A Good Birth, A Safe Birth : Choosing and Having the Childbirth Experience You Want, Third Revised Edition (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Eight years ago, when the first edition of this book was published, we told you that the two trends in childbirth were moving in opposing..." (more)
Key Phrases: single room maternity care, maternity options, cesarean mothers, United States, New York, Doris Haire (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book is great! Thorough, sensible, and extremely well organized, these knowledgeable authors cover topics of pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum care for mother and child in an accessible, very easy-to-follow format. (The Doula)

The authors present clear-headed information on everything from finding a birth attendant to questions for the hospital to understanding your feelings about it all. -- New Age Sourcebook

Product Description

Essential guide to the bewildering array of delivery options available.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Harvard Common Press; 3 Revised edition (November 25, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558320415
• ISBN-13: 978-1558320413
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #353,967 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars full of references and studies to back up their statements, November 26, 2000

By	christinemm - The Thinking Mother (Connecticut, United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

The birth of my first son did not go as I had wished, it ended up being an overly medicalized affair. I thought I had read enough and educated myself enough but I was wrong. I wanted a second child but was more scared of childbirth after having gone through that bad experience. Knowing there had to be a better way, I began reading more books. I read a dozen books before and during my second pregnancy. Each book had a different twist and something to learn from. These authors make bold statements regarding childbirth issues, compared with some of the popular mainstream childbirth books. But just when I was thinking that maybe they were wrong, they cited a reference. Everything these authors state is backed up by references and is credible. The reference section that lists these studies is 34 pages long! There is a very detailed index, which is helpful.

One unique feature this book has is a wonderful chapter on why OB/GYN physicians do what they do. It is explained in detail how the training of an OB is medical in nature, that they are trained to look for and solve medical problems and that they are surgeons by training. This was the only book that really explains in detail why a midwife and an OB have different attitudes toward pregnancy (a medical event vs. a normal life process for a woman). The authors don't doctor-bash, but are very clear about why things happen the way they do in a hospital setting and/or with an OB as the health care provider.

For those interested in home birth, it is discussed and cited as the most safe for both mother and baby, and the references are there (for anyone who doubts that issue).

This book was so full of good information that I ended up highlighting many passages, which I usually never do (as I want to keep my books clean). To get the birth that one desires, one must know much of this information before beginning care with a health care provider. I urge anyone considering pregnancy to research the childbirth issue in the beginning. The chapter on controlling the progress of labor and pain relief is very enlightening and should be mandatory reading for all pregnant women. In the end I realized that we have to advocate for our own healthcare, by choosing a provider whom we trust and who shares the same concepts on pregnancy, labor and delivery. This book covers topics such as what your options for birth are, different types of health care providers, different types of birth settings, OB training and belief system, how to find a provider, questions to ask your provider and hospital, cesareans: why they are popular and when are they medically necessary?, getting support, the nurses role, childbirth support, doulas, and the woman's emotions. The overall tone of the book is positive and "matter of fact".

Oh, and in the end I had the birth I wanted, a normal birth in a hospital setting, with no interventions at all, attended by my midwife, my doula, my husband, and I delivered a healthy 11 lb. 11 oz. baby boy!

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the one we recommend to all our pregnant friends!, October 25, 1996

By A Customer

My wife and I have read this book multiple times and recommend it to everyone we know who is pregnant. In fact the reason we came to amazon.com today was to order some more copies to hand out to our friends.

Most people know more about choices to make when buying a car than they do when having a baby. Let's face it, which is more important! This book gives you information that will enable you to make the best birth choices for your family. It details the choices that you can and should make BEFORE your baby's birth. If you're already reading "What to Expect When You're Expecting" that's great, but go one step further and find out what to expect during birth.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read book for every pregnant couple, November 3, 1998

By A Customer

After a "high-tech" and eventful birth experience with my son, I found myself anxious regarding the upcoming labor and delivery of my new baby. When I began to read this book, I felt as if the authors had written it for me. It was if someone was acknowledging what I had been through before and providing me with the information and resources to place me in control of my next birthing experience. The book is based on the real experiences of real women like myself. It was often an emotional and cathartic experience just reading the book. I recommend it to anyone wanting to learn what it's like, and can be like to give birth in the United States today.