The Home Birth Advantage (Paperback)

~ Mayer Eisenstein (Author) "We arrive at truth not by reason only, but also by the heart..." (more)
Key Phrases: home birth families, first home birth, obstetrical system, Chicago Maternity Center, Homefirst Health Services, Beatrice Tucker (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This book challanges America's traditional hospital based birth system, the system which has placed the United States at the bottom of the list of industrialized nations with regard to healthy babies and healthy mothers. Dr. Eisenstein explains that birth, for the majority of women, may even be safer without the routine hospital procedures: electronic fetal monitoring, episitomy, iv's, epidurals, etc.

From the Author

As I see it there is one major reason to choose home birth for your family. It will change so many other aspects for your life for the positive and affect so many decisions that you make. Childbirth at home is an event which strengthens all those who are privileged to experience it. It empowers the participants with knowledge that they can give birth and enjoy it!!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Cmi; 2nd Rev edition (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967044405
• ISBN-13: 978-0967044408
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #650,215 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Where are the midwives?, October 24, 2000

By	"pamelabirthjunkie" (Salem, OR United States) - See all my reviews

I can wholeheartedly appreciate Dr. Eisenstein's account of how hospitals and most obstetricians in our country have caused more harm than good to mothers and babies during birth - however...

I did not see one account of homebirth midwives in his book. It is very rare to have physicians attending homebirths - I believe that Dr. Eisenstein's practice the only one of its kind - and most homebirths in the US today are attended by midwives - both Certified Nurse Midwives and direct-entry midwives. Why does he not mention them in this book? Did I miss this reference?

By reading this book, one would assume that homebirth is only safe with a physician in attendance. This is absolutely not true. I would have loved to see more references to midwives, specifically journal articles and statistics that show that homebirth with midwives (and quite possibly physicians) are as safe, if not safer, than hospital births.

Illinois is a very hostile state to homebirth midwives. I would hope that Dr. Eisenstein and his partners are helping homebirth midwives (edited to confirm that NO they are NOT). If not, I would strongly encourage them to remember that midwives are the main reason why homebirth is so nationally recognized and available for most American women. Support of their practices, efforts, and legalization is needed! We cannot continue to criminalize women who are skilled at helping women and providing a safe, reasonable alternative to insitutional childbirth!

Above all, the message that homebirth is safe is great, but it's erroneous to assume that homebirth is only safe with a physician in attendance. I would trust the loving, educated, and skillful care of a midwife for any homebirth.

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Where is the bibliography?, September 20, 2000

By A Customer

I became quite frustrated with this book after a few chapters. Dr. Eisenstein must have plenty of experience to draw on, and must know the homebirth medical literature, but his book reads like a series of assertions with no hard evidence to back it up - no references to specific studies, statistics, etc. Also, his practice is one in which medical doctors attend homebirths. That is not an option in my area, though highly qualified Certified Nurse Midwives are. I did not find it very helpful to me in considering a homebirth with a CNM - not to mention in helping me prove to my near and dear that there is scientific evidence that homebirth is safe! Back to the medical journals and midwife websites...

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps I am biased...., January 7, 2005

By	Bethany (Woodstock IL USA) - See all my reviews

I myself was delivered at home by Dr. Meyer Eisenstein back in 1981. He was also at the homebirth of my older brother in 1977. There was no question in my mind that I wanted to have my second child at home (my first was born a month premature so homebirth was not an option) using the services of Homefirst (Dr. Eisenstein's homebirth practice). Yes, they do bring a lot of medical equipment JUST IN CASE it is needed. I wanted a homebirth because I wanted to have a natural birth in the comfort of my own home surrounded by my loved ones and have no medical interventions. This is exactly what I got. It was the best experience of my life and I felt safe knowing that *IF* something went wrong the Dr. had the necesary equipment on hand. (There is a detailed list in the book as to exactly what the Dr. will bring). I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone interested in homebirth.