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Epidural Without Guilt: Childbirth Without Pain Paperback – November 25, 2010
Purchase options and add-ons
- Print length126 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateNovember 25, 2010
- Dimensions6 x 0.29 x 9 inches
- ISBN-100975993933
- ISBN-13978-0975993934
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Editorial Reviews
Review
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Russell Hastings Press; First Edition (November 25, 2010)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 126 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0975993933
- ISBN-13 : 978-0975993934
- Item Weight : 6.6 ounces
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.29 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #4,151,187 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,154 in Anesthesiology (Books)
- #6,250 in Pregnancy & Childbirth (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book provides good information about epidurals without being too medically technical. It helps them understand the importance of pain relief during labor and childbirth, citing studies and the science behind pain relief techniques. Many readers find it helpful for relieving anxiety about labor and childbirth. However, some find the content boring at times.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book informative and insightful about epidurals. They appreciate the author's use of evidence-based research to support their claims. The book explains in detail the various options and benefits of epidurals. Overall, readers find the book relevant and easy to understand.
"...The epidural worked so well and in the end I had a very fast vaginal delivery and pushed for less than an hour...." Read more
"...I think it is a very useful read for all women who are interested in learning about labor and delivery pain relief options...." Read more
"...This book delivers solid information and Dr. Grant very obviously cares about his patients, which goes a long way with me...." Read more
"...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...." Read more
Customers find the book helpful for reducing pain during childbirth. It provides information on the science behind pain relief techniques and helps reduce anxiety about labor and childbirth. They appreciate the support it offers and feel better prepared for childbirth.
"...he has a professional interest and duty in controlling and easing his patients' pain, and believes childbirth doesn't need to be painful if a woman..." Read more
"...Epidurals really are the best choice for pain relief in the laboring woman if they want it...." Read more
"...Citing studies and the science behind pain relief techniques, I feel much better equipped to go into labor and childbirth...." Read more
"...The author also takes some time to argue for the importance of decreasing pain during birth in order to reduce the risk of postpartum depression and..." Read more
Customers have different views on the book's readability. Some find it informative and straightforward, walking them through the entire process of getting an epidural. Others find the content boring at times, with repetitive anecdotes that can be a turn-off. The book is written in a persuasive manner, but some readers feel it lacks variety in its content.
"...It was an easy read but informative nonetheless...." Read more
"...The book is written too persuasively and many of his anecdotes can be a turn-off...." Read more
"This book is great! It clearly walks you through the entire process of getting an epidural, the history of various forms of pain relief for..." Read more
"...But a normal delivery simply does not cause this, so that section was just plain bizarre...." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2014I read this book about a year after giving birth with an epidural. Prior to delivery, however, I was very worried that getting the epidural too early would stall my labor and lead to an increased risk of C-section. I dutifully waited until I was 4cm dilated to request it, at which point my (induced) labor was excruciatingly painful. When the epidural was finally in place I was so exhausted from the pain I nearly passed out. I do not remember much from my labor, and found the pain disorienting and frightening. The epidural worked so well and in the end I had a very fast vaginal delivery and pushed for less than an hour. In all, it was a positive experience, and the anesthesiologist bill was the best $1500 I've ever spent.
On parenting forums, I see a lot of the things I believed about epidurals before having one being repeated: that they stall labor, increase C-section rates, negatively affect breastfeeding, drug the baby, and on and on. Natural childbirth advocates use outright lies and scare tactics to dissuade women from getting them. The author discusses these myths and breaks them down based on recent research as well as his experience as an anesthesiologist. The book is not technical or aimed at medical professionals; the author's intended audience is laypeople. As an anesthesiologist he has a professional interest and duty in controlling and easing his patients' pain, and believes childbirth doesn't need to be painful if a woman doesn't want it to be. It was an easy read but informative nonetheless.
This book has given me the confidence to decide that in a future delivery I won't bother waiting to get the epidural, especially if I'm induced. Any woman still deciding whether to get an epidural, or one who knows she wants one but wants some reassurance that it's a totally reasonable and appropriate decision, should read this book.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2014This book is great! It clearly walks you through the entire process of getting an epidural, the history of various forms of pain relief for childbirth (older epidurals and many others) and their drawbacks and benefits. I think it is a very useful read for all women who are interested in learning about labor and delivery pain relief options. I do not feel that Dr. Grant is trying to sell women on getting the epidural, nor do I think he is receiving much financial gain from this. (My Kindle edition was free and unless I'm delivering at his NYC hospital with him as my physician, he's not raking in fees from my labor!)
As a doctor, he knows about many of the inaccurate information that some women are receiving regarding the epidural, and his book is a way to clarify the confusion and give women the straight facts. It doesn't mean women have to actually get an epidural! I, myself, have heard many of the incorrect "facts" firsthand that were debunked in this book. It saddens me to think there were some women who suffered because of this. Each woman's body and tolerance for pain is different, and every delivery is unique. The idea that one size fits all is ridiculous -- some women will thrive delivering naturally at home and others will have a more peaceful experience surrounded by doctors and nurses and having the option of medicated pain relief.
Personally, I think women should totally have a choice to deliver naturally or with safe pain relief. The key is that the mother and baby remain healthy and safe -- why do we always forget that?
- Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2011Just 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.
Top reviews from other countries
Josephine SchofieldReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 31, 20155.0 out of 5 stars informative and easy to read
After searching online everywhere I was unable to find an "epidural friendly" birth plan. Luckily I found this book and was able to educate myself on what is to be expected with a planned epidural. This has allowed me to feel more in control over my birthing experience and to have more confidence when being challenged by health professionals over my choice of birth.
Amazon CustomerReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 17, 20195.0 out of 5 stars Really interesting
struggled to find any simple avenues for the scientific facts (not opinion and emotion) surrounding epidurals, but this book is really clear and balanced.
SReviewed in the United Kingdom on November 29, 20134.0 out of 5 stars Very informative
I bought this book to help with my studies of midwifery, it has helped me a lot. It is extremely imformative however rather repetitive of the same facts and points. It contains great diagrams and really good analogies.
