Labor of Love: A Midwife's Memoir

Published

Has anyone read this book? It is by Cara Muhlhahn. She is the midwife featured in The Business of Being Born. I stopped at B&N to pick up a medical dictionary and this book happened to be in the section next to the nursing section. It called to me and I had to get it. I haven't yet started reading it because I just started back to school today, but maybe will be able to get into it sometime in the next couple of days. Let me know what you think of it if you have read it. If noone has read it I will post a review as soon as I get a chance to get through it.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

I read it and really enjoyed it. I was fascinated by the fact that she actually started as a direct-entry homebirth midwife, then went to nursing school (and worked L&D for a number of years) and then finally went back for her CNM. She talked about each of those experiences and you got a sense how much each one contributed to her practice. She is very open and honest.

I really enjoyed one part near the end, when she was talking about the movie coming out. She said that she had to transfer a patient to a hospital and the female residents (whom she had never met before) were unusually helpful and accomodating to her requests. One of them ushered her into the hall to tell her how much they loved the movie and admired her. It was cool!

Great book and and an easy read. I highly recommend it. I also really enjoyed 'The Blue Cotton Gown', which is another memoir written by a CNM.

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Specializes in Labor & Delivery.

I ordered The Blue Cotton Gown, A Labor of Love, and Lady's hands, Lion's heart from amazon. All three books were amazing. However Lady's hands, Lion's Heart was definately my favorite. It was written by Carol Leonard, a true pioneer in midwifery (although all of these amazing ladies are pioneers!). All three of these books motivated and encouraged me to continue on with my education and stand by my convicitons!

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Specializes in OB.

I agree with the above poster. I read Labor of Love and it was good, but I also liked Lady's Hands, Lion's Heart the best! It just touched me in a different way. Both are good reads, though!

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I read Labor of Love and felt like it was just OK. I think I felt this way because I had read Peggy Vincent's Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife. This book was EXCELLENT. IMO, Vincent's book is a better read than Labor of Love.

I am going to look into the other books mentioned on this thread...I always love a good midwifery read.

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