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Grantly Dick-Read
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Childbirth without Fear: The Principles and Practice of Natural Childbirth (Import) Paperback – July 1, 2005

by Grantly Dick-Read (Author), Michel Odent (Foreword)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 118 ratings
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In an age where birth has often been overtaken by obstetrics, Dr Dick-Read's philosophy is still as fresh as it was when he originally wrote this book. He unpicks every possible root cause of western woman's fear and anxiety in pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding and does so with overwhelming heart and empathy. Essential reading for all mothers-to-be!
Previous page
  1. Print length
    352 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pinter & Martin Ltd.
  4. Publication date
    July 1, 2005
  5. Dimensions
    5.22 x 0.73 x 7.86 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0953096467
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0953096466
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

The most influential birthing book of the last 100 years. (Fit Pregnancy)

From the Publisher

'Reading Childbirth without Fear at age 16 provided me with the basis of knowledge of childbirth that I used as a first-time mother and still use as a midwife of more than 35 years. A brilliant, courageous classic that is still relevant today.' Ina May Gaskin - author of Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

'Childbirth Without Fear is the book that began the childbirth revolution. Dr. Grantly Dick-Read's insights about women, their bodies and birth began the transformation of pregnancy and birth. Though we are still at the beginning of this long battle, the reprint of Dick-Read's masterpiece will help.' Jan Tritton - editor Midwifery Today

'So great was my fear of childbirth that as a young girl I decided I would never have children. All that changed when at the age of 18 my husband-to-be presented me with a copy of Childbirth without Fear. I remember so clearly turning the pages and feeling my fear suddenly subside. I will always be grateful to Grantly Dick-Read for opening my eyes to the truth about birth.' Laura Shanley - author Unassisted Childbirth

'Dr Grantly Dick-Read has always been an inspiration to me. His humanity, love and above all faith in women and their innate mothering skills is truly remarkable. In an age where birth has often been overtaken by obstetrics Dr Dick-Read’s philosophy is still as fresh as it was when he originally wrote this book. I highly recommend it.' Yehudi Gordon - obstetrician & author

‘A fascinating insight into normal birth at a time when endorphins were not known, modern midwifery did not exist and women had already learned to fear labour. Dick-Read, possibly the world’s first childbirth activist, celebrates women’s innate capacity for safe and easy birth in a challenging book that will excite, amaze, infuriate and uplift its readers.' Andrea Robertson - independent childbirth educator and author

'A 21st century edition of this historic - even legendary - book must be warmly welcomed.' Michel Odent - obstetrician and author

'When I was heavily pregnant with my first child 25 years ago this book fell into my hands. That was the start of my belief in natural childbirth which eventually led to four great births of my own and the founding of my life's work in the Active Birth Movement. Grantly Dick-Read's message is inspirational and even more relevant today than when this book was first published. Every pregnant mother should read it.' Janet Balaskas - Author of New Active Birth

'Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how birth education started as well as the vision that stimulated the birth movement. Dick-Read remains an inspiration for the humanisation of childbirth.' Sheila Kitzinger - author

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pinter & Martin Ltd.; 4th Revised edition (July 1, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0953096467
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0953096466
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.22 x 0.73 x 7.86 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 118 ratings

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Grantly Dick-Read

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
118 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Elizabeth
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read for All Doctors and Women
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2006
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This book describes why and how all women can and should go through pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and all of their reproductive functions without fear or pain, but rather in joy. While acknowledging the hard work and courage involved, the author (Grantly Dick-Read, by the way- only the forward is by Michel Odent) writes to help women understand what is happening in their bodies as they make their babies.

The Philosophy of the Book

What I love about this book is that the author continually re-emphasizes his faith in women, and his belief that all women are strong enough to successfully bear healthy, happy children and that this is one of their great purposes and one of the great joys of humankind.

Above all the author seems to have used his common sense when writing. He respects the common sense and experience (though not always supersitions) of ordinary women around the world, especially those who have successfully borne children happily and without pain or fear. I love that he points out that no male OBGYN has never actually done this- though being a doctor himself he does respect medical science for what it can provide.

The book has a healthy respect of religion and Dr. Dick-Read includes an entire chapter on the curse of pain on Eve and the translation of the Bible on this particular point. Humanists can skip this chapter if they don't care and I think they will find the book very inspiring from the humanist/naturalist point of view. A number of times I felt like there should be a Walt Whitman poem inserted at the beginning or end of a chapter.

Informative

It contains sections on psychological preparationg for childbirth, good nutrition, how to prepare physically for labor, pregnancy, childbirth and related issues around the world and in modern society, breastfeeding, and other related topics. There are a number of stories of happy, healthy deliveries.

Not a Reference Book

The book is not a reference book. It has a number of benefits (including the force of a well-argued essay that will help to convince people with lingering fears) that reference books do not, and there IS an index. However if you want a reference book you would want to get that in addition to this.

Old Fashioned Style?

Some commented that the style is old-fashioned. I would just emphasize that this only refers to the *style* (think: C.S. Lewis or Bertrand Russell), and not the vocabulary. The book is obviously targeted at the general population and there are not a lot of fancy words.

I am seven months pregnant and I am so happy to have found this book. It's alleviated so many of my fears and given me so much solid information. I would recommend it to all pregnant women, even if they think they can't finish the whole book before they give birth, and to their husbands.
65 people found this helpful
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gloria
5.0 out of 5 stars Gift
Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2023
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I read this book over 50 years ago and swear it helped me with a very easy childbirth, bought it for a friend
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seven girl
5.0 out of 5 stars Good for any soon to be mother!
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2010
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I'm having my first child in July and we're having a home birth.
This book was recommended by some friends so I bought it.

