Promotional Information

An empowering, practical childbirth guide from Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein, internationally-known advocates of informed choice

About the Author

Ricki Lake is an actress, host of the long-running Ricki Lake talk show and natural childbirth advocate, based in LA and New York.ABBY EPSTEIN is a New York-based filmmaker and natural childbirth advocate

Reviews

"The beginning of the love affair with your child starts here. This book makes planning your birth fun and easy. A must read for every expectant parent."
-- Louann Brizendine, M.D. Author, THE FEMALE BRAIN

TV talk-show host Lake and Epstein, executive producer and director, respectively, of the 2007 documentary The Business of Being Born, present an accessible starting point for learning about the approaches that constitute a natural birth. They list the different options that exist outside of a hospital labor ward and include many checklists about what to ask and look for when visiting each place. Sections cover doulas, midwives (and their different designations), birthing centers, home birth, inductions, and cesarean sections and vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). Giving clear explanations of jargon and drawing on the advice of experts, the authors hope their book will empower prospective parents to take control and make informed choices. One gets the sense that the authors believe that hospitals regard patients' wishes as somewhat lower priority than policy and lawsuit avoidance; therefore, for balance, make sure this is not the only title on the subject in a collection.-Elizabeth J. Eastwood, Los Alamos Cty. Lib. Syst., NM Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.