Book Review: Your Best Birth By Ricki Lake And Abby Epstein

Review by Marta Hoelscher

One thing I really liked about this book was that the authors used a very down-to-earth tone and language that provided a very matter of fact, real look at their personal experiences and also those of other women. Without using a lot of medical terminology they really laid out what an expectant mother can expect of the birthing process. This book is all about knowing what your options are in regard to giving birth. The authors help to sort through the reasons hospitals give for procedures while giving birth. Knowing these things ahead of time will help the expectant mother to sort through explanations in that stressful time.

As the authors explain, Your Best Birth will--

"explore the full spectrum of choices you have in giving birth."

The authors define a--

"best birth" as "one where you feel empowered because you know all your options and are confident in the decisions you have made about your birth."

The author's state:

"we believe that you can place the health and well-being of your newborn as your highest priority and still have an optimal, empowering experience that is right for you both - whether that is in your bed, in your bathtub, in a hospital room, or on an operating table."

This isn't your regular pregnancy book. This book does not walk you through the stages of labor, but instead explores your options and empowers you to make choices that you'll feel good about even after the birth of your child.

I wish that this book had been around 20 years ago when I had my kids, it might have saved me from two C-sections. I think for most of us being able to have some control in a stressful, sometimes frightening situation is a plus and anything that can help us in that respect is a valuable resource.

Kudos to Rikki Lake and Abby Epstein for putting together this book for mothers out there who are wanting more out of their birth experience.

About Ricki Lake:
Actress, producer, filmmaker and author Ricki Lake has reinvented herself at every stage of her 20 year career. Lake has gone from starring in the 80s classic Hairspray to hosting the long-running Ricki Lake talk show for 11 years—while continuing to star in feature films and appear in television projects. Lake has again evolved her career—this time to include birth advocate, documentarian and author with the recent releases of the critically-acclaimed film The Business of Being Born and pregnancy guide, Your Best Birth. Proving that her entertainment influence will always be multi-hyphenated, she presently hosts and executive produces the Vh1 hit series, Charm School with Ricki Lake.

About Abby Epstein:
Director and Producer Abby Epstein helmed the acclaimed documentary The Business of Being Born, executive produced by Ricki Lake. The success of the film inspired Abby and Ricki’s recent book, Your Best Birth. Abby made her film directing debut at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival with the documentary feature, Until the Violence Stops. On Broadway, Abby spent four years as the resident director of the musical RENT, overseeing the London premiere and two National Tours. She directed RENT in Mexico City, Barcelona and Madrid. Off Broadway, Abby directed over 100 celebrity actresses in The Vagina Monologues along with the National tour and premieres in Toronto and Mexico City.

Book Review: Your Best Birth: Know All Your Options, Discover the Natural Choices, and Take Back the Birth Experience (Grand Central Pub-Wellness Central/ May 2009) by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein

Ricki Lake Launches Exclusive Celebrity Webisode Series: MyBestBirth.com

An Interview With Talk Show Host and Mother Ricki Lake

Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein Take Back Their Birth Experience

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