Product Description
One in four babies born in the United States and Europe comes into the world via Cesarean section. Yet this procedure has been described by critics as an unnecessary and potentially dangerous medical intervention. Consequently, expectant mothers often fear this option, and women who have had C-sections can feel a sense of failure. In Cesarean Section: Understanding and Celebrating Your Baby's Birth, Drs. Michele Moore and Caroline de Costa emphasize the joy of delivering a healthy baby, however that is best achieved. They explain why Cesarean births are sometimes preferable to vaginal delivery for both mother and baby, and they help women understand the issues behind the decision to perform the procedure. From anesthesia, surgery, and recovery through at-home care of mother and child, the authors offer reassurance and practical information for all mothers and mothers-to-be. They also discuss the latest findings on postpartum depression and planning for future births, including the possibility of vaginal birth after a Cesarean section. For every woman who has a planned--or unplanned--Cesarean section, this book provides the information they need to alleviate their fears and come to value this delivery option. "Because up to a quarter of all births are Cesarean births, prenatal preparation should include information about Cesarean sections for every woman. And that is why we have written this guide. . . . We believe strongly that it is time to speak out and say that Cesarean section is a normal birth method and that women who have a Cesarean section should not be made to feel that they have failed. . . . We hope you find the information in this book useful and helpful in thinking about C-section, whether you have already had a Cesarean and want to understand the experience better, you wish to plan for another C-section birth, or you are expecting a baby and want to be informed about all the possibilities ahead, including this other normal way of bringing a baby into the world."--from the Introduction

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 21 reviews)

Misleading information!! by BanditoJose (Warwick, RI)

1 Stars
November 16, 2009
I got this from my local library because i have read NUMEROUS natural birthing books during my pregnancy...and i figured it might be good perspective to read a 'biased towards pro-cesarean' section book (which this book CLEARLY was). My initial assumption was correct, this book claims "all c-sections are done for good medical reasons" (paraphrasing)...that is simply not the case, clearly many c-sections are done in fear of medical malpractice lawsuits....and the book in no way exposes or gives any information to that side of the c-section. For the most part, the book has minimal useful information regarding c-sections (although it does have a very interesting chapter on the history of how the c-section came to be)... But worst of all, when the book DOES indicate the risk to C-section...it DISTORTS THE STATISTICS!!!! I really could not believe the numerous shameful mistakes in percentages when i read this book...for example, it said something about "the risk of tearing a stitch in c-section being 1 in one thousand...or .001 percent"...anyone with even a tiny amount of mathematical knowledge would know this a gross distortion and misrepresentation of the truth. 1 in one thousand equals .1% !!!!!!! not .001%!!! this book distorts percentages in numerous instances. the math is simple... 1 in ten = 10% , 1 in 100 = 1%, and 1 in one thousand = .1% where do they get off with their incredibly wrong percentages? Absoutely shameful. These writers and publishers should be ashamed.

Great book for a time when women need as much support as possible by S. Densmore (Beverly, MA)

5 Stars
October 22, 2009
This is a phenomenal book about an issue that is obviously important to many current and soon-to-be mothers. Making the decision to give birth with a c-section is not something to be taken lightly, nor is it one that can be made by anybody other than the mother and doctor. I'm writing this as a husband and father who is about to help -- in as much as I can -- his wife give birth again. My wife was sharing some of the negative reviews of this book earlier, and I had to put my thoughts down. My purpose here is two-fold: to endorse this book and to also counteract the unnecessarily personal attacks of the few negative reviews. First, this book. We read through it in the library last night and were awe-struck at the fact that there was finally an objective description of what a c-section is, how and why it's done, and any complications that may arise. Our first was born 10 years ago through emergency c-section after 17 hours of what can only be described as Herculean labor. He wasn't dropping, but my wife was fully dilated and experience chart-breaking contractions. Induction could have either harmed him or her, so we opted for the operation. We thought we had failed in our quest for the perfect birth. Even though he's awesome, healthy, and both he and my wife came out shiny, we thought we had failed. If this book was around at that time, perhaps we would not have been living in guilt all this time. Secondly, to those of you who seem to think that a negative review of this book is the same as a slam against women who choose c-sections. Who do you think you are? The whole purpose of feminism and equal rights is to allow all people -- male and female -- the right to make their own decisions in their own way. This book is a tool in that decision-making process, and as a tool it is a really good one. Maybe your objections are to the perception that doctors push for cesareans more than they should. If that's the case, then aim your vitriol at those doctors, not at the women who are being pushed. Perhaps your objections are based on the idea that you feel there isn't enough objective information out there for a woman to make a good decision. If so, then help provide that information. Don't you dare, however, spend your time simply mouthing off with your own possibly ill-conceived and misunderstood ideas about what's "right" and "wrong". Especially don't do that if you think you're a proponent of equal rights, because what you're doing is what the original feminists were fighting against. We did not fail because we went through a c-section the first time, nor are we bad parents because of it. If this time through we are faced with a similar situation, it will again be no reflection on the success or failure of the birth. My wife found the book to be not only informative but a joy to read. The personal style, clear language, and tendency to speak to the reader as though she were an intelligent person were welcome and -- frankly -- all to rare in books like this. This book does the one thing right that is -- in my view -- the most important thing during pregnancy: provide the necessary information and support a woman needs for making the right decision for herself.

