Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
Top-selling childbirth advice books: a discourse analysis
Holly Powell Kennedy1, Katrina Nardini, Rebecca McLeod-Waldo
1Yale University School of Nursing, 100 Church Street South, PO Box 9740, New Haven, CT 06536-0740, USA.
Popular childbirth books offer varied advice, with uneven scientific accuracy. Women and healthcare providers should critically evaluate these resources for informed maternity care decisions.
Area of Science:
- Maternity Care Practices
- Health Communication
- Discourse Analysis
Background:
- One-third of women access pregnancy and childbirth information via books.
- Popular childbirth books disseminate messages about normal birth experiences.
- Limited research exists on the content of these influential books.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze childbirth discussions in top-selling United States books.
- To identify common themes and discourse patterns in childbirth literature.
Main Methods:
- Discourse analysis was employed.
- 10 best-selling US childbirth advice books were examined.
- Books targeted at childbearing women were analyzed from November 2007.
Main Results:
- Book styles varied from clinical to anecdotal.
- Scientific evidence presentation was inconsistent and sometimes inaccurate.
- Key discourse areas included body image, labor, pain, control, and motherhood preparation.
Conclusions:
- Top-selling books reflect current US maternity care trends.
- Critical assessment by women and professionals is advised.
- Engagement with book recommendations is crucial for understanding childbirth implications.
More Related Videos
07:56Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
07:11Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling
Published on: February 5, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Parenting Styles
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative Parenting
This...
Fetal Circulation
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
Milgram's Obedience to Authority
Development of the Oral Microbiota
Horney's Sociocultural Approach
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Anal