It really gets to the heart of the matter on where fear of childbirth comes from and how we can deal with it and why why should not be afraid of a normal, event of life. Whether you are having a hospital birth or a home birth, I HIGHLY recommend reading this book.

As women, we've grown up learning that childbirth is dangerous, horrible, painful and stressful and something that we dread looking ahead to...when we should really be anticipating this day with excitment without fear.

The writer is from the early 1900's so the language is a bit different then we're used to in modern times here, but just focus and stick with it and it will be of great value. I'm very glad I purcased it.
11 people found this helpful
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Warrior Mama
3.0 out of 5 stars A Bit Disappointing: Medical Appeal vs. Practical Guide
Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2010
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Obviously many people who are proponents of natural childbirth have read and loved this book. It was because of them that I bought and read it. (It has quite an impressive list of reviewer comments on the back jacket.)

I am a Bradley-trained mother-to-be and plan to deliver naturally, and have read several recommended resources to help prepare for this experience which I am very excited about. This book was one such recommended resource, but I think that while it was very interesting and I liked the message that he had, I would have found a lot more value in it had I been a class instructor, midwife, someone unconvinced about natural childbirth, etc. vs. an individual already on-board with natural childbirth philosophy who's looking for practical guidance for my own birth experience. (For anyone who's interested in other suggestions, my husband and I found Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way to be the most helpful resource we read.)

Pros: eloquently written, sensible and heartfelt appeal to the medical community to not interfere with what doesn't need interference, philosophy believes in the inherent strength, grace, and capacity of women, challenges assumptions about experiencing pain in labor/interpreting strong sensations as pain, challenges blanket dispensing of pain relief in labor and points out there's no way it won't affect the baby at some level

Cons: modern context needs a lot of translating - not medically current (eg - includes exercises for pregnant women that include lying on one's back), written ABOUT women instead of FOR them - this seems like a manual or series of articles that were written for the benefit of his contemporary peers, a bit all-or-nothing: if a woman experiences anything uncomfortable in pregnancy or labor & delivery it is because neuroses have been planted in her and she has been deprived of the proper education to overcome them (eg - morning sickness, labor pains - anyone who is properly enlightened should not experience these and other common complaints), pooh-poohs techniques that others claim work (eg hypnosis) and goes to great length to describe why he doesn't think those ways should work (ironically hypocritical much? :-) )

Not a bad read, but if I had it to do over I'd personally skip it.
10 people found this helpful
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A. R. Triolo
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2008
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My mother recommended this book to me, as I expect my first child. Reading it I have been so surprised by the genuine, simple, respectful way that Dick-Read approaches his topic. So many of the books I have read on the topic of pregnancy, childbirth and nursing tell you what you NEED/MUST/HAVE to do, in very argumentative language. Not so with this one. Dick-Read speaks in beautiful language of the awe he feels in the delivery room, basing his advice not on absolutes or dogmatic tenets but on his extensive experience with laboring women, their emotional and physical state and what he has seen to be helpful to them. I find Childbirth Without Fear is a comforting read that helps me to understand and appreciate my state of life, to view it as natural and beautiful more than scary and terrifying.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Coquelicot
5.0 out of 5 stars Informatif, inspirant et rassurant
Reviewed in France on February 10, 2018
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Envoi dans les temps. Livre en anglais avec de nombreuses informations sur la réalité de la naissance, des conseils pour vivre ce moment sereinement et de manière sécure.
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Stelahh
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, fast delivery
Reviewed in Canada on March 10, 2016
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Fabulous book...I actually had a pain free birth because of this book (which became worn and tattered from lending) and purchased this for my daughter these thirty years later.
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sb
5.0 out of 5 stars If you want a drug free birth, BUY THIS BOOK.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 27, 2015
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An amazing book which is totally relevant in this day and age, sadly little progress has been made since it was written and most women are still having long, painful and eventually intervention filled births due to lack of education. The book is written from a scientific point of view and promotes natural birth because it is safer for both mother and baby in the short and long term. Dick-Read stresses many times that this only applies to straightforward pregnancies and if there are any medical complications then whatever assistance is required must of course be given. Contrary to many people's thinking, he also does not try to force drug free labour on mothers, in fact he states that pain relief should always be freely available to the mother so she may have it if she wants it. His argument is that through understanding the labour process and the benefits of learning to manage contractions women will choose not to use the drugs.

All I can say is that I have had 3 drug free labours that I remember perfectly and experienced fully. I re read the book in the last month of each of my pregnancies and practised breathing techniques. My labours, while uncomfortable at points and hard work are not an unpleasant memory at all. I have given this book to 2 other pregnant friends who both had drug free, natural births too. BUY THIS BOOK.
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Eve
5.0 out of 5 stars This is an importnant book to have
Reviewed in Canada on November 4, 2018
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Amazing info. Get this book for all pregnant moms.
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Oksana
5.0 out of 5 stars Helps to overcome the fear
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 20, 2012
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I would highly recommend this book together with the "Natural Childbirth the Bradley way" to every woman planning to give birth without any interventions (whether at hospital or at home) or any woman who wants to be confident about her ability to give birth without any drugs, stimulation or pain killers. The most important things in natural birth are overcoming the fear and ability to relax - both books describe perfectly how the labour works and what the body does, which gives n full understanding and control to a woman in labour. Childbirth without fear helps to understand that childbirth is a natural process and helps to ovedrcome the fear of labour while the Bradley way describes mechanics of labour and helps with relaxations tecniques.

Personally I not only had a natural childbirth but also enjoyed this amazing moments of welcoming my baby to the world thanks to these books.
If you are planning natural childbirth - these 2 books is enough to prepare you for the labour and inspire a confidence and strength.
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