Easing Labor Pain: The Complete Guide to a More Comfortable and Rewarding Birth

by Adrienne B. Lieberman

The complete guide to a more comfortable and rewarding birth.

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Tena · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just okay. I had read it when pregnant with my son, and the techniques covered really didn't help me cope with the horrid pain that is back labor due to an anterior-facing baby. It does do a decent job covering pain relief medicines and options, and it does cover a very broad spectrum of material. However, it is clearly geared toward hospital births with an OB and assuming a fair amount of medical intervention, and does not really help prepare someone looking to go as intervention-free as possible. The book is also quite out of date, since at this point it is nearly 20 years old. If you are just looking for an overall view of childbirth and what resources are available as far as pain relief, then this is probably a good book to read. If you are looking for as intervention-free an experience as possible, I suggest looking elsewhere. I took a very long time to read this book simply because I found much of it really annoying and not helpful to read. Part of this may be that I have given birth before, so re-reading it with this pregnancy was just not very informative, and it may also be that I had just read "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" which I found tremendously more helpful and supportive of the birthing experience I want.

[DaNette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the beginning of this book where it talks about the realistic expectations of pain during childbirth, visualizations and relaxation exercises, comfort measures, and labor support. I took quite a few helpful notes and copied many of the relaxation and visualizations exercises from this book. I liked how the book covers nearly all labor prep types (i.e. lamaze, Leboyer, Hypnobirthing, active birth, etc...) The end of the book where they talk about medical interventions, hospital routines, and the birthing environment were too out of date and overall pretty worthless.

Use the beginning of this book for great ideas on how to breath, relax yourself, and various comfort devices and look to other more up to date books for the "other stuff."

[Elizabeth Abney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book on pain management for labor and birth. It holds out no false hope for a pain-free labor, but instead outlines almost every pain-relieving and coping strategy imaginable for medication to TENS to breathing to acupuncture. And unlike many other books, there is enough information in the overview to actually get you started using that technique. Excellent resource section for further information as well.

From my personal collection.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is the best labor/birth book I've read so far, even if it is a little old (1992). It's comprehensive, covering everything from meditation to acupuncture to TENS to epidurals. It's research-based, discussing what scientific studies have shown about each method. And it's non-judgmental.

[Paula · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this with my first pregnancy, I do not recommend it. If you plan on having pain meds, this book is pointless. The only useful thing I got out of it was to find a focal point and concentrate on it. Other than that, I thought it was just scary.

[Shaunie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for those looking for alternatives to pain medication...

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked how this was a general overview of the many ways to ease labor pains. Based in research and unbiased towards any particular method. Great ideas.

[Melinda Bollinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. It goes into a little more details then some of the other books I have but still love it. Great for doulas

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

very informative, I appreciated that it didn't push any specific agenda, but did a good job of outlining all the options available

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful book, I used my favorite techniques from the book and found it very effective...