Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way: Revised Edition

My first child was born after we attended Lamaze classes. Nothing in that birth was as I 'planned' and everything I did not want to happen...happened. I was an observer of a process that did not feel related to me.

During my second pregnancy we bought this book and attended the Bradley classes. This birth was excellent and wonderful!! I delivered a 10lb 3oz. baby boy with absolutely NO interventions (IV, drugs, epesiotomy etc.) and LOVED every minute of it. It was MY birth!

This book and the associated classes made all the difference in the world!! This book is not meant for those looking for the 'middle ground'. Bradley childbirth is NOT the 'middle ground'. If you are looking for reassurrance, practical relaxation techniques and guidance for your coach AND you are planning for a natural, personal childbirth THEN this is the book for you!!

I found this book extremely informative on Bradley technique but kind of scary when talking about alternatives and hospitals. After having two babies using medications, I was desperate to find another option. The book is extremely good about detailing the feelings you have during pregnancy and childbirth. Working on the birthing techniques with my husband was priceless and helped create a special bond between us. After having our third child without medication I have got to tell everyone how much better a drug free birthing experience can be! I only paniced once. I had praticed the pushing visualization so well it only took three pushes for our daughter to be born! The scary part can be avoided by skipping the information on Lamaze, hospitals, and doctors. It is out-dated and frightening. Move on to the excercises and have a wonderful birth experience!

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Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way is an excellent resource on the Bradley Method. Author, Susan McCutcheon introduces you to the Bradley Method, explains how it differs from Lamaze, discusses how to choose your childbirth educator and your doctor, explains the importance of nutrition and how to prepare yourself for this life transforming experience.

In addition to the general information she provides in helping you to prepare, she thoroughly walks you through the Bradley Method. Through exercise, illustration, nutrition, and practice, McCutcheon completely covers how you should prepare and deal with both First and Second Stage of Childbirth. Finally, she closes the text with a discussion of various childbirth controversies -episiotomies, caesarean sections and homebirth.

This book excels in preparing you for a Natural Childbirth, as defined by the American Academy of Husband Coached Childbirth -a birth that is without unnecessary medical intervention. However, some view her tone as "fear tactics" or "outdated" ideas. I disagree. Rather, she educates you on the principles of Bradley and provides you with the ability to recognize when the medical personnel are undertaking a procedure for their convenience or for your best interest. In short, she provides you with information and proven tools to make informed decisions and take responsibility for your birth.

Despite the strengths of this book, I highly recommend that, whenever physically possible, the reader enroll in a Bradley class to supplement the reading in this book. If you *really* desire a Natural Childbirth, the class will provide you with the knowledge, practice and support you need to achieve your goals. Though this book is excellent, your instructor is almost essential -she can guide you in recognizing when you need medical assistance and when you do not!

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After having tried the Lamaze method and ending up with an epidural and feeling very "out of control" during my first delivery, I went in search of more information to help me through my second delivery. I happened upon this book at a garage sale and decided it was worth a gander.

While I agree with other reviewers that the book had some dated photos and information, this did not interfere with my personal purposes for buying the book.

Having gone through the process once, I was seeking a method which:

*informed me in detail about what my body was doing through the birthing process and how I could work "with it" (rather than "escape" from it)

*gave me natural alternatives for relaxation and bearing the pain (rather than "panting techniques," how to balance on a birthing ball, focusing on imaginary "special places," getting an epidural when I couldn't take it anymore, etc.)

*gave me exercises to prepare my body ahead of time for the physical demands of labor

*gave my husband information so he could be part of the process and feel confident in his ability to coach me through

Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way proved to be the book that would meet these needs. Putting this information to use during my second labor was amazing. I was able to use the relaxation techniques at home for as long as possible. My husband was able to correctly judge when to get me to the hospital. We were able to get through the transition stage, knowing what the signposts were and that I was "almost there." I was only at the hospital an hour before my son was born. I felt great afterwards without drugs and was more than ready to go home the next day.

Having read this book "with a grain of salt," overlooking the harsh opinions about the medical profession, my husband and I used it as a tool to educate ourselves about my body. It gave us the confidence that with God's help and with an understanding of the design for birth, we could make it through. I was personally also grateful to have a very capable doctor and nurses who were very willing to work with me, and actually stated that they were very refreshed to see my husband and I working together for a "natural" birth.

In conclusion, every birth is different, but I see this book as a great tool to be used with an open mind, not knowing exactly what your personal labor will be like. It is important, however, to invest time in learning and practicing the methods in the book if you really want to reap the benefits.

