This book is great. It is filled with useful information for a safe, natural childbirth. I like the fact that while she seems to push towards a natural pregnancy and childbirth by acknowledging and learning about our pregnant bodies, she also includes information on drugs and things that might happen and she lets the reader know that it's okay if you have to have an epidural, for example. It's just too bad it's not published anymore. I am hoping that this information might be found in some of Kitzinger's newer books.

As a childbirth educator, this is one I keep on my shelf. Clear, comprehensive explanations and help in preparing for birth.

I've been busy recommending this book to other pregnant women online. I'm sorry it is no longer available. I hope you'll have it again soon as I feel it is the best book to help educate women about childbirth; what interventions they will be presented with in a hospital environment and how they can definatively present their wishes to the health care team. I first read this book in 1988,after my first pregnancy, and the information I gained from this book helped see me through four more healthy and successful births, including twins in 1998. If you read nothing else when you are preparing for childbirth, read this book and take this advice to the hospital with you. It's up to every childbearing parent to be a well educated and a prepared patient and advocate for themselves and their babies. The outline for a birth plan made a world of difference in my relationships with healthcare members during the course of my pregnancy and childbirth. Protect yourself by reading this book and preparing a birth plan before you give birth. Even if you don't make a birth plan, being well informed about all the possible interventions can make a difference. This book will give you that information in a clear, concise manner and in layman's terms that anyone can understand. It also helps to answer those questions you may have about possible risks involved with a procedure and helpful suggestions to avoiding unwanted procedures. I hope it will be available again soon for purchase, but check your local libraries for it meanwhile.

When I was pregnant with our 4th child, I became very fearful of what my labor would be like. My third delivery was hard. My son was posterior and my back ached terribly throughout. When my husband and I took a refresher course of our childbirth class, I knew I needed some extra encouragement. My midwife recommended Homebirth, by Sheila Kitzinger. I DEVOURED it!!! She makes childbirth an empowering life challenge. Whether you have your baby at home or not, the advise and words of encouragement are a great booster to your resolve to have a natural, gentle birth! Birthing is both physical and mental, and she addresses both aspects beautifully. Had I not read her book, I would have begun my fourth labor with fear and dread which would have made it even harder! But because I was confident and relaxed, it was an incredible birth with little pain physically, and no doubt or fear mentally.

This book offers several stories of homebirth, their joys and triumphs. The pictures are breathtaking, and the author does an impressive job in her descrpitions of the events. Highly recommended for anyone considering homebirth, or simply interested in the beautiful process of childbirth.

This book is simple yet gets to the point of the issue. Homebirth is a pleasant alternative, especially to those traumatized by previous hospital births. The book talks about involving the whole family and has some wonderful pictures.

I bought this book for a girlfriend when she got pregnant. I also bought this book when I became pregnant. It is very informative and not only gives you relevant information for the stage you are currently in, but also gives you photo's of what your body may look like and that of you unborn child. The photo's of real unborn children are fantastic. It gives you an idea of what you can expect, and things that you may like to ask your doctor. I would recommend this to all parents who are expecting. It gives a great insight to the men who miss out so much during pregnancy. By adding your personal information it becomes a real keepsake.

I bought this book for my wife and we both read it often and use it as a reference book. I recommend this book to any expectant mother or father.

I didn't get this from the bookstore till I was about 3 months pregnant, I only wish I would've gotten it at the very beginning. The artwork in it is beautiful, the pictures of the pregnant women, etc... It is definetely a keepsake I will pass on to my daughter. And when I have more children, I will definetely buy it at the very beginning of the pregnancy. A must have for moms-to-be!

An excellent book for anyone who is a woman or loves awoman. Women, give this book to your partner! This book describes howwomen experience sex and what role sex plays in a woman's life. It also describes how women have successfully obtained meaning, substance, and fulfillment and satisfaction. It is a book that will give young girls confidence, knowledge about their body, and awareness about what society is trying to tell them to do and how they can assert themselves to be who they want instead of what others tell themto be. Partners gain understanding about how sex is a whole body and mind experience for a woman. Women feel fellowship with the stories shared and gain advice on dealing with problems. This book doesn't generalize and is always open-minded. If I ever have a daughter, I would give her this book.

Sheila Kitzinger, has done it again! This book contains all of the messages that women need to hear about thier sexuality. With chapters that cover the basics, to indepth coverage of intimacy, sexual abuse, menstruation, and many other topics. If only this book was around the house when I was growing up!!

This book was given to us when we were expecting our first son and we loved seeing the stages of development. It has become a favorite of our sons from the moment when they both first asked "what happened when we were in your tummy?".

This is the book that really made up my mind and gave me the confidence to opt for a home birth during my first pregnancy. Sheila Kitzinger became a friend and ally through her words - the words of someone who has been there, done that, and studied how women all over the world do the same thing. This book gave me the confidence in my body and my emotions which lead to the most wonderful experience of my life - well, one of the most wonderful experiences of my life, as I have now done it twice. Thank you, Sheila Kitzinger!

