If you're looking for a book on childbirth preparation, this is not it. If you're looking for a book that celebrates women, birth, and the mysteries of both, then you've found one! The detail is wonderful, the writing is lush, and the pictures are simply amazing. This is such a beautiful book with a beautiful message about women, our wonderful bodies, and our wonderful babies.

It's clearly not a guide-to-pregancy book, but I have found it to be a wonderful companion to the other pregnancy books I am reading. This book, with beautiful pictures and photos of ancient artifacts, surveys birthing myths and pregnancy traditions worldwide, comparing how this common, yet miraculous, human experience is appreciated and interpreted.
The author takes a harsh view at our highly medicalized, Caesarian-obsessed state of obstetric medicine, but I believe, she is right in that regard. Obstetrics has stripped women of some of the magic and the love that countless generations of women have experienced as they give birth.
I think that not every reader will appreciate or accept some of this, but it is perfect for me. I am a woman of color, with a deep fascination and appreciation of other cultures and ancient cultures and of the goddess religions and reading this book has affirmed much of what I already believe.
If you are a woman searching for a more spiritual, more universal meaning to your pregnancy, I would highly recommend this book.

Don't buy this book. Each chapter seems to focus on the negative aspects of birth and having a baby. It's depressing, morbid, and has little practical information.

I haven't read a lot of books about the postpartum period that realistically describe the physical and emotional effects of becoming a mother. This book was a refreshing change of pace. After the birth of my child, I felt guilty about not being overjoyed. Sheila Kitzinger validated my feelings, which made it easier for me to accept my new role as a mother. I disagree with the previous review, describing the book as "depressing and morbid". Unfortunately, hormonal upheavals and dramatic lifestlye changes can feel that way. But I think that anyone that has had a baby should read this book. It describes what many women are thinking, but often don't talk about for fear of being judged as "abnormal". I believe that the author's discussion of these thoughts and feelings can be empowering for a new mother. It's a good read for what can sometimes be a challenging period in a woman's life.

Giving birth and becoming a mother was chaotic, overwhelming, wonderful and scary at the same time, and of the many books I bought to help me through it, only this book really helped. Where so much that is written about the experience of new parents is advice driven and vaguely judgmental, this book has the perfect empathetic air. So many times while reading this book I would think "oh yes, that is exactly what I have been feeling!" My only advice to expectant mothers would be, buy this book, wrap it up, and give it to yourself as a gift for that moment when you are back home with your new child!!!

I am some years away from becoming a grandmother. I bought and read this book for my church library. I was disappointed in it. Instead of good advice on how to be a grandma, especially when living at a distance from grandkids, this book seemed to be written for those who dreaded becoming a grandma. GEEZ. Let's buck up ladies and realize that grandmotherhood is a BLESSING rather than some kind of condemnation of age! We EARN the right to be elders, to be wise! When will American women welcome each section of their lives as they pass through it? You only go this way but once and there are plenty of dead women who would have given everything to live long enough to even see grandchildren. This book left little to look forward to. In her effort to try to convince "reluctant" grandmothers that they should look forward to this experience she seemed to be saying that if you WERE looking forward to it, something is wrong with you. I had great relationships with both my grandmothers. They enriched my life tremendously and were another voice of reason and ears to listen as I was growing up. Kitzinger's book left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Call me disappointed.

I gave this book to my mother when I found out I was pregnant. I admit to reading most of it before handing it on. I now wish I'd bought two copies -- one for my mother-in-law. It is a great account of all the doubts and feelings that may occur when a mother finds out her offspring is going to become a parent. The author mainly deals with a mother-daughter relationship, rather than a mother-son relationship. The author is British, and I related well to the content. It was reassuring to know that my mother was probably experiencing doubts and having to address issues to do with her growing older. I enjoyed the idea that a new bond is created between mother and daughter because they share childbirth in common. My mum felt that it was a lot less threatening to receive this as a gift, than to be given a How to Grandparent book which is really a slap in the face to say 'You don't know what to do!'. A good narrative which should be taken in the light in which it was written -- not a how-to book, but a food-for-thought book which might reassure that its okay to have doubts about impending grandparent-hood.

Kitzinger is, as always, on the side of natural childbirth. Her research proves that episiotomy is unnecessary in the vast majority of births. This book is good for those in the childbirth profession, i.e., educators, doulas, midwives. However, the information is presented in sometimes overly-technical ways. I recommend Elizabeth Bruce's "Get Through Childbirth in One Piece!" for a more readable, up-to-date coverage of the same information.

Kitzenger suggests she is going to provide the facts so you can make an informed decision about choosing to give birth at home, or in a birthing centre. The factual information she shares with us, 'how to prepare for a home birth', 'choosing a birthing partner' etc. is however laced with blatant guilt inducing propaganda.

"Home birth works best for women who want to cope with pain, rather than hand the pain over to be reduced or eradicated by professionals.

Unfortunately, her arguments are ridiculously one sided. Surely there must be one person in existence who had a joyous hospital experience (e.g. ME)? If there is Kitzenger did not track her down. Instead she shares with us every hospital birthing horror story, and to balance this out, every joyous home birth story.

I am sure there are better books on the market, to help you make an informed birthing decision.

I enjoyed this book, and it answered my questions thoroughly and with solid documentation about the safety and risks of home birth, birth centers, and hospitals. All of the references and contacts I have researched further have been accurate, as well as helpful. It's a woman-centered, baby-centered, and family-centered book. It gave me a lot to think about and the courage to follow my instincts, as well as to know when it is and isn't safe to give birth out-of-hospital. I highly recommend it for anyone considering whether or not to go a less-medicalized route for her next birth. There is lots of information out there about how to give birth in a hospital setting, but this is one of the few sources of information about giving birth in a more traditional way. Even if one chooses to birth in a hospital, I think there is valuable information here that isn't found other places about why you might want to say no to a routine intervention, how to relax during labor, reasons for certain hospital protocols, birthing positions, having older children present, etc. I've read it several times during more than one pregnancy. It's thought-provoking, encouraging and empowering. I hope it helps you, too.