Future student looking for good NMW reads

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Hi All,

I am finishing up my senior year of undergraduate work and am waiting to hear if I have been accepted to a nurse-midwife/family nurse practitioner dual-specialty program. Can anyone suggest a good read that will continue to refine my understanding of the midwifery perspective? I am considering ordering "Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife" by Peggy Vincent, "Heart and Hands: A Midwife's Guide to Pregnancy and Birth" by Elizabeth Davis, "Lion's Hands, Lady's Heart--A Midwife's Saga" by Carol Leonard, or "The Blue Cotton Gown: A Midwife's Memoir" by Patricia Harman. Can anyone recommend any of these books? Or are there others not on this list that you might suggest?

Thanks!

Nate

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Specializes in OB.

Ina May Gaskin's "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" and "Spiritual Midwifery" are classics that I would recommend.

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Hi All,

I am finishing up my senior year of undergraduate work and am waiting to hear if I have been accepted to a nurse-midwife/family nurse practitioner dual-specialty program. Can anyone suggest a good read that will continue to refine my understanding of the midwifery perspective? I am considering ordering "Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife" by Peggy Vincent, "Heart and Hands: A Midwife's Guide to Pregnancy and Birth" by Elizabeth Davis, "Lion's Hands, Lady's Heart--A Midwife's Saga" by Carol Leonard, or "The Blue Cotton Gown: A Midwife's Memoir" by Patricia Harman. Can anyone recommend any of these books? Or are there others not on this list that you might suggest?

Thanks!

Nate

Baby catcher by Peggy Vincent is an excellent memoir and it gives you a great look at what it means to be a homebirth CNM.

One of the best midwifery memoirs.

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What school did you apply to with a dual NP/CNM?

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Vanderbilt.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Baby Catcher is quite good. Also, 'A Midwife's Story' by Peggy Armstrong; she chronicles her experience as a homebirth midwife in Amish country. Very fascinating...read it in one afternoon.

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Specializes in L&D, MBU, NICU,.

I would agree with all of the above suggestions, as well as "Sisters on a Journey"

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Specializes in Family Medicine, Outpatient Pediatrics, IBCLC.

I second Baby Catcher, it's now one of my favorite books!!

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Specializes in critical care.

Definitely read Ina May Gaskin's stuff; she is the mother of modern American midwifery after all!

I also really enjoyed Baby Catcher. I read it probably 5 years ago but from what I remember, it was well-written along with being a great story. Sometimes when I read "medical memoirs" the crappy writing distracts me from the real juicy stuff. ;) I don't recall having that issue with Peggy Vincent's writing.

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Baby Catcher!!! the most inspirational (and biggest reality check) a future CNM can read. Good luck on Vanderbilt!

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Specializes in NICU, Pediatrics, Home Health.

I just finished up "Baby Catcher". Awesome book if you want a look into the real lives of home birth midwives! I know some Midwifery schools have it as a required reading before students begin coursework. Good luck!:)

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