Customer Reviews

Thank You, Dr Lamaze

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

 

 

You don't have to be set on "Natural Childbirth" to read this. It is not only for old hippies either; it is also not what you see in your hospital's childbirth class. It is a great beginning to understand what the body is doing and how you prevent your body from misinterpreting it as pain. In the end, if this method is not for you, at least you approached the process with the understanding of what goes on.

Other books describe the process with a suggestion to breath naturally. This does not work. Many books review the phycial process of how the baby moves, but not what you can do to overcome how you feel. This book does that-- giving you things you can do to remain in control throughout your child's birth. It is worth it-- find a copy anywhere you can.

I was very young and very scared when I was pregnant with my son, Connor. To add to my problems, I am allergic to just about everything, which meant Lamaze was my only choice for childbirth. After reading Karmel's book, I had pride in myself, that 'yes, I can do this' and that, I would actually enjoy giving birth. Needless to say it only took two hours to have my son on a late Sunday night, I took four extra strength tylenol, which was mainly for my nerves and headache from all the nurses telling me I shouldn't be moving around, and returned to work on Wednesday. This book truly works! This should be required reading for anyone who is fearful of labor, or wants to be able to really experience the miracle of life without being being foggy minded bc of medication!

My attitude 35 years ago, when expecting my first child was:"Wake me when it's over" After reading "Thank you, Dr. Lamaze" I actually looked forward to the experience. With Marjorie Karmel's wise counsel and humorous recounting of her experiences and with the help of my wonderful husband and a very supportive doctor (It was hard to find a doctor who would cooperate with "natural childbirth") my first delivery was the most exciting and rewarding experience of my life. I wish this book could have a "rebirth" and be read by all pregnant women so that they could be fully aware and contributing members of the childbirth team. I hope that its use can help to eliminate some of the unnecessary drug use and caesarean sections that are so prevalent.

When I was pregnant with my eldest child, I had the services of a wonderful doulah and fairly good childbirth classes at my hospital. I delivered without any drugs and with lots of support with my husband on one side of me and my doulah on the other -- I can't imagine having a baby any other way! Unfortunately with my other children I was unable to have my doulah, but I did have this book and it helped me immensely! I did not achieve a painless childbirth, but I learned to work with my contractions and make the most out of each one. Giving birth has been the most wonderful experience of my life. I look forward to having more children.
I believe this book is more useful than "Husband-Coached Childbirth" by Dr. Bradley....this book is also a little bit dated, but only in describing how conditions were at the time Mrs. Karmel gave birth to her children. Everything else is full of practical advice with lots of help on how to do it yourself. I loan out my copy to pregnant friends, especially those who have had difficult childbirths previously. (Just make sure I get it back! :-)

When I was first pregnant, my mother dug out her copy of this book and I read it and reread it and then read it again! It was my bible and using Dr. Lamaze's methods, not the bastardized version they teach at hospitals these days, is what allowed me to have a completely pain-free childbirth. Not once, but twice, as I used his method both times I was pregnant. This book should be read by anyone who is pregnant. It is well-written, informative and entertaining!

I think this is a great read for every pregnant woman and her partner. Even if you're not convinced that natural childbirth is what you want, this book proves that women have choices in the delivery room. The author's journey was inspiring and gave me the confidence to start asking questions. It eased my fears, and as a result, I switched doctors and found the perfect one for me. Thanks to this book, I'm looking forward to delivery...not dreading it.

This book is about a woman who bore her children under the guidance of Lamaze, way before it was popular. She was an American in France, if my memory is correct. My youngest child is now 18 but I read her story before he was born and use her logic and wisdom when birth was near. Karmel's writing style is easy and fluent. She was a dear friend during that long ago pregnancy and delivery (which was, by the way, without drugs).

Karmel does an excellent job of telling her own childbirth story while at the same time explaining the Lamaze method (as it was taught in the early 50s by Dr. Lamaze). Karmel's book is not a detailed explanation of how to practice the Lamaze technique. She describes some of the breathing exercises in detail, but not the whole program. A person who was going to have a Lamaze delivery would need more detailed instructions and probably some demonstration, too. Karmel tells her own story well. She also does a good job differentiating between the Dick-Read method of "childbirth without fear" and the Lamaze method of "childbirth without pain." The primary difference being that Dick-Read focused on reducing fear to reduce pain, while Lamaze felt (and Karmel agreed) that pain could be eliminated.
Lamaze based his theory on the work of Pavlov and his dogs and operant conditioning. Madame Cohen, Lamaze's childbirth teacher added effleurage, which brought in some of what we now call "gate control theory." Karmel makes the point that Lamaze was also controversial in the fifties partly because his worked was based on Russian (a.k.a. communist) science. In the twenty-first century, this is no longer a stumbling block in acceptance.
Karmel goes on to describe what she learned of the Lamaze method, the preparatory exercises, breathing exercises, and the importance of practice. She then tells the story of the birth of her first child, in France with Dr. Lamaze, and her second child, in New York with a different OB. The second labor was induced and she describes how the methods she learned helped her have a second controlled, painless birth despite the induction. In the afterward of the book, her husband describes the painless birth, in difficult circumstances, of their third child.
Karmel's story in "Thank You, Dr. Lamaze" ends in the early 60s with the birth of her second child, just before the upswing of popularity of natural childbirth in the late sixties and seventies. Her writing, her work with Elizabeth Bing, and the work of Dr. Lamaze, certainly contributed to that trend. One might also hope common sense had something to do with it, too.
I would highly recommend this book as a pleasant, easy read. It tells an interesting story and would be of interest to any expectant parent, anyone working in obstetrics, as a nurse or physician, or anyone teaching childbirth. Karmel's narrative gives good insight into childbirth, in a straightforward, non-sensational manor.

I read this for part of my curriculum to teach Lamaze, it is beautifully written and you can really bond with the author.

I bought this book expecting to learn Lamaze techniques, since there were no classes offered in my area. What I got was a long tangent on natural deliveries performed during the 80s. Like other natural birthing books I've ordered, I thought that this one would explain breathing techniques, the philosophy, positions that ease birthing pains, etc. Unfortunately, I didn't gain one beneficial point from the book.