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hollydyer328's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I loved this! Great writing, reporting, and researching. I was not expecting the focus on midwifery / birth centers but it was convincing. This book goes deep into the experiences, emotions, and flaws of maternal care in America, including racial inequities and the Black maternal experience. Through these three pregnant women, Rebecca Grant shows the many highs and lows, as well as how different the pregnancy experience can be between women. This brought me back to my pregnancy days and my birth experience with a reflective fondness. I definitely want to see what Rebecca Grant does next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit
letsgetsomechickens's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
4.5
Admittedly, I am a birth nerd.
But I loved this book. It’s well researched and thoughtfully written, weaving three deeply personal narratives with facts, statistics and the history of midwifery/obstetrics in America.
Since it’s newly published, it contains the most up to date statistics (and let’s face it - they’re not great.)
On a personal note - this book follows three women due in March 2021, when I was also pregnant. That little tidbit definitely made me enjoy this book even more - and it turns out my son was born only a few hours after one of the babies in the book. I relished the labor and delivery chapters - the blunt honesty of the descriptions resonated with me deeply.
But I loved this book. It’s well researched and thoughtfully written, weaving three deeply personal narratives with facts, statistics and the history of midwifery/obstetrics in America.
Since it’s newly published, it contains the most up to date statistics (and let’s face it - they’re not great.)
On a personal note - this book follows three women due in March 2021, when I was also pregnant. That little tidbit definitely made me enjoy this book even more - and it turns out my son was born only a few hours after one of the babies in the book. I relished the labor and delivery chapters - the blunt honesty of the descriptions resonated with me deeply.
pppaigeee's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really fascinating read! Very readable and very informative, and I loved the way Rebecca Grant weaved together individual stories with elements of history, medicine, and sociology. I learned a lot! The focus on midwifery and birth center births was also really interesting. That focus made the stories feel cohesive, but at times I did find myself wishing there was more about why someone might choose a hospital birth too, and wishing there was a greater diversity of experiences represented.
The author includes an introductory statement about gender inclusivity, and she does comment on the increased obstacles that queer families face in pursuing good reproductive healthcare. I do still wish there was more inclusivity of queer families throughout the entire book, though, and of pregnant people who do not identify as women—it felt more like a last-minute add-in than a sustained effort. However, the introductory statement still makes this book more inclusive than a lot of books on the subject of birth, and I did appreciate it.
Overall, Birth is a compelling, well-researched, and accessible introduction to the world of birth centers and midwives, as well as to the more general experience of giving birth in the United States, and the stories at the heart of the book are well-told and a pleasure to read. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about this world, and especially anyone considering going to a birth center or midwife themself.
Thank you to Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
The author includes an introductory statement about gender inclusivity, and she does comment on the increased obstacles that queer families face in pursuing good reproductive healthcare. I do still wish there was more inclusivity of queer families throughout the entire book, though, and of pregnant people who do not identify as women—it felt more like a last-minute add-in than a sustained effort. However, the introductory statement still makes this book more inclusive than a lot of books on the subject of birth, and I did appreciate it.
Overall, Birth is a compelling, well-researched, and accessible introduction to the world of birth centers and midwives, as well as to the more general experience of giving birth in the United States, and the stories at the heart of the book are well-told and a pleasure to read. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about this world, and especially anyone considering going to a birth center or midwife themself.
Thank you to Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
jess_burns's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
2.75
Relies too heavily on Emily Oster.
Would have been a better book if it made connections between where it talks about inequities & outcomes and the narratives this book tells - who has an easy pregnancy, who has a harder birth & recovery are all very "of course" but the connections aren't explored.
Would have been a better book if it made connections between where it talks about inequities & outcomes and the narratives this book tells - who has an easy pregnancy, who has a harder birth & recovery are all very "of course" but the connections aren't explored.