Ashley P

This book was written in 2003, so it’s hard to read through it from the lens of someone in 2024 working in the world of midwifery. I myself came to this book looking for birth stories and positive messages on having a natural and holistic birth like the ones I work with. It was mentioned to me by one of my midwife colleagues who had read it back when it first came out. I will acknowledge this books strengths in wonderful personal stories and women empowerment, I loved most of them, a few felt out of place and an odd choice to place in this book, but most were really lovely to read. The book offers some valuable insights, particularly when it comes to practical aspects of childbirth like breath work, exercise, nutrition, and birthing positions. These I found extremely helpful and I have found them to be very true in practice. The book's emphasis on these natural methods is what I was looking for and these messages feel genuinely empowering. Techniques like breath control and varied birthing positions are clearly explained and can be very helpful during labor. Additionally, her focus on exercise and nutrition during pregnancy is really good! This advice is great for every pregnant woman! However, the book feels outdated in many ways and this is where I can’t really love it. A lot of the data and medical perspectives presented are no longer in line with current research, and there’s little acknowledgment of recent advances in obstetrics. The statistic she states, especially in the antenatal care chapter, are widely misconstrued. The frequent use of fear-mongering, particularly in how hospital births and medical interventions are discussed, is extremely problematic. It paints a skewed picture, making it seem as though any medical assistance is inherently harmful, which can be terrifying first time moms and readers looking for advice on how to have a natural birth. It can give people a fear of medical personnel who are only looking out for what’s best for mom and baby, and lead to situations which could actually endanger the life of the baby. Inappropriate anecdotes and personal opinions also detract from the scientific integrity of the book. At times, it feels like an agenda is being pushed, rather than providing objective and well-rounded information. The lack of nuance and balance left me questioning the reliability of other parts of the book. Overall, while the book has its strengths in natural birth techniques, it’s marred by outdated information, fear-based rhetoric, and an unbalanced approach to childbirth options. I really wish I could have loved it, because I am looking to have a very natural birth, and I do plan on incorporating many aspects into my own labor and labor prep. But overall, this book was a major disappointment.