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A review by pppaigeee
Birth: Three Mothers, Nine Months, and Pregnancy in America by Rebecca Grant
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.