Revelry Review: Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born

This morning I started and finished Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born by Tina Cassidy. The book traces the history of birthing practices to explain how we ended up where we are today. She ultimately concludes that birthing practices have always, and will likely continue to, reflect the time period in which they are created.

Equal parts horror story (she discusses how, in certain times, women were literally ripped apart in order to make room for the baby to be born and stuck fetuses were torn out of women's bodies with hooks) and fascinating sociological history (when and why were men ultimately allowed into the delivery room?), this book is a great read for anyone interested in women's history, birth, pregnancy, etc.

This book made me SO grateful that I will have children in the 21st century, even with its birthing oddities, such as "too posh to push" scheduled c-sections.