I'm undecided on whether I want to try for a natural birth -- I'd certainly like to give it a go, but I'm pretty terrified of pain and all that. However, I think there are definitely benefits to learning about all types of techniques and approaches, no matter what I end up doing. However, I am definitely giving birth in a hospital and am using a combination practice with 2 OBs and 2 midwives, so I'd have one of them delivering -- maybe an OB, maybe a midwife. I have no problem whatsoever with the idea of an OB delivering, and am very comfortable with our practice so far. I've heard wonderful things about the doctors' approach in the delivery room. So basically, I'm not anti-medical, anti-OB, anti-hospital, etc.

Are there any books available that present a wide range of information regarding birth options, without condemning doctors and nurses and hospitals and women who choose pain medicine? Lots of what I've read about so far seems vociferous in its opinion about anything other than natural home birth, like it's written for somebody that's already made up their mind. And I really just want to read a birth-centered book (or two) that introduces me to different ideas and techniques and helps me feel comfortable with whatever decision I make. I have the Mayo Clinic book but it just basically treats the birth as a small section, with like, "You might want to go natural or you might not, whatever." I'm looking for something that focuses on labor and delivery and the immediate postpartum experience.

This is all to say, I have absolutely no problem with women who choose natural, no doctor, etc. I just know that I want some sort of happy medium, and would like to know if there's anything out there that caters to middle-of-the-road people like me without trying to scare the crap out of them