Title: Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care
Author: Jennifer Block
First published June 1, 2007
344 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780738211664 (ISBN10: 0738211664)
Rating: 4.23
Overview
Mimi Jean Pamfiloff’s OH, HENRY is a delightful and whimsical contemporary romance that will sweep you off your feet. Follow the journey of a young woman who finds love in the most unexpected place, with a man who seems too good to be true.
Filled with humor and heart, this charming tale will leave you smiling from beginning to end.
Editoral Review
Jennifer Block’s Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care is a stunning and powerful work that delves into the many issues surrounding childbirth and maternity care in modern society. Published in 2007, the book remains as relevant and urgent today as it was when it was first released, making it an essential read for anyone who cares about women’s health and reproductive rights.
Block is a seasoned journalist and writer whose work focuses on health, medicine, and social justice issues. In Pushed, she combines meticulous research and compelling storytelling to explore the ways in which childbirth has become a medicalized, often traumatic experience for many women in the US.
She challenges the prevailing assumptions about childbirth and advocates for a more holistic, woman-centered approach to maternity care. The book’s plot follows the experiences of several women who have faced various challenges and traumas during childbirth, as well as the health professionals, activists, and experts who are working to transform the system.
Block paints a vivid picture of the social and cultural forces that have shaped modern maternity care, from the rise of C-sections and inductions to the diminishing role of midwives and doulas. What makes Pushed so remarkable is its ability to bridge the personal and the political, the individual and the systemic.
By focusing on the real-life stories of women and healthcare providers, Block illuminates the broader issues at stake and highlights the need for change. She also provides a comprehensive analysis of the research and policies that have contributed to the current state of maternity care in the US.
In terms of writing, Block is a masterful storyteller and researcher. Her prose is clear, vivid, and engaging, and she weaves in a wealth of historical and cultural context without ever losing sight of the human beings at the heart of the narrative.
She also expertly balances the emotional weight of the subject matter with a sense of hope and possibility, making Pushed both informative and inspiring. While there are few weaknesses in the book, one potential limitation is that it is primarily focused on the experiences of white, middle-class women.
While Block acknowledges this limitation, it is worth noting that the experiences and needs of women of color and low-income women are not as fully explored as they could be. Overall, Pushed is an essential read for anyone interested in women’s health, reproductive justice, or healthcare reform.
Its themes and insights are more relevant than ever, and its call for a more compassionate and evidence-based approach to maternal care is both urgent and feasible. I would give this book a rating of 4.5 out of 5, based on the quality of writing, research, and impact.
It is not only an important work of investigative journalism but also a compelling and accessible read.
