Book Jacket

 

rank 5456
word count 16393
date submitted 31.01.2009
date updated 10.02.2009
genres: Non-fiction, Popular Culture, Instr...
classification: universal
incomplete

A Birth Day: 40 Births For Your 40 Weeks

Amanda Murray

A rare woman gives birth in less than thirty minutes (with commercial breaks!)... yet that's the most common depiction of birth in our society.

 

In the past century, birth in America has shifted from the home to the sterile, foreign hospital setting. Instead of being able to labor comfortably in familiar settings, attended to by experienced and loving women, we are giving birth surrounded by strangers with unexpected interventions. With this change came a blurring of the knowledge base for most women regarding labor and delivery, and an unexpected fear of the process. Pregnancy is an exciting, overwhelming time... and often terrifying as well. Many questions plague the mind of the mother (and the father!): How will my labor progress? Will I push long? Can I handle the pain? These birth memoirs, written by real women in their own words, can't answer those questions - but can offer a greater understanding of what to expect. "A Birth Day" leads expectant parents to learn more about the process of birth, in the unedited words of those who have been through it, ultimately empowering them to make the best decisions for the most fulfilling birth experience.

 
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tags

baby, birth, delivery, epidural, father, labor, memoir, mother, non-fiction, obstetrics, pregnancy, stories

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7 comments

 

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yvettef wrote 1095 days ago

Hi Amanda,
This is my first comment on the site...I'm brand new...so hopefully, I will be doing things correctly. My plan is to give comments on what worked for me and areas that I think might be improved.

What worked - I think any mother or expectant mother wants to know as much about birthing as possible. This book will allow for the accounts of several varied experiences, which I think will be informational and beneficial for mothers-to-be. It's an interesting anthology. I'm not sure how you got your stories, but you may want to open it up for new mothers to submit their own stories -- everyone has a unique experience and likes to share.

What might be improved - I would stay consistent in the way the stories are presented (ie. either have them all in "diary" format or all as a descriptive account of the birth.) Keep them pretty similar in pace and length, but have them each be unique - and maybe include a one-liner summary for each birth experience. It looks like these stories were all written by the actual mothers. While this is authentic, the fact is that some people are better writers than others. It helps to have humor and a unique story. Otherwise, it may end up being very similar to what someone would read on an internet forum.

Nice work!

Jilli wrote 1177 days ago

A brilliant idea, when you are pregnant everybody has a horror story, but few stories about easy births, all mine were easy - 3 homebirths in a birthing pool my longest labour 1 hr 20 mins,and I am always happy to tell people about it if it helps women be positive.

Strauss wrote 1180 days ago

Hello! I haven't had a child, but I do love hearing about other people's experiences. I figure it might help me to get through it if I am ever lucky enough to be a mother! Shelved. Good luck... Straussy

Jewelsdesk wrote 1206 days ago

Congratulations on getting all the stories put together! The stories bring back so many memories of my 5 pregnancies, but reminds me how different each and every one can be. This is a great collection for any new mother to be, or even for the expecting "veteran" mother to be!
Jewels

AnniaL wrote 1208 days ago

Hello Amanda,
I read all of what you have up here last night but I was too tired to comment.
This is great! I love reading birth stories! Love it. I could read them all day! Reading these stories made me remember the 3 births I went through and all through reading, I kept thinking 'Oh, I'd go through it again!'. My last child was born in water, which was a complete spiritual experience for me!
Thank you for sharing these moments with us and for making me take a walk down much missed 'memory lane'!!! So, it;'s on my shelf!
Take care and I wish you all the best. If you had more up there, I'd read it!
Annia ;-)

Zancudo wrote 1209 days ago

I've been a midwife since 1980 and I'm a mom of seven. There's nothing I like better than birth stories! Lots of women love to read them when pregnant and every mother I know will tell her birth story at the slightest encouragement. It's part of our herstory and a way to transmit cultural wisdom. Thank you for this valuable contribution!

justcallmedaisy wrote 1209 days ago

Hi Amanda, I think the more parents who are made aware about pregnancy and birth the better. An a fantastic idea to do so through people who have already experienced it. I feel it really brings educational books alive and gives opportunity to connect to the reader. If you are stilll wanting a story then let me know.

I wish you all the best with your Midwifery training. I am a student nurse who originally wanted to pursue Midwifery. However, they only accept a few people each intake here making it very difficult to secure a place. Good Luck.

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