Just as one woman's Dr. Right is another woman's Dr. Wrong, one woman's good birth experience is another woman's misery.

I was amazed how my body took control. With the first push or two, my water broke (I even got to do that myself!) while I squatted. A couple more pushes and I could see her head in the mirror. I reached down to touch my baby! Minutes later, she was nursing at my breast. The feelings of joy and awe at the experience of a natural delivery are hard to describe. But I can tell you that it was worth all the months of preparations, discussions with the doctors, and two days of contractions.
-- Ohio (third birth, following two previous Cesareans)

The information on anesthesia was extremely one-sided. You've pointed out only the negative aspects of it without giving examples of times when it is beneficial. I know from experience that an epidural can be a sanity saver, and turn what would otherwise be a nightmare of prolonged, unbearable, uncontrollable pain into a calm, happy, positive birth.
-- Connecticut

Though you were satisfied overall, nearly all of you had suggestions for more information you wish had been offered. Many of those suggestions had to do with information about pain relief ("realistic discussion of pain, not fairy tale") or discovering what options were really available ("not just what doctors want us to hear"). Many readers were especially critical of hospital-based classes, and thought that instructors "pushed drugs" and "didn't tell us about risks versus benefits of anything." Reminiscent of our comments in previous editions, most of you found the best advice about breastfeeding came from friends, La Leche League, childbirth educators, midwives and books. Now you also can get the help of more than 1,000 lactation consultants. (See "International Lactation Consultants Association" in Appendix D.)

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