I did like Husband Coached Childbirth quite a bit and got a lot of information from it, however, I do not think you need to own it. After reading it through once, I never felt compelled to go back and read it again. I would suggest checking this one out from your local library, reading it through, especially the breathing description, and purchasing Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way instead.


Buy "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way" instead   December 13, 2000
 77 out of 84 found this review helpful

I had a drug-free childbirth, thanks in part to the Bradley Method. To prepare, I took Bradley classes and read both "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way" by Susan McCutcheon and this book. The thing that disturbed me most about this book is that Dr. Bradley insinuates repeatedly that childbirth doesn't really hurt as long as you follow his instructions. Believe me, it hurts. I think Dr. Bradley has since passed away, but if he were alive, I'd really like to ask him how many times HE gave birth. I prefer to get my information from a more reliable source -- a woman who has given birth herself. If you're only going to read one book, read "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way." If you're an information junkie like myself, read this one too. There's certainly a lot of info and it makes for interesting reading.


If Your Ideas About Childbirth Were Formed by Claire Huxtable...   January 8, 2006
 69 out of 70 found this review helpful

...who said that it's like taking your lower lip, stretching it over your head, and stapling it to the back of your neck, then you're thinking, like most women,
"Why on EARTH would I want a natural childbirth?"

Well, I've done it both ways now. After years of hearing horror stories from friends & Hollywood, but stubbornly deciding that since women had been doing it for eons, I could, too, I tried birth naturally with my first child, scared to death about it ... and failed miserably. I didn't know any alternative laboring positions, or to relax, or anything - I just braced for each contraction for 36 hours until I hurt so much I asked my husband to kill me. The inevitable epidural left me hurting for a week.

Well, wasn't that fun?

Then I took a Bradley class. Instead of teaching fancy breathing techniques and how to be a convenient patient for the OB, they taught relaxation - "You CAN do this; and fear only creates tension, which increases pain" - and what a difference. Without me fighting the contractions (which tensed up the very muscle the contractions were trying to relax), the pain went from unbearable to manageable. Sure, it hurts to have a lineman stand on your foot, but who's going to take an epidural for it?

Bradley taught me that if you're thoroughly relaxed and labor feels excruciating, something needs to change - position, environment, something. If it's still agonizing, something is dreadfully wrong - but if I were under an epidural, I wouldn't know that. Bradley taught that if you've been doing everything great for hours and suddenly you feel you can't take it anymore - that you're in transition and will soon be pushing and have a baby! (How true that has been!) The relaxation techniques I learned helped with the early labor (remember, you can't get an epidural before 4cm or after 10cm), the excruciating afterpains of a subsequent birth, and the discomfort of sitting on a sore bum, not to mention all of life's inevitable pains ever since.

Natural childbirth left me with so much more energy afterward that my 60-something in-laws are converts, too! They can't believe that the totally drained, beaten woman they saw after Birth #1 (who was afraid to use the bathroom and couldn't sit for a week) is the same who walked from the delivery room and immediately dressed and left at 24 hours for Births #2 and #3 (and suffered very little postpartum pain after the uterine-shrinking contractions ended).

Lastly, Bradley taught me better breathing (my trumpet-playing is vastly improved!), sitting, posture, and lifting techniques for the rest of my life. And gave me a few good laughs while he was at it. Love him!


This is Daddy's guide to Mommy's Pregnancy   July 17, 1999
 19 out of 22 found this review helpful

I don't believe this book is sexist! I do, however, believe it is written to the husband and is intended to interest him and involve him in the process of pregnancy, BIRTH, and parenthood. I started reading it, and then shared it just a little bit with my dear husband, and he ended up finishing it before I was able to! If we weren't able to read it aloud together, we actually argued over who got to take it to work! I appreciated the way Dr. Bradley understands childbirth and the frankness with which he describes the "normal, and natural" procedures of the mother's body **so that her husband can understand.** The emphasis is on proper mind and body training to prepare for an athletic event that everyone should look forward to "joyfully"! I also like the practicality of the nutrition and excercise recommendations. If you are looking for a thoroughly healthful, husband-inclusive guide to "do it yourself" pregnancy, you will enjoy this book! If your situation is something different from mine, you may want to look for other options, but there is still a lot of helpful info you can take from Husband Coached Childbirth, and the Bradley Method. Good Luck Everyone!!


Completly Useless   November 4, 1999
 19 out of 23 found this review helpful

A waste of money if you want to learn the basics of the Bradley Method without having to become an expert on everyone else's techniques. Also, a difficult book to read even if you understand the concepts involved. Skip this book and move on to Childbirth the Natural Way.