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beckyemma's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
An AMAZING book that I really enjoyed reading. About her training, about family, about various woman who she helped with birth, colleagues, various notes on all sorts of topics related to midwifery and pregnancy, and also lastly why she keeps going despite everything (because things aren't always good and the hours are long and it is just too much and the government needs to do things). It was really interesting to read and I am so glad I found this book and got it. This is a book that made me laugh, giggle, but also cry. Because birth can go all ways, but also some of these women have some horrible stories (like the girl who was trafficked or the woman whose vagina was mutilated).
I would highly recommend it.
I would highly recommend it.
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Hard to forget. A warts-and-all exposé of life inside an NHS labour ward. Emotionally wringing, it hits home.
We all know that the NHS is stretched. Most of us accept that the people within it are doing the best they can under insurmountable odds and ever-changing goalposts. Leah Hazard takes us inside the stirring doors of the maternity suites, where tears are shed and lives are changed. And where midwives give their hearts and bodies to bring babies into the world safely.
For any parent, this is an affecting read. Having been in these wards twice, I could see that I had not really seen everything around me that staff were doing, and just how punishing a career it is.
Hazard takes us through the embarrassments and trials of the student midwife, then through case studies of various prospective mothers and their stories, some shocking, some moving, all very real. The story though isn't the mothers and their babies, but how the midwives supporting them work on their behalf constantly, even to their own physical and mental detriment.
I admit to breaking down a few times whilst reading this. It would be hard not to. Hazard's honesty and self-effacing style are impassioned and evocative. Her memories of long shifts, working through exhaustion and fever, queues of mothers with nowhere to be sent, running to stand still... it not only moves the reader but made me angry.
There were moments of lighthearted joy and delight as well. A colleague "recognised my Groundhog Day glaze when she came into the room" 'Same old sh*t, different shovel." These are professionals, struggling in a vocation that spits them out mercilessly.
I would consider this a rather important book for our government and health authorities to peruse, without needing to enter the hospital corridors themselves, they will soon understand the problems from Hazard's own experiences.
Don't read this expecting an Adam Kay 'This is Going to Hurt' laugh-fest... while there are a few moments of hilarity, the shock and sorrow, sweat and slog demonstrated here puts this in another category.
Hard to shake, this will leave you respecting the profession and its weary residents even more than we do already.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
We all know that the NHS is stretched. Most of us accept that the people within it are doing the best they can under insurmountable odds and ever-changing goalposts. Leah Hazard takes us inside the stirring doors of the maternity suites, where tears are shed and lives are changed. And where midwives give their hearts and bodies to bring babies into the world safely.
For any parent, this is an affecting read. Having been in these wards twice, I could see that I had not really seen everything around me that staff were doing, and just how punishing a career it is.
Hazard takes us through the embarrassments and trials of the student midwife, then through case studies of various prospective mothers and their stories, some shocking, some moving, all very real. The story though isn't the mothers and their babies, but how the midwives supporting them work on their behalf constantly, even to their own physical and mental detriment.
I admit to breaking down a few times whilst reading this. It would be hard not to. Hazard's honesty and self-effacing style are impassioned and evocative. Her memories of long shifts, working through exhaustion and fever, queues of mothers with nowhere to be sent, running to stand still... it not only moves the reader but made me angry.
There were moments of lighthearted joy and delight as well. A colleague "recognised my Groundhog Day glaze when she came into the room" 'Same old sh*t, different shovel." These are professionals, struggling in a vocation that spits them out mercilessly.
I would consider this a rather important book for our government and health authorities to peruse, without needing to enter the hospital corridors themselves, they will soon understand the problems from Hazard's own experiences.
Don't read this expecting an Adam Kay 'This is Going to Hurt' laugh-fest... while there are a few moments of hilarity, the shock and sorrow, sweat and slog demonstrated here puts this in another category.
Hard to shake, this will leave you respecting the profession and its weary residents even more than we do already.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
sineadisreadingagain's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
odettebrethouwer's review against another edition
5.0
Mijn goede leesvoornemen van dit jaar was om zuinig te zijn met mijn 5*. Om die alleen maar te geven aan boeken die me van mijn sokken bliezen, die me naar andere werelden transporteerden. Maar het boek dat me terugwerpt in mijn bevalbubbel, dat is de ultieme hoeveelheid sterren waard.
Wat een prachtig, echt, rauw boek over alle kanten van het vak van de verloskundige.
Wat een prachtig, echt, rauw boek over alle kanten van het vak van de verloskundige.
philippakmoore's review against another edition
4.0
Hard Pushed is a sensitive, thought-provoking and honest memoir. Leah trains as a midwife after having her own children and she is thrown in at the deep end, dealing with everything from stillbirths, FGM and human trafficking to a hippy named Star resisting any medical intervention during labour. After reading this book, you'll be very aware of the kinds of pressures midwives work under and why so many of them are sadly, but understandably, leaving the profession.
Importantly, it shines a bright light on the challenges facing every single hardworking employee of the NHS which is under-resourced to put it mildly. This book is one of many voices imploring not only the powers that be but we the people to fight for the NHS before the system well and truly crumbles.
If you enjoy the TV and book series Call the Midwife, you'll find this memoir of what it's like to work as a midwife in the UK today just as compelling.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.
Importantly, it shines a bright light on the challenges facing every single hardworking employee of the NHS which is under-resourced to put it mildly. This book is one of many voices imploring not only the powers that be but we the people to fight for the NHS before the system well and truly crumbles.
If you enjoy the TV and book series Call the Midwife, you'll find this memoir of what it's like to work as a midwife in the UK today just as compelling.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.
karentipsy's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic book, really captures the highs and lows of working in the medical field. I particularly liked the part where the surgeon gave her a guided tour of a patient's abdomen - it reminded me of the many doctors and nurses who went out of their way to teach me.
Only downside is that quite a few stories end without telling us the outcome. I need the closure!
Only downside is that quite a few stories end without telling us the outcome. I need the closure!
bobinsbooknook's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
Finished this audio book in 2 days and found myself constantly intrigued! With a strong start, sprinkles of cheeky humour and whit, emotional and insightful stories - it is the perfect medical memoir.
This book was incredibly inspiring and even found myself questioning if I could be a widwife! I honestly didn’t realise how extensive the role of a midwife is and have the upmost respect for them!
Throughout I was in awe of Leah’s compassionate view into the world of midwifery covering the highs (Labour delivery joys, finding passion in career changes) and lows of the profession (child death and nurse burnout).
The only drawback to the audio book, is you don’t have the glossary to hand whilst reading which may otherwise have been useful for some stories but the book is written a way that is friendly to those outside of the profession to understand.
I Will certainly be looking to get my hands on a physical copy as I can definitely see myself reading this again and recommending to friends.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Trafficking
thatgirlkev's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0