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For a book that was revised in 1996, the information about hospital practices is very dated, and the author is antagonistic towards hospital personnel. As a labor and delivery nurse I know of no hospital (in my area at least) that straps a woman to a delivery table or condones the "routine" use of episiotomies and assisted births (forceps or vacuum). Also, rooming in (mom and baby not being separated) is the norm, rather than the exception. The descriptions of what happens pysiologically during labor and delivery are good and I find the relaxation information helpful, not only for my next birth, but to help the mom's I'm working with relax. Get the book, skip the skewed views on hospitals and medical personnel or get the low down on the hospital you'll birth in from several people who have birthed in the same hospital

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Desperately Seeking Snoozin' : The Insomnia Cure from Awake to Zzzzz

I read this book in a desperate attempt to alleviate the chronic insomnia that had plauged me since the birth of my daughter. It was the only book of it's kind (I purchased two others) that made me feel genuine hopefulness about my condition. Mr. Wiedman does not make light of insomnia to the contrary, he sincerely understands what you are going through. This man has been through some truly hard times and you can sense his compassion and desire to help others. This is what sets the book apart.

I both laughed and cried while reading this book; it is very cathartic and reads like a novel at times. Although you may find other books containing more technical information, this book will give you that human touch that no other can provide. My insomnia is gone, and even better, I no longer feel anxious about the occasional sleepless night.

THANK YOU Mr. Wiedman, you have helped me tremendously. I cannot reccomend this book highly enough to anyone struggling with sleep.

"Desperately Seeking Susan" by John Wiedman is a fantastic book, that helped me so immensely. The other books on sleep discuss medications to take, this book discusses how to change your behavior, and to get off medications, eat right, cut down on or stop caffeine, and to go to bed and wake up at the same time each night. It also discusses the following: info on sleep clinics, sleep cycles, self employment, night eating syndrome, restless legs syndrome, circadian rhythms disorders, conditionioned insomnia, sleep apnea. There are several chapters on sleep aids, medications, herbs, and the impact of medications on sleep stages. It goes into the long term use of sleeping pills, smoking, depression, excercise, and good health. The next part of the book looks into "the solution", talk of a sleep diary, your medical history, a pre-sleep routine (like bathing before sleep induces sleep), relaxation techniques, trouble staying asleep (that was me along w/rls) and how much one should be committed to follow John Wiedman's book. The end of the book discusses the plan one should follow, sleep clinics, and more on medications. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Thanks John!

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Since I have had trouble sleeping (and it has been about ten years), I've visited just about every kind of doctor you can to help find "the cure." I wish that just one of the physicians had recommended a book called "Desparately Seeking Snoozin'" It could have saved me many doctor bills and many anxious nights.

The book brings comfort from the fact that there are many others who feel like they are at wits end and don't know what to do. Insomnia is kind of a personal problem and it was very interesting to read the various sleep disorders that others had.

But the real benefit to the book is the practical guide to helping you address how to solve your sleeping problem. It is very easy to follow, costs nothing, and put me back on the road to sanity. I have passed along the book to others I know who have experienced similar problems and it has worked for them.

Now if it's 3 a.m., quit reading this, buy the book and get some sleep.

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This book was a godsend for me: within weeks of putting its simple principles into practice, I became a happy, healthy "good sleeper" -after having endured months of severe insomnia (two to four hours of sleep a night) and the physical and psychological difficulties that came with it. The style is very warm and real, like a chat with a kind, informed friend. And the program is blessedly simple: after my increasingly rare bad nights, I just refocus on the suggestions in the book and get right back on track. Highly recommended.

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A very good, practical book. Although at first blush, the advise almost seems overly simple, it works. I guess, like lots of good ideas and advise, sometimes simple is the best. I've suffered from insomnia on and off for about 25 years and I've tried most everything, including sleeping pills. I've been doing this program now for about 3 weeks and it has definitely improved my sleep. In those 3 weeks, I've had maybe 3 bad nights, and even those nights weren't as bad as what I used to consider bad. In addition to sleeping better, I have an extra hour or two at the end of the day because of how this program works. Over the years, I've read quite a bit about insomnia and sleep, like all of us insomniacs probably have, but I would say this book contains the most practical advise. While this program may not cure everyone's insomnia, at a minimum, it will certainly help everyone who has insomnia that is not related to some type of underlying physical condition.

