The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
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Book Reviews of The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth
Book Review: Demystify childbirth! You can make informed decisions!
Summary: 5 Stars
Some believe this book is too negative on hospital births or obstetrics care; however, the author says in the intro that she prefers the midwifery model of care (as do most expectant mothers). The reality is that many women who read this book may want a natural birth to take place at the hospital. If you were to watch the cable shows on childbirth, talk to all your friends who have given birth, you will find that what Goer presents in this book is the norm for what occurs in obstetrics care. So, if you are someone like me who wants a natural birth and the only feasible choice is obstetrics care and hospital birth...you have to realize that natural births are not the norm in this model. That's where this book comes into play. I now know what to (typically) expect at the hospital. I know why my Doctor might suggest interventions. I know the pros and cons of such interventions. I know where I'm willing to draw the line on intervention. Finally, I feel empowered to be my own best advocate in having the natural birth experience I want. I recommend this book to any expectant mother. Get informed!Book Review: An absolute MUST!
Summary: 5 Stars
Every pregnant woman should read this book early in her pregnancy. It is packed full of clear, unbiased information and facts about the common medical interventions that take place during birth, why many of them are undesirable or even dangerous, and how they can be avoided. It is fascinating to see how most of the research proves that medical procedures that American women have come to view as normal are in fact unnecessary. This book covers topics like Cesareans, the use of IVs during birth, pain medications, epidurals, episiotomies, and electronic fetal monitoring. It shows how such common beliefs as "It's better to have a surgical episiotomy cut than a natural tear" are in fact false, and why the medical profession has pushed them so frequently that they have become a "normal" part of giving birth. This book cleared up a lot of questions that I had and made me decide very firmly that I would prefer a long and painful labor to an epidural, which might relieve my pain, but could also cause myself and, even worse, MY BABY, medical problems down the line.Book Review: Pointing out the research does not make her biased!
Summary: 5 Stars
Over 1/3 of the book was dedicated to the research given toward maternity care. The research is overwhelmingly negative toward OB practices....I disagree with alot of the post that gave it a lower rating that reporting these research findings as fact can be misconstrued as not "balanced, relatively objective discussion." It's not fair to make the author seem biased when she's just reporting the facts. She can't help that the research most obviously points out that generally speaking, OB practices are completely based on opinion, pride, fear, and intimidation. Finding an OB that is actually willing to talk with you for more than 15 minutes is difficult and if you've found one...you've got a rare gem.
The book is excellent for those who have decided to give birth naturally because it gives complete basis for such a choice. But I also feel that it highlights things that are not discussed for people that never gave it a single thought.....like most traditional patients.
I also recommend any books on the Bradley Method.
Book Review: Important, non-patronizing information for birth
Summary: 5 Stars
After I read this book I wondered if birth in U.S. hospitals is really as badly mis-managed as Henci Goer says so I chcked some of her claims in the Medline database of medical journal literature. It turns out Goer has really done her research and according to the medical literatre (which Dr.s presumably should be reading) she is absolutely right. OBs in the U.S are trained to intervene in births when nothing is actually going wrong yet, and these needless interventions frequently cause unnessessary complications for mother and baby. The research indicates that a hands-off approach leads to the best outcomes as long as there is no clear need for medical intervention. This is a lesson the U.S. medical profesion is having a hard time learning. They are trained to do somethng not just wait, even when waiting would be more beneficial.If every pregnant woman had the information in this book instead of simply trusting doctors to do the right thing it would lead to drastic improvements in U.S. health care for labor and birth.
Book Review: Pregnant? Buy this book NOW.
Summary: 5 Stars
I rarely give out five stars, but being a woman who chooses to become pregnant and give birth, I have to say that this is one of the most important books I've ever read. Henci Goer knows her stuff, backing up her claims about medicalized birth with reams of clinical studies. Anyone considering a birth with an attendant who has been trained in the traditional obstetrical model of childbirth would do well to educate themselves as much as possible about the nature of that training and the assumptions (many proven false) that such attendants operate under. It truly is, at base, an issue of safety -- there are risks associated with all types of intervention, most of which are done routinely and completely regardless of whether they are actually medically necessary. I cannot emphasize this enough -- if you want the safest and most rewarding birth possible, don't just listen blindly to your doctor or midwife, do your own research so that you can make truly informed decisions regarding your care. You will be well rewarded.