Now that home birth has established itself as a viable alternative to hospital birth, Alice Gilgoff's acclaimed book has been completely revised, with the personal stories, historical perspective, practical advice, and warm style of the first edition updated to meet the challenges of the 90's. Through careful review of current research and personal accounts this competent and reassuring book covers all the issues: the advantages and disadvantages of home birth and the circumstances that make hospital birth advisable; the most commonly used methods of natural childbirth; the use of drugs, episiotomy, surgical intervention; breastfeeding upon demand, and family participation; how to arrange for a home birth attendant, how to prepare the house and family, and how to plan a contingency trip to a hospital; the services offered by organizations promoting home delivery; siblings at birth; pros and cons of amniocentesis, vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), postpartum depression, medical malpractice suits, and more.