Doctors should recommend this book by J. Kilcrease

4 Stars
September 07, 2009
I had a c-section with my first and am going to attempt a vbac this time. I thought the book had good information on what to expect in a c-section, why to have one and some good points. It is clear that they swing to the surgical birth side, but so what, there facts are correct and there are way more books out there that tote the no pain meds, natural birth process ect. So it is kind of good to have a book out there that stands up for women who have had to have c-sections. Because truthfully when you are in the hospital and faced with the decision, you don't have the time or mental capacities to sit there and ask 5000 questions, you just want a safe, healthy baby and that is what the book says too. It could go into vbacs more as they are becoming more popular and studies show that they are safe and can be successful and so on, but I don't think that is the authors goal.

Explained what I went through by K. Oransky

5 Stars
June 24, 2008
I was looking for a book that would tell me more than just the politically correct viewpoint of c-sections, and I found it in this one. The information on recovery was particularly good. Even though it didn't cover the reason for my c-section (cord presentation), or what one of my best friends experienced during her delivery (vasa previa), I felt it did give me plenty of information about other reasons a c-section might be used. Best of all, it didn't give the usual "sorry about that, honey....maybe next time you can have a VBAC and finally be a REAL woman" tone when it came to discussions about what could happen with subsequent births. That alone made it a must-read for anyone recovering from the procedure.

good information for cesarean mothers by Richard C. Downes (Blue Mountains Australia)

5 Stars
June 12, 2008
I came across this book when we were awaiting the birth of our first child two years ago. Cesarean was a possibility. In the end it wasn't needed but we got a very good idea about what the operation involves, the risks and expectations for all the family. I would recommend it not only to prospective mothers but to all their family.Jayne (and Richard)

SIMILAR PRODUCTS

	The Essential C-Section Guide: Pain Control, Healing at Home, Getting Your Body Back, and Everything Else You Need to Know About a Cesarean Birth by Maureen Connolly (Author), Dana Sullivan (Author) The rate of c-section births has risen dramatically in the United States, accounting for more than twenty-four percent of deliveries in 2001. Yet there is no up-to-date book on the market dedicated to undergoing and recovering from the most commonly performed surgery in the U.S. Now two veteran journalists in health, parenting, and fitness have teamed up to create a candid and carefully researched guide for the nearly one million mothers facing or recovering from a cesarean. Covering...
	Cesarean Recovery by Chrissie Gallagher-Mundy (Author) The complete guide to a healthy recovery from the effects of C-section birthing. Almost 1 out of 4 deliveries is by cesarean section. Whether or not the procedure is planned, cesarean section must be considered major abdominal surgery and surgical recovery is a necessary process towards complete healing. Cesarean Recovery guides new mothers through the healing process in conjunction with her medical care. The new mother will discover when and how to start her recovery...
	Jennifer Gianni's Fusion Pilates for Post Pregnancy & C-Section Recovery Starring: Jennifer Gianni Directed By: Angelo Gianni Get back into shape after pregnancy! Real Hospital Footage First Six Weeks Plan A MUST for getting back your pre-pregnant body. Includes real footage of Jennifer immediately after her C-Section offering tips on what to expect and how to care for yourself during your hospital stay. Also includes a SAFE First Six Weeks Exercise Plan, which will gently prepare you for Jennifer’s Main Post Pregnancy Workout. This unique and inspiring workout: • Includes a First Six Weeks Exercise...
	What If I Have a C-Section? by Rita Rubin (Author), Mark Landon (Author) An award-winning health writer answers all the questions a pregnant mom may have about this increasingly performed procedure-now used in nearly one in every four births Thirty years ago, 1 in 20 babies was born by a c-section. Today that number has swelled to almost 1 in 4. Yet despite the steep rise in C-sections, there are very few books available to help moms-to-be sort out their options, allay their fears, and navigate their way through this serious and emotionally complex...
	Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care by Jennifer Block (Author) A groundbreaking narrative investigation of childbirth in the age of machines, malpractice, and managed care, Pushed presents the complete picture of maternity care in America. From inside the operating room of a hospital with a 44% Cesarean rate to the living room floor of a woman who gives birth with an illegal midwife, Block exposes a system in which few women have an optimal experience. Pushed surveys the public health impact of routine labor inductions, C-sections, and epidurals, but also...