Most moms prepare for childbirth by taking a childbirth class.  However, I felt that the amount of information given about pain relief alternatives was very basic and certainly not enough to help me make an informed decision.  William Camann, MD, and Kathryn Alexander, MA, have authored a book titled “Easy Labor - Every Woman’s Guide to Choosing Less Pain and More Joy During Childbirth” which every pregnant woman should read prior to delivery!

I feel both incredibly qualified and incredibly unqualified to review this book.  Qualified, in the sense that I am very familiar with Dr. Camann, as he actually did my spinal for my first c-section.  However, having had two c-sections, I am unqualified in that I did not experience much choice in my pain relief options.  But, I do know what it was like before I knew I was having a c-section, thinking that I wanted an epidural but not really knowing what that entailed or what other options were.

Easy Labor is the most comprehensive guide to childbirth pain relief that I could ever imagine.  The authors do a fabulous job of including quotes from woman and experts all around the country that offer varying opinions.  Furthermore, the authors themselves discuss the pros and cons of every option.  I especially like that they included a section on pain relief during a c-section.  Reading through that chapter literally sent chills down my spine - the descriptions were so accurate from my experience!

I highly recommend that all soon to be moms purchase and read this book to help prepare for the big day!  You can find Easy Labor - Every Woman’s Guide to Choosing Less Pain and More Joy During Childbirth at Amazon.com.