This is one of those books that I tried to read for a LONG time but never made enough time to finish. Thanks to this challenge I decided to MAKE myself finish it.

I found it to be really informative, interesting and easy to read! Very different from the usual pregnancy and birth books. She tells fictional birth stories based on how things were during different times in history. She's also very straightforward in telling about the history of midwifery, what role religion played in the disappearance of midwives and how birth became a medical event. It also has the 'usual' information such as how birth is usually a normal, natural occurence and how to avoid interventions.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone in the birth field but especially those NEW to it and wanting to know a little bit of the history surrounding birth and the treatment of women. I would also love it if EVERY birth professional (L&D nurses, OBs, etc.) read it!

I read this book quite some time ago and I really enjoyed it. There was a lot of history of birth and it really helps you figure out why we are where we are today with maternity care. As a newer doula the information helped me to understand where the doctors we so often disagree with are coming from. Not to justify practicing non evidence-based medicine but at least you can understand how we got where we are at without feeling like doctors really don't care about their patients and have no interest in their health.