Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care
by: Jennifer Block
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Product Description:
In the United States, more than half the women who give birth are given drugs to induce or speed up labor; for nearly a third of mothers, childbirth is major surgery - the cesarean section. For women who want an alternative, choice is often unavailable: Midwives are sometimes inaccessible; in eleven states they are illegal. In one of those states, even birthing centers are outlawed.When did birth become an emergency instead of an emergence? Since when is normal, physiological birth a crime? A groundbreaking journalistic narrative, Pushed presents the complete picture of maternity care in America. Crisscrossing the country to report what women really experience during childbirth, Jennifer Block witnessed several births - from a planned cesarean to an underground home birth. Against this backdrop, Block investigates whether routine C-sections, inductions, and epidurals equal medical progress. She examines childbirth as a reproductive rights issue: Do women have the right to an optimal birth experience? If so, is that right being upheld? Block's research and experience reveal in vivid detail that while emergency obstetric care is essential, there is compelling evidence that we are overusing medical technology at the expense of maternal and infant health: Either women's bodies are failing, or the system is failing women.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Must Read
A well-written, powerful look inside our broken US maternity health care system. All women should read this book so that they may better advocate for themselves, their sisters, or their daughters during pregnancy and birth.
Rating: - outstanding summary of the US birth situation
This book is awesome.I've been a certified nurse midwife for 10 years and I teach maternity nursing and nurse midwifery in a university, and I was impressed again and again at the volume of accurate knowledge and interesting history provided by Block, a non-healthcare provider, on every page of this book.The book is also well-written, with great stories that illustrate situations facing those who seek to have an uncomplicated birth. I think that anyone who cares about the health of families should ... Read More
Rating: - Everyone should read this
This book is incredible, frightening, empowering and a much-needed wake up call for parents, doctors, people who want to become parents, pregnant women and their partners...I love the way that Block weaves personal stories into scientific studies and history of maternity care and obstetrics.She brings the subject matter to life, and I'm so glad that I am armed with this knowledge for when I become pregnant.
Rating: - Amazing
Finally, a book that spells out the problems with modern maternity care.I am surprised this book hasn't gotten more attention in the media.Any person considering having children should read this book.
Rating: - Amazing Investigative Journalism
Jennifer Block's book is such an eye-opener. Her thorough research indicates that the typical U.S. hospital birth is not ideal for the health and long-term well-being of mothers or babies. In fact, the multitude of "standard" hospitalinterventions, chemicals and montitors actually expose mother and child to a host of unnecessary risks. This book is a must-read for anyone considering having children or working in childbirth.
- Must ReadA well-written, powerful look inside our broken US maternity health care system. All women should read this book so that they may better advocate for themselves, their sisters, or their daughters during pregnancy and birth.
- outstanding summary of the US birth situationThis book is awesome.I've been a certified nurse midwife for 10 years and I teach maternity nursing and nurse midwifery in a university, and I was impressed again and again at the volume of accurate knowledge and interesting history provided by Block, a non-healthcare provider, on every page of this book.The book is also well-written, with great stories that illustrate situations facing those who seek to have an uncomplicated birth. I think that anyone who cares about the health of families should ... Read More
- Everyone should read thisThis book is incredible, frightening, empowering and a much-needed wake up call for parents, doctors, people who want to become parents, pregnant women and their partners...I love the way that Block weaves personal stories into scientific studies and history of maternity care and obstetrics.She brings the subject matter to life, and I'm so glad that I am armed with this knowledge for when I become pregnant.
- AmazingFinally, a book that spells out the problems with modern maternity care.I am surprised this book hasn't gotten more attention in the media.Any person considering having children should read this book.
- Amazing Investigative JournalismJennifer Block's book is such an eye-opener. Her thorough research indicates that the typical U.S. hospital birth is not ideal for the health and long-term well-being of mothers or babies. In fact, the multitude of "standard" hospitalinterventions, chemicals and montitors actually expose mother and child to a host of unnecessary risks. This book is a must-read for anyone considering having children or working in childbirth.
