Did you learn anything new about midwifery, birthing, or pregnancy in general while reading this novel?

Did you learn anything new about midwifery, birthing, or pregnancy in general while reading this novel? What surprised you most about the birthing scenes?

No. I have always had an interest in midwifery, although I have never assisted at a human birth. I was engrossed with the delivery of Neva's footling. It was a very dramatic passage.

No, I was an OB nurse for a few years.

I was surprised that they put the birth mother's wishes above safety.

I am not sure I learned anything new but was impressed with the detail and how conscientiously they handled the births. Each of these three characters were dedicated, caring and believed whole heartedly in the service they provided. For Neva, in particular, during the time frame of her own pregnancy to be able to assist in births was good therapy. To have the difficult birth she experienced and be so skillfully cared for by these two women family members was amazing.

No, I didn't learn anything new, but I was impressed with how well the author portrayed the care and dedication these women had toward the mothers and the children they were delivering.

There was quite a lot of detail in each birth and many things I never knew about. Sometimes, in my opinion, there were a few too many details that I didn't really need to know. I have to admit I haven't given or witnessed a birth, so the details may have not been as interesting to me as those who have. On the other hand, I've read books on this subject before and this gave better descriptions, as well as a much needed voice about the importance of offering women choices when it comes to the birth of their babies.

I find the relationships between mothers and their midwife to be fascinating. There is a closeness that I don't think you get with a doctor due to the busyness of today's medical practices.

I was impressed with dedication of these women and it made me wish I had thought of this when I had my kids

Since midwifery isn't widely accepted or legal in many states, it was interesting to have several births described. Most of what I've read about midwifery is from the British practice. I did grow weary of Grace's constant hostility to doctors and the portrayal of ob/gyn doctors as hostile and arrogant.

Maybe a bit more than I wanted, but interesting. Like others, I wonder about the feelings between midwives and doctors.

It was very interesting to get the perspective of 3 different midwives who practice at different times in history. I learned just how much knowledge an experienced midwive has when reading about the birth of Neva's baby.

I agree with Retired Reader that -- Grace's hostility to doctors was a bit overdone and heavy-handed. But Hepworth had her actual doctors (well most of them anyway) be respectful and encouraging to midwifery.

Yes, I tended to put home delivery and having a baby at a birthing center in the same category i.e. I only took in that a doctor was not the primary delivery person. Clearly there was underlying friction between Neva and Grace as to the relevance of each of their opinions as to WHERE a child should be born. Before this book, it never crossed my mind that there was a difference.

Yes I learned a great deal that I didn't know before and it was interesting and informative.

I did not know much about midwifes and was completely impress with their knowledge, also their bed-manners were so reassuring to the birthing mother, at times I felt like I was reading of the birthing ceremonies in the book the Red Tent by Anita Diamant.

I wish I had the option of using a midwife now that I have read this story.

I had been watching the BBC series Call the Midwife just before reading this book. I think that helped me enjoy the details of the births more. I thought that it was interesting that three generations of this family became midwifes, but I see that it does make sense. If you mom is leaving all times of the day and night and you are around women giving birth you would have a sense of what happens and also have the feeling of accomplishment with each birth.

Like "Navy Mom", I too watched the BBC's Call The Midwife so I did know a bit about the role of a midwife in England but this book contained a lot of information I hadn't ever heard about especially the footling birth of Neva's baby. The compassionate care and special relationship between the mothers and the midwives was brought out in both the TV series and this book.

I learned that midwives are much more badass than I ever realized.

Well, never having given birth, a lot of it was new to me.