Methods of Childbirth

What I appreciated most about this book is that it helped me fully understand the various methods of preparation for childbirth. Because I only attended the "how to be a good patient" hospital childbirth classes before the birth of my first child, I felt like I was lacking a lot of knowledge about how to better prepare for birth. I got a lot out of the history of childbirth methods and preparation types. It helped me see why today's popular methods (Bradley, Lamaze, etc.) came to being and how mothers and their experiences are affected by each. I used this information later while pregnant with my second child to make the best choices for me.

This book has some of the best information I've ever read about childbirth choices. The section on the politics of childbirth is excellent. Unfortunately, this book is not as easy to read as some other pregnancy books, so may be over-looked too often. As a childbirth educator, I have found it invaluable.