What do you think?
Rate this book
Immaculate Deception II: Myth, Magic and Birth
In this intimate perspective on birth, renowned author and photographer Suzanne Arms conveys the inherent wisdom in this natural process, through her eloquent words and pictures.
302 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
4 people are currently reading
386 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 29, 2007
should be read by anyone who was born... oh, that means everyone. this book is central to my wanting to be a midwife; it keeps me going on this path that is so critical to the healing of women and mothers. definitely a little on the 'hippie' side of the street. but she is so impassioned in her writing. please read this book and fight the power
December 3, 2008
Anyone who will be giving birth should read this. Even if they don't want a homebirth there is a lot to learn in it and it may change your mind about what you will and will not allow doctor's to intervene with during your birth.
May 18, 2010
eye-opening; an important book that explains what is wrong with maternity care in the u.s. i'd recommend this to anyone who is planning to have a baby- whether or not she is interested in natural birth.
July 7, 2010
if you want to feel empowered to reclaim birth from doctors, hospitals and medical intervention - to be unafraid and let your body do its thing...read this book!
May 6, 2019
Published in 1994 (it seems to have also been published in 1997 with a different subtitle, but the copy I read was from ’94), this book is out of date in some respects; however, much of the information it contains is timeless. I would be interested to see what an updated version would say (this is itself a follow up to the original published in 1975, so we’re due for a new one).
I consider what I learned reading Immaculate Deception II an invaluable addition to my preparations for what is certain to be one of the most profound and challenging experiences of my life. I have new confidence in myself and renewed gratitude for my midwife!
There were times I found myself wishing Arms had stuck a little closer to the topic of childbirth—I thought passages touching on homeopathy and immunizations were particularly suspect. Like all advice, it is up to the recipient to evaluate and decide for themselves whether or not to accept it. I also got a funny feeling from some of the descriptions of what life and childbirth would have been like in ancient human tribes. I think Arms tread a little too close to the noble savage trope at times, and I hope that those sections would come under more scrutiny if an updated version was published today.
To sum up: it’s old, and it’s not 100% pure good advice, but if you are pregnant or hoping to become pregnant or in a supportive role to someone who is preparing for childbirth, I highly encourage you to have a look through Immaculate Deception II.
I consider what I learned reading Immaculate Deception II an invaluable addition to my preparations for what is certain to be one of the most profound and challenging experiences of my life. I have new confidence in myself and renewed gratitude for my midwife!
There were times I found myself wishing Arms had stuck a little closer to the topic of childbirth—I thought passages touching on homeopathy and immunizations were particularly suspect. Like all advice, it is up to the recipient to evaluate and decide for themselves whether or not to accept it. I also got a funny feeling from some of the descriptions of what life and childbirth would have been like in ancient human tribes. I think Arms tread a little too close to the noble savage trope at times, and I hope that those sections would come under more scrutiny if an updated version was published today.
To sum up: it’s old, and it’s not 100% pure good advice, but if you are pregnant or hoping to become pregnant or in a supportive role to someone who is preparing for childbirth, I highly encourage you to have a look through Immaculate Deception II.
July 26, 2020
A great read! Although the book is primarily a critique of "pathologized" childbirth, it is also applicable as a critique of our hyper-specialized healthcare system that profoundly fails to treat patients as whole people with complex health needs that go beyond simply reacting to urgent medical crises. As a woman, Arms' perspective on women and mothers was incredibly refreshing to me. The work we do is absolutely essential to the continuation of the human race after all, why SHOULDN'T we demand the respect we deserve? I didn't agree with all of Arms' perspectives (particularly regarding epidurals and formula feeding), but I found them thought provoking.
June 16, 2014
My daughters was told to read this book for a course she was taking and, rather disturbed, she asked me to 'review' it.
This book is a very interesting mixture of truth and fable. It is the kind of book that desperately needs footnotes. Many of the stories it tells are, perhaps, right out of the encyclopedia. But many of the rest seem like they must be straight from the author's own imagination.
My heart and soul go out to the author, and the women she describes, regarding many of the problems of modern, and not so modern, women in sexuality and childbirth. Like so many other things our society has perverted the nature of sexuality and birth. What should be good is often seen as an evil, or dirty, filthy. However that does not mean that everything that is currently thought of as perverted is, in fact, good and healthful. Sexuality is an extremely important and powerful part of life. Like all other powerful things, it can be used for great good, and for great evil.
However the fault lies in the heart of each person, not the monotheistic religions. Indeed, it is in the heart of Christianity where the true origin for these problems... the very nature of sin that causes each of us to pervert how God intended us to live. And it is in Christianity, again, where the solution can be found: in repentance, forgiveness, and turning to God, the God who created woman and who made her to be 'the mother of all living'. Indeed, it is written that woman shall be saved in Childbirth.
This book is a very interesting mixture of truth and fable. It is the kind of book that desperately needs footnotes. Many of the stories it tells are, perhaps, right out of the encyclopedia. But many of the rest seem like they must be straight from the author's own imagination.
My heart and soul go out to the author, and the women she describes, regarding many of the problems of modern, and not so modern, women in sexuality and childbirth. Like so many other things our society has perverted the nature of sexuality and birth. What should be good is often seen as an evil, or dirty, filthy. However that does not mean that everything that is currently thought of as perverted is, in fact, good and healthful. Sexuality is an extremely important and powerful part of life. Like all other powerful things, it can be used for great good, and for great evil.
However the fault lies in the heart of each person, not the monotheistic religions. Indeed, it is in the heart of Christianity where the true origin for these problems... the very nature of sin that causes each of us to pervert how God intended us to live. And it is in Christianity, again, where the solution can be found: in repentance, forgiveness, and turning to God, the God who created woman and who made her to be 'the mother of all living'. Indeed, it is written that woman shall be saved in Childbirth.
August 24, 2011
Amazing book, a real eye opener.
It makes you think about things in a more logical and natural sense and it has helped me become more confident and relaxed about pregancy and birth and has taught me that there is no need to be afraid. I recommend this book to anyone who is pregnant, thinking of becoming pregnant or even just working with pregnant and labouring women.
It makes you think about things in a more logical and natural sense and it has helped me become more confident and relaxed about pregancy and birth and has taught me that there is no need to be afraid. I recommend this book to anyone who is pregnant, thinking of becoming pregnant or even just working with pregnant and labouring women.
February 26, 2016
This is an inspirational book for those whose birth experiences were not what they wanted and how changes were made to have the birth they wanted. Learn to make your own choices. There is also historical background of birthing. This was one I read after having 4 c/sections; from there I had hospital VBACs and home births.
April 25, 2008
I think every woman who plans to have a baby, or who loves someone who plans to have a baby, should read this book. A very eye-opening expose of how modern obstetrics came to be, and how in a lot of ways, it does more harm than good. Excellent book.
Read
January 22, 2008Wonderful and enlightening information about the mis-information about childbirth in U.S.
October 15, 2008
Learned a whole lot from this one that What to Expect When You're Expecting never mentioned.
June 21, 2010
I loved the message and lessons I learned from this. Definitely made me more educated and fearless of childbirth. There are so many unnecessary interventions.
Want to read
March 19, 2011Suggested Reading from Baby Catcher
Want to read
July 24, 20138
June 1, 2015
I found my old reading records from the time I was studying midwifery.
Exposes many realities of the hospital birth world. (Probably outdated since I read in 2003)
Exposes many realities of the hospital birth world. (Probably outdated since I read in 2003)
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews