who knows?

Many books are written on birthing noutside the hospital, but most of them come from authors who are extremely biased. You can't avoid that, but this is a book which uses scientific studies to back up its biases, convincing the reader that the author supports natural childbirth because it has been proven safer, not because they are part of some conspiracy theory. I literally would pick up natural childbirth books and flip right to the back to see if the author cited medical studies. Most don't, but this has a good resource section. She cites statistic, national averages, medical journals, research studies, quotes from medical association conferences, etc. There is also a good history of midwifery and obstetrics - very interesting.

Wanting to give birth outside a hospital is not necessarily the most popular decision and those who support hospital births often say, "I would never forgive myself if something happened to the baby". However, most people have not done the research or read the material to make an informed decision. I wanted to find scientific research that proves that a "low-risk" birth outside a hospital is as safe or safer than those in a hospital. This has been the most helpful book so far.

I just discovered "Obsteric Myths Versus Research Realities" by Henci Goer which seems like it also may have good scientific backup. You may want to check it out. This book is great for learning little statistics and facts to reference when friends and family members question the wisdom and safety of non-traditional birth. If you're going to go against the mainstream, be well-informed, not just easily persuaded.

For another non-citation book, I also enjoyed Midwife's Pregnancy and Childbirth Book by Marion McCartney and Antonia Van Der Meer, which talks about the possible interventions you may encounter at a hospital, why you may need them, why you may not want them; as well as other good information

As a doula, I have not only watched and enjoyed this video, but also shared it with many of my clients. It gives a wonderful view of several different types of births, helping the future parent make educated decisions about the type of birth they want. It also is very realistic in terms of what to expect during labor. I look forward to reading the book after enjoying the video for so long!

Gentle Birth Choices was my birth changer. I knew I wanted a natural birth, but after reading about the wonderful experiences that other women have had, and also finding out a little more in depth about hospital births, this book has not only swayed my husband and I to indulge in a home birth, but to also give water birth a try. The most important thing to me is serenity. Serenity for me AND the baby - and after reading her book, as well as several others, I have come to the conclusion that this is what we want. Not only does Barbara give you options, she gives you the history. Excellent, excellent book! Highly recommend - as if you didn't know this already. ;+)