Your Best Birth: Know All Your Options, Discover The Natural Choices, And Take Back The Birth Experience (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
I'm not pregnant (yet) but after being pressured into several interventions with my first delivery (thankfully not a c section), I decided to look more into other birthing options. This book had convinced me into a midwife birth at a freestanding birthing center if possible with my next child and makes me feel much more confident about shopping the market for the right birthing team and making informed choices about birth. While I could feel the writing was heavy slated towards the most natural option- home birth, I think they did a fair job attempting to explain how to maneuver hospital births and doctors. However I was disappointed at the way they painted most doctors as helplessly medical and always selfish in following hospital regulations, preventing lawsuits, and not using up their time on you, with VERY few exceptions. I've know some great doctors and nurses and I've know a few who fit this description. I don't think every doctor fits into the same mold. Other than that, I was pretty impressed with how well researched the book was and the resources it provides. I'd definitely buy or recommend it. :) A woman who wants to make full use of this book should read it fairly early into their pregnancy, not 35 weeks in like I did. As someone who was sort of unsure or on the fence about the choices I wanted to make in regards to my labor and delivery, this book helped me to solidify some of my desires. At the very least, it is helpful because it provides insight into how the hospital system works and areas to press your caregivers if you don't feel your needs are being met. I also realize that, after going through the childbirth class at the hospital where I will deliver, I am fairly fortunate because, at least in their sales pitches, they routinely offer many of the natural techniques/practices that I desire (skin to skin, in-room care with the baby etc). However, this book also reminds readers to be wary since the plans you make and the hospital agrees to can be so easily swayed in the moment. So for that reason, after reading this book, it should be the birth partner's turn!
What do You think about Your Best Birth: Know All Your Options, Discover The Natural Choices, And Take Back The Birth Experience (2009)?
Quite good, though if you have seen The Business of Being Born, most of this is a re-hash.
—Kat123
I found this book to be eye opening and thought provoking.
—famow
