Gentle Birth Choices by Barbara Harper Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Gentle Birth Choices
Book Review: Mixed bag
Summary: 3 Stars
I wanted to give this book one star for my immediate reactions to it. I opened to the page where she discusses how harmful the narcotics given during childbirth for pain can be to the baby. I have a unique situation - I have a medical condition that has required pain management throughout my pregnancy (with narcotics prescribed by my specialist, with full support of my OB & Midwife). I will also have a planned c-section for medical reasons. So this book, rec'd as a gift, is not a good one for someone in my position with medical issues. I have done a lot of research and consulted with a number of health care professionals who have assured me that the medications I am taking will not harm by baby. Do I know for certain? No. Were these decisions undertaken lightly? No. But, given my situation and the best available medical information, these were the choices and recommendations I have followed. These are choices not at all supported by this book. This is not a book for women who require medical management and intervention in order to be able to have a baby in the first place.
As a previous reviewer noted, there is also some misinformation in the book. The hospital where I will deliver has 27% of deliveries attended by midwives (and they deliver about 10,000 babies a year!). Rooming-in is encouraged, even for c-sections. On my tour, there were 4 babies in the nursery on a full floor (so maybe 25+ babies were with their mommies). I can look up c-section, episiotomy and epidural rates for every hospital in my state, and they are lower than what she quotes in her book (although they do vary by setting).
Another important factor for me is that my health care team consists of both a midwife and an OB, and my wonderful midwife has done almost all my prenatal care even though I will have a c-section. (My OB will perform that). I do think there are ways to have a more empowering experience, even if you need (or want) a more medicalized one. One would not know that from this book. It is hard to find non-judgemental materials for someone needing a c-section, and this book is no exception. Fortunately, my health care providers, partner, family and friends are very supportive!
I also think a woman who opts for pain relief (such as narcotics or epidural) could read this book and feel herself a failure as a woman for choosing that.
On the positive, I do think this book is an excellent resource for information about water birth, water labor, and non-drug labor and delivery. If that is your interest, I think you will find a lot of very useful information in this book. I give it 5 stars for that information.
Book Review: good
Summary: 4 Stars
A bit dated in regards to what hospitals offer, but that may be because we live in a progressive major metro area with lots of different cultures so the hospitals around us tend to allow more choices than the book suggests. Of course, you must be informed and take control no matter what.The book has some good suggestions and ideas for those who don't want to be a part of the "baby factory" of many large hospitals.
Book Review: A must read for every expecting parent!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
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?Book Review: Myths about Austin childbirth/get your facts straight
Summary: 1 Stars
To the so called fictitious Austin anonymous reviewer, how did you get the "way to the right" so called fact? Based on your one time experience? May be your fact, but not mine.. The doctors here are among the best in the nation.. Nothing is forced down your throat here.. You have a choice to give birth in your house if you want to.. No one is forcing you to go to a hospital. This isnt a communist country the last time I checked. I am okay with paying the higher rate, to help out the poorer among us who need the emergency caeserian because the baby's umbilical cord was wrapped around its neck. Caesarians - last time I checked was determined by the doctor, who is responsible for you.. since you are in so much stress at the moment of child birth..and besides, that's what you choose a doctor for, and that's why they undergo such training and education.. and it is not dispensed like candy.. They have to write an explanation to the insurance company why it was necessary, or they dont get paid.. Did you attend ALL child birth classes offered at Austin (hundreds of different instructors), or are you generalizing all Austin Lamaze trainings based on your misfortunes. Austin is a BIG city.. Lamaze instructors are certified (yours might not have been), and Lamaze is a standard teaching method.. It is not modified.. If it was modified in your case, then you cannot call it Lamaze anymore, but call it your own technique. Midwifes are still encouraged in Austin hospitals.. what do hospitals care.. as long as they get paid for their room.. Sorry for your experiences.. Sorry about your "malfunctioning birth machine".. Maybe you need to stop seeing a quack, and get a more reputable OB/GYN for your next one. And, this book is outdated.. needs to catch up with the times.. Maybe this still holds water in some small towns... but I cannot relate to it, living in a modern, hip city with the highest number of people with masters degree than anywhere in the country.Book Review: Inspirational, Informative, but fell short for me
Summary: 3 Stars
When I was pregnant with my first child I read, believd, and greatly enjoyed this book. I felt so prepared for my home birth attended by a midwife, and was so sure everything would work out....To make a long story short, everything doesn't always work out great with home birth like the beautiful stories tell. I had to transfer to the hospital, and had a miserable birth experience with my first child. After reading this book I was so built up for a wonderful experience. I still had a healthy baby, and no major complications.
I think this is a good book to read, if taken with a grain of salt. A home birth would be a wonderfull thing, as would a birth center, or an OB who was behind natural birth(the choices which are given the most credit). Unfourtunatly, in practice there are people who have difficulties with birthing, and I feel this book failed to address that, and went overboard on the 'woman-power'/have faith in your body/you can do it aspect. If you choose a home birth, this can be a wonderfull thing to do. But it is best to have a back up plan, just in case.