Book review of 2nd edition

I came across a lovely review of my 2nd edition the other day. Thank you Helen Mary Labao Barrameda for taking the time to share your thoughts.

This is a very good resource book for Caesarean. I wish I read this during my first C-section. It contains a lot of useful and practical tips especially on the post-operation side of things. The author is also very sensitive and inclusive of various nuances like LGBT couple births and paternal postnatal depression (I did not even know that it exists before reading this book). I am glad to have read this; it stands a good chance of improving my C-section experience.”

Reviews

I haven’t checked Amazon for a while to see the latest reviews. It was a lovely surprise to see several new ones, all which had such lovely, positive things to say.

Thank you readers, I am glad it is proving so useful to so many.

Here are some of the comments that have just made my day:

Franca: “I read this book from cover to cover – it is the first unbiased, non judgmental, evidence based book I have ever read on the subject. An absolute must-read for anyone who might end up with a caesarean e.g. basically everyone who is pregnant! Brilliant book.”

Mazi: The book is written in a very non-judgemental way and its only agenda appears to be to inform and support women (and birth partners). I certainly felt much more knowledgeable after reading this book. I would definitely recommend `Caesarean Birth’ for all mums to be, especially as despite being an outcome for many women it is so often given only lip service at ante-natal classes. I particularly liked the chapter on recovery as it gives excellent, practical advice on what to expect afterwards and how to cope, even if your section wasn’t planned.

Anonymous Amazon customer: Fantastically informative guide to c sections, all you need to know to be prepared.

Jennifer: Brilliant prep before I had my planned c section. Felt much calmer as having read this.

Agnieszka: “You only need this one book if you are considering an elective C-section or you need one for medical reasons. Finally facts not old women’s tales about the procedure. Also no breast feeding ‘propaganda’ in this book which is a nice change from other publications.

Helen: This book was really helpful with my decision on whether to have a c-section second time round. Definitely worth reading before giving birth.

AIMs review Caesarean Birth: A positive approach to preparation and recovery

Chloe Bayfield an AIMS midwife recently reviewed Caesarean Birth: A positive approach to preparation and recovery.

“The book is easy to follow and explores almost every aspect of the thought processes you are likely to go through when making decisions about your birth…Using this chapter, [“How Can I Improve My Recovery”] along with Appendix A (“The caesarean procedure”), will go a long way towards preparing you for your operation.”

Thank you for your supportive words.

(AIMS -Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services objectives are: working towards normal birth, providing independent support and information about maternity choices, raising awareness of current research on childbirth and related issues.)

RCOG list Caesarean Birth: A positive approach to preparation and recovery

Professor Jim Dornan (ex Senior Vice President of RCOG) reviews ‘Caesarean Birth: A positive approach to preparation and recovery’.

“The book is an excellent read, and has already been endorsed by, amongst many others,  James Drife, Phil Steer, Brian Beattie, and myself. [RCOG members]…It’s a fact that 25% of OUR charges end up having a caesarean and yet there is a paucity of information for mothers and this book address ALL the major issues in a non judgemental manner. It neither promotes caesarean birth nor does it castigate it as a method of childbirth. It is a book that is well overdue, and indeed it is sad that a member of the lay public had to be relied on to come up with it! It is incredibly well researched and referenced, and no serious studies have been excluded by it’s author.

Amazon book review of ‘Caesarean Birth: A positive approach to preparation and recovery’

A lovely Amazon review for my caesarean book … thank you.

“As other reviews have pointed out, this book is a no-nonsense, practical and very informative guide which helps women to be prepared for caesarean as a possible outcome of any birth, and to make informed choices about the birth they want.

Although there are endless pregnancy guides available, most seem to mention caesarean birth only in passing and more than a few imply that caesarean is a drastic intervention to be avoided at almost any cost. However, as the author points out, there is no clear evidence that the overall risks for women planning small families are higher [than vaginal births]. Inexplicably, sufficient caesarean information is omitted from many antenatal classes despite the fact that many women will end up having the procedure. This lack of preparedness in itself is likely to contribute to a negative experience of caesarean birth.

It’s important to stress that that book does not promote planned caesarean over vaginal birth but rather aims to give women detailed information which enables them to consider the full range of choices for their birth, and to be prepared for the possibility of a caesarean even if they would prefer to attempt a natural birth. The author is scrupulously balanced and factual, backing up information given with detailed references. After reading it you will feel in a much better position to have an informed discussion with your medical advisers about your choices in your particular pregnancy circumstances.

One useful aspect of the book is that it distinguishes between planned and emergency caesareans. Statistics for straightforward planned caesareans are often lumped in with those for emergency caesareans performed after an attempted vaginal birth that has, by definition, encountered complications (hence the need for the caesarean). Unsurprisingly, outcomes for caesareans seem to be misleadingly bad when apples and oranges are compared in this confusing way. The author points out the difficulty of disentangling the negative outcomes often associated with caesareans from the condition or complications which lead to an emergency caesarean taking place.

This book is for those who suspect they are not getting the full picture from those with a natural birth agenda, and want clear, factual information in order to make a rational decision about the birth of their baby.”