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Home Gym Workouts: Gym Ball & Dumbbell Workouts for Women

Fun workouts to perform in the comfort of your own home and they get progressively more difficult, but can all be done in the same amount of time. No jargon, just straight forward honest advice. The provided exercise diagrams were particularly useful at first also. Most important, I am fitter, have lost weight, and am more toned. Thanks x

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Homeopathic Remedies: A Quick and Easy Guide to Common Disorders and Their Homeopathic Treatments

Dr. Hershoff writes a homeopathic reference masterpiece in his latetest homeopathic guidebook. Homeopathic Remedies is easy to use and covers a huge spectrum of ailments. Even a novice will be able to prescribe homeopathy after reading it! Along with information on how to prescribe homeopathic remedies and dosages, Dr. Hershoff gives a brief but yet very throrough history of homeopathy. This book is so complete, that it is the only guide you need to begin your own gentle art of healing using homeopathy.

I have a small library of homeopathic books, and this is the first one I consult when a problem arises. It is a repertory, not a materia medica, so then I cross check myself with other books to confirm.

The first section which discusses about homeopathy is concise and useful, including discussion of potencies and modalities. The next part is body system charts to quickly refer you to the rest of the book which is organized by problem alphabetically, each with a list of possible remedies, each remedy with a brief description characterizing it so you can choose the most appropriate.

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This book is an exceptional introduction to the world of homeopathy.

It begins with a detailed explanation of the concepts behind this form of medicine, including the systems of the body, definitions of disease and injury, types of pain and much more. It also include basic information that correlates to all homeopathic remedies, including dosing information and contraindications. The system of dosing homeopathics can be a little confusing at first, as it comes across as a bit "backwards" (a lower number being a more concentrated tincture), and this book does an excellent job of explaining this system in a reader-friendly way.

After the numerous introductory articles, this book contains an "A-Z Prescriber" that is indispensable as a household reference. It covers mental, emotional and physical diseases, from stress to bleeding to infections and SO much more. Under each disease section, it covers a list of all the different potential remedies, with detailed explanations of the variations in symptoms that indicate one may work better than anotherthere are no "one size fits all" diagnoses or remedies in homeopathy.

As a parent, I can sleep better knowing I have this book on hand. I'm fortunate enough to live in an area where these substances are relatively easy to come by, so I have the peace of mind knowing that if my daughter has a problem, I can quickly identify the best way to help her. There is a whole section on children's diseases, from colic to chickenpox, ear infections and more.

My experiences thusfar with homeopathy have been incredible. In one instance, I slammed my finger in a sliding door so hard that it started bleeding underneath my nail, and there was a clear dark line across the entire nail. I was almost certain I was going to lose the nail, and my finger swelled up a good 5x its normal size. Enter Arnica... I applied Arnica gel to my entire finger twice that day. The swelling was completely eliminated in less than an hour, and the trapped blood began to shift and partially clear within a day. Within 2 days, the dark line has disappeared and there was just one small pocket of blood, which grew out with my nail and left no trace of the injury. I was quite impressed.

My second confirmation of homeopathy's authenticity came in the form of teething medicine. My daughter was cutting 5 teeth at the same time, and, understandably, quite miserable. I purchased a homeopathic teething gel from my local Whole Foods, which contained a combination of pain relieving and calming plant extracts. I happened to be cutting a wisdom tooth myself, so I tried it out on my tooth to see if it was any good. I was amazed that it offered faster and better relief than Orajel or similar allopathic products. It didn't completely numb my gums, just took the pain away, completely! So of course I offered it to the baby, who was instantly soothed and slept, well, like a baby :)

And my third testament to homeopathy is my experience with baby's first ear infection. I'm rather wary of antibiotics, as I have done a vast amount of research on antibiotic resistance and childhood ear infections, and recognize that 1. antibiotics increase the reccurance of ear infections because they suppress the immune system; 2. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 80% of ear infections will clear up with no treatment; and 3. in studies, antibiotics only shortened the length of the infection by one day.

So I purchased a bottle of Dr. Sears recommended homeopathic ear drops, and I was blown away by the results. She had been completely inconsolable, screaming, kicking, running away and pulling on her ears. Within a minute of putting the drops in her ears, she stopped crying, smiled and gave me a big hug! We used the drops every 8 hours for 2 daysand that quick, the infection was gone. I remember taking a 2 week course of amoxycillin for an ear infection at the age of 11, and that didn't even work. 2 days instead of 2 weeks? No side effects? Yes please.

