Labor Pain: What's Your Best Strategy?

Get the Data. Make a Plan. Take Charge of Your Birth (The Take Charge of Your Birth Series)

By: Henci Goer

Narrated by: Henci Goer, Sarah Beth Goer

For fans of Emily Oster's Expecting Better and Penny Simkin's works.

Plenty of pregnancy and birth books tell you what to expect during birth. This guide, though, is one of the few to delve deeply into one topic, delivering up-to-date access to the best medical research. In this data-driven birth book, award-winning childbirth writer and educator Henci Goer brings her 30-plus years of experience analyzing the obstetric research to the table, delivering the most thorough synthesis on the market. Yet she structures the book thoughtfully so you can take in information however suits you. Dig into every detail or skip to the summaries. Hear about every topic or jump to the ones that interest you most. Henci creates a judgment-free zone where you're in the driver's seat.

And she won't just provide the information you need to choose among your options, she'll also give you practical strategies for developing your plan and putting it into action. You'll know what you want, why you want it, and how best to get it—how to have the birth that fits best for you.

Inside, you'll find:

• Thorough, up-to-date, researched-based information on every strategy: epidurals, combined spinal-epidurals, opioids, nitrous oxide, and non-drug childbirth pain relief options.
• Advantages and disadvantages of those strategies—including pros and cons your doctor or midwife may not mention!
• Practical, actionable advice preparing you to implement your plan once you've made it.
• A comprehensive table comparing each of your pain relief options side-by-side, letting you see at a glance how the methods stack up against each other in terms of degree of pain relief, cost, side effects, effect on the baby, and more.
• Info useful to first-time and experienced parents alike.

You're the best person to decide what's right for you. Here's your opportunity to get the data. Make a plan. And take charge of your birth.

©2022 Henci Goer (P)2022 S Press

Critic reviews

"Henci has always impressed me with her intellect, knowledge, wisdom, humor, and writing skills. I'm thrilled these gifts will be available to readers in her Take Charge of Your Birth series." (Penny Simkin, co-author of Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn and author of The Birth Partner)

Great information for all pregnant women!

As a doula of over 20 years, I was very familiar with the author, Henci Goer.. She wrote a wonderful book in the past called The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth. It was a marvelous work. I was attracted to this new book because I know she would have a good solid core of information and research. I love the way that she separated the book into the standard chapters and then the deep dive chapters so that you can look at what you are interested in or how deep you want to go. I also like that there is a PDF offered with illustrations and pictures. This is a must read for anyone who is considering what their birth plan will look like. It is balanced and filled with research. Henci also challenges the standard thoughts about research in some areas and I appreciate that. It might be hard to listen to an audio if you're trying to digest this information. The audio form worked well for me since I already have the base of knowledge.

Excellent book!

Henci Goer has a wonderful way of giving all of the information and letting you choose the option that best fits your birth goals. As a birth professional, I highly recommend this book to expecting people and other birth professionals. Excellent book!

The information was easy to understand gave me the confidence to apply the knowledge

Wish the accompanying pdf was available through the book description or a way to access easily.

Transparency of Medicine

Very informative on the pros and cons on multiple drugs used during labor and delivery. Pros and cons for Epidurals. Henci tried to be a transparent and not sway readers with her biased viewpoint so readers can come to their own conclusions on whether or not to use drugs/epidurals during labor.

Highly recommend!

I am so thankful I found this book. I loved listening to the audible. It’s a short listen. It was very informative and to the point. I especially enjoyed the deeper dive sections. I now feel confident and educated on my intentions for dealing with labor pain during birth.