Sheila Kritzinger explains in laymans terms many of the causes of incessant crying in infants. As complex as this problem is, she makes it easy to understand which in turn helps one implement her ideas for handling the fussy baby.

I am an Occupational Therapist with an in-depth knowledge of the subject myself and have no hesitation in recommending this book.I am just devastated that this book is out of print as I've only been able to read a library's copy. This is a book every parent should have on their bookshelves.

Kitzinger has once again created a powerhouse (this time as an editor and contributor) with The Midwife Challenge. Midwifery practice around the globe is represented and what is "normal" in other countries often puts U.S. practices to shame with its scientification of the birth process. Other developed countries experience the same conflict between natural processes and the proliferation of technology that the U.S. has gone through, and with similar impact on women's health. Most interesting are the articles showing less developed countries experiencing the conflict of wanting to emulate the positive medical advances of the first world while still preserving their indigenous culture.

This book has been a great start for me and my first baby. It explains things in detail with lots of pictures. Also, it discusses related topics such as ways to bond with your baby. Watch out if you are a bit conservative. There are lots of references and photos of women breastfeeding children who are well past the toddler stage. A bit out of the ordinary in America, but still a great book!

This book is well written, filled with educated information and very encouraging in today's soceity of formula pushers. I chose this book specifically because I'd never seen anyone breastfeed a baby before and found the many pictures very useful in positioning my son correctly. My son is now 13 months old and I still refer back to it for new ideas as he grows into a toddler and a more active nurser. Highly recommended!!

Some women take to breastfeeding with little or no problems. How I envy them, because I have always found it to be a bit of a challenge in the beginning. Some women get so frustrated, they give up altogether.

Enter Sheila Kitzinger's "Breastfeeding Your Baby", a wonderful 155-page guide to everything you need to know about nursing. The best part about this particular guide is the dozens of accompyaning photos. I've read a lot about proper latch-on for a nursing baby, but it wasn't until I actually had a photo in front of me that I was able to get my son latched on to where it didn't hurt (the pain I experienced with improper latch-on was enough to send me through the roof). This guide also contains information on calming a fussy baby, developing a relationship with your new one, helping toddlers and other children to fit in rather than feel usurped, stimulating a "sleepy baby" who seems to sleep more than eat, how to deal with engorgement and mastisis, and nighttime nursing. If you're nursing and feel frustrated beyond the point of no return, give this book a try.

When I became pregnant with my son, my cousin loaned me this book to read on pregnancy and childbirth. I loved the information that I gleaned. This information allowed me to make decisions on the kind of birth that I wanted. Although Ms. Kitzinger mentioned obstetritions and midwives as caregivers without too much bias either way, I decided to switch to a nurse-midwife halfway through because my desires were more in harmony with her philosophies. Due to this book, I was able to approach birth and labor without any fear and although the twelve hours of labor were hard, my drug-free birth was extremely rewarding. I didn't have an episiotomy, experienced only a small surface tear, and I was able to function without any pain after about three days. My recovery time was very fast and I felt so good. Knowledge is empowering. As for those people who have reviewed this book as extremely biased, well I doubt they have read anything except "What to Expect When You are Expecting". I assure you there are books so much more biased that you can consider Ms. Kitzinger's book more akin to an encyclopedia on pregnancy and childbirth. In response to a reviewer above a drug-free labor for many hours will not make you too tired to push. The urge to push is completely instinctive and it would require more strength not to push. I promise that a 15 centimeter head can fit through an opening that does have the ability to open more than 10 centimeters. Just to emphasize the point, my sister-in-law just delivered a 9 lb 4 oz. baby boy with a surface tear that only required four stitches. Just as Ms. Kitzinger suggests, our bodies are capable of childbirth without intervention and allowing the natural processes to occur, will in most cases, create a safe and extremely rewarding birth.

My husband and I are planning to start a family next year. This is by far the best book I have read on preganancy and childbirth. Ms. Kitzinger provides readers with a wealth of medical information on their bodies and pregancy in simple and concise terms. She also devotes much time to exploring the emotional and social issues of being pregnant and having a family. I feel so much more prepared and empowered to make well educated decisions about my health care in regards to my planned pregancy. The photos of the birth process and the newborns are spectacular! I can look at them for hours. It is so nice to see women giving birth in different positions, and especially to see photos of the time just after birth where the parents greet their new addition. This is a must for any woman who is pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant.

I've read a lot of books about childbirth while preparing to give birth, and I got this one because my midwife specifically recommended I read "anything" by Sheila Kitzinger. Of all the books I've read, this one ranks as one of my two favorites.

I like the author's attitude about birth: it is a natural, normal physiological process in the overwhelming majority of cases, and should be treated as such.

The pros and cons of drugs and other interventions are also presented, and while Ms. Kitzinger is undoubtedly pro-natural, I really would not say she is anti-doctor (as some have claimed). She is anti-routine-intervention, and anti-unecessary-intervention, but otherwise I feel that she's simply presenting facts for readers to consider.

As the only way to make an intelligent, informed decision about your body and your experience of birth is to be informed, I feel this book goes a very long way toward providing necessary and helpful information to women and their partners.