All of the above remedies are congruent with the prescriber in this book.

I will also add that this book covers some topics you might not expectvaccine detoxification (helping eliminate the mercury and formaldehyde used as preservatives in vaccines from your body), reproductive issues like ovarian cysts, uterine hemorrhage... a lot of things you wouldn't expect.

This book is excellent, the only thing it lacks is detailed explanations of what each remedy is, where it comes from and how it works. I understand this book is about the ailment of your body, not the herbs itself, and would be 3x the size and 3x the price if it also included detailed information on the substances themselves. I'm currently looking for the perfect "counterpart" to this book, a book about the tinctures themselves. In the meantime, the internet does suffice :) I will update my review with a product link when I find the right one.

So in a nutshell, I absolutely recommend this book and it should be on every family's bookshelfor medicine cabinet!

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*Almost a mirror image of his herbal remedy book, I recommend them as companion guides*

Like his other book on herbal remedies, Asa Hershoff, ND, divides the source into an easily readable guide. He started out with a long chapter on homeopathic advantages, research on the remedies, their types, history of, and more. This include types of pain, taking the remedies, doses, and processes. The treatment index guide is broken into sections identical to the herbal guide. Each condition is listed alphabetically under its condition, with a brief intro on the problem and how to solve it, followed then by a list of homeopathic remedies by name only then 3-4 lines below. Each line has a different reason for using it. Stars are by the homeopathic remedy, signifying how recommended it is. One star means a weaker treatment, while five is obviously highly regarded.

While in no means a comprehensive 'teaching' text, it's not meant to be. Instead it's a reference that allows easy location of conditions and their treatment, with notes jotted down. Concise, clear, and good to grab in a pinch.

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Homeopathic Remedies is the BEST self-help guide to home-based treatment in the world. Why? It is simply the ONLY accurate guide to symptoms and the remedy they treat. Every other self-help homeopathic book has completely inaccurate and simply wrong information, because of a crucial thing in homeopathy called "modalities."

Modalities are simply what makes a symptom better or worse, such as time of day, hot or cold, standing or sitting, etc, etc. But the thing is, there are modalities for the person as a whole (you like hot weather or you don't) and there are completely separate modalities for INDIVIDUAL CONDITIONS. You have a headache that is better from cold clothes. But your stomach ache wants a hot water bottle.

Without this accurate information, prescribing all wrong! And every single modern author has just not gone to (much bigger) trouble of researching the individual modalities for each condition. They just use the generalized modalities of the whole person for the individual condition. Which doesn't work! Hershoff is the ONLY author who has actually done this work, and thus produced a homeopathic guidebook worthy of the name!

Besides, the illustrations and layout make this a visually easy book to use and pleasure to read. A must have for any homeopathic home library or homeopathic practitioner who wants an accurate guide to treatment.

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Taking Care of Your Child: A Parent's Guide to Complete Medical Care

I received this book as a freebie, part of a very smart corporation's plan to get their employees to take better care of themselves and their children, presumably, of course, to thereby lessen the overall insurance burden.

Never-the-less, with the probable exception of the dictionary, it's been the most referenced book on my shelves over the last 15 years since my first child was born. I treasure its simple wisdom and sensible approach and it has helped me both to ignore certain complaints and to act quickly upon others during that time.

As for the rather embittered review which claims it's full of dangerously misleading information, I'd have to disagree (although it's important to note those comments were made in reference to feeding issues, an area -unlike meningitis, for instance, or a fall which resulted in a jagged bone protruding -in which there's still a fair bit of debate).

No, it shouldn't be used as a sole source of information, nor should it completely replace your own good judgement AND instinct. However, for any number of every day ailments and injuries that any parent will encounter with their children, its generally sound guidance will be most welcome in helping you arrive at a conclusion whether to phone the doctor or not.

Being a parent is often enough like playing pin the tail on the donkey in the dark -this book, however, WILL shine a bit of light where you might need it most.

This is an excellent book for new parents. I just love the flow charts which are great when you need answers in a hurry.

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Our pediatrician told us to buy this book on our prenatal visit, about 30 years ago. It was an excellent source and can help calm a new parent and save on wasted trips to the doctor. I loved the flowchart method of telling you whether to call the doctor or not. Of course, if you are unsure or the book did not cover the exact symptoms you still should call the pediatrician. Now I am going to buy it for our daughter to use on our grandchildren.

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One of the best child care books out there, grappling issues from the simple diaper rash to internal bleeding.

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