Book report

Just added a book to the reading/read section.

This evening I finished reading BIRTH: A Surprising History of How We Are Born, by Tina Cassidy.

I am TERRIBLE at book reports, so I'm not sure how I want to sum it up in a few short sentences...

The author of this book, a journalist, was inspired by the somewhat traumatic birthing of her first child, and by learning, in the process of her pregnancy, about the experiences of the matriarchs that delivered before her. It is an "enlightening" though sometimes horrifying overview of the history of birthing practices and methods, and their influence on the development of some of the most common birthing techniques used today in medical and homeopathic realms. The author searches for answers to questions such as: "How did midwives go from being burned as witches to vaunted by yuppies? Who let men in the room? What does Titantic have to do with an ultrasound scan? Is there a link between Pitocin and autism? What did Queen Victoria have to do with epidurals? How is a woman's pelvis undermined by eating Big Macs? Were cesarean sections really named after Julius Cesar? Could it possibly be true that even in early twentieth century America, women delivering in hospitals were more likely to die there than if they had given birth at home? That poor women were used as obstetrical guinea pigs? That doctors use drugs to confine deliveries to banker's hours? That some women have orgasms with vaginal births?"

Reading this book would definitely help provide a broad spectrum of perspective to moms considering their options for giving birth. I think it's a fascinating subject, and though occasionally "gory", made for a fun, knowledge-enlarging read.It seems to be well-researched and is quite readable (no heady scientific jargon). I acquired it from the library's selection of pre-release books so, if you would like to read it, let me know and we can pass it around that way. Also, you may want to borrow an antique book about obstetrical nursing in the late 1800's: it has some really great pics of old equipments and methods( a gift from my father-in-law, an RN).