Product Description

This is the essential guide for every woman considering alternative birth options, and who want to make the right decision confidently for themselves.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #126729 in Books
• Published on: 2002-02-28
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 208 pages

About the Author
Sheila Kitzinger is a reknowned writer on childbirth. She is the author of 23 books, published in 20 languages. They include The New Pregnancy and Childbirth, Breastfeeding and most redently, Rediscovering Birth. She has her own website, www.sheilakitzinger.com

Customer Reviews

A wondeful book
I suffered PTSD after having my first child in hospital. I was so damaged by the experience that I decided to have any more children. But unexpectedly I fell pregnant 6 years later, I was terrified. I was so relived when I read this book, there were other women who had been through the same thing! It gave me confidence and although nervous I decided to have a home birth with the aid of a midwife. It was fantastic, my daughter was born on the sofa with no trouble!! I cannot recommend this book enough to anyone who has experienced trauma in a hospital birth and are looking for an alternative for the next one. Inspirational and informative, a must read!!

Incredibly helpful and supportive book
I'm pregnant with my first baby, and as soon as I started thinking about the birth I had a niggle that was telling me I'd prefer to give birth at home. As it was my first baby though, I thought I was perhaps being unrealistic. Someone recommended this book to me and I read it cover to cover - then went straight to my next midwife appointment and booked my home birth. Since booking the home birth my husband expressed a few concerns about having the baby away from hospital but I was able to point him to the relevant sections of this book to reassure him that a home birth was no more risky than a hospital birth in a low risk pregnancy like mine.

I feel completely confident with my decision now and hope that things stay complication free so that I can have my home birth as planned.

Lacks up to date evidence
Despite having been "revised" this appear to be related to updating a few phone numbers and superficial revisions. The book is a pleasant and intriguing read but borders on fanatical at times and inflammatory about hospitals/medics. I am enthusiastic about home birth but was particularly aggravated that the cited research was so dated. Much research is about 20 years old and therefore risks being misleading. Needs a much more substantial revision.