Labor of Love: A Midwife’s Memoir
Labor of Like: A Midwife’s Memoir Books
- ISBN13: 9781427798213
- Shape up: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
Single mom, jazz singer, bop dancer, tourist, and midwife to more than 700 babies, Cara Muhlhahn holds nothing back—in her life or in this memoir.
As a teenager, Cara’s family home burnt to the ground. That tragedy led her on a journey that would span a variety of countries and cultures. Even as she was in Morocco, a woman suffered from a fatal injury. Grieving the unnecessary death, Cara resolved that, next time, she would know what to do to save a life.
In this fascinating and searingly honest memoir, Cara reveals what eventually led her to support women in one of the most significant experiences of their lives. Balancing science with intuition, parenthood with her work, and sacrifice with joy, Cara shows us what it means to be alive and to live a life of purpose.
Just as readers are fascinated by Carly Fiorina’s or Elizabeth Gilbert’s journeys, they will find fantastic inspiration in Cara’s journey to live her calling. Whether you read about her in Vogue or the New York Times; saw her in the documentary The Business of Being Born, by filmmakers Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein; or are learning about her for the first time here, you are sure to be inspired by her remarkable tale.
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wow, she’s likely an incredible midwife, but you’re possibly going to hear about how fantastic she is from herself than from anyone else. I couldn’t get past the first two chapters because of the ego stroking. damn.
Rating: 1 / 5
I first learned of Cara Muhlhahn when I watched “The Business of Being Born”- a documentary on natural, home childbirth by Ricki Lake. I was very impressed with the movie and sought after to learn more about the day to day work of a home birth midwife. I was delighted to find that Cara had just published a book on just so that topic. I devoured the book in 2 days and really loved reading about her professional journey. It takes a one of a kind person to pull off the work schedule that Muhlhahn follows. And her passion and commitment to her work are truly inspiring. I loved this book and wish the author well in all her future births!
Rating: 4 / 5
I loved getting to know the midwife featured in the movie “The Business of Being Born” through this book. Though those that have more experience in the area of childbirth may find it to some extent basic and light on actual birth situations, I would urge this book to people who may not have a lot of knowledge about natural birth but were extremely touched by the movie’s thought or want to learn more about natural/homebirth.
Rating: 4 / 5
I watched the Business of Being Born and loved it. Cara seemed competent and well liked. I also like reading, especially birth tales and birth activism kind of things. Therefore, when I saw that Cara had written a book, I was excited to read it.
I was hoping for something similar to “Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife” by Peggy Vincent (a book, by the way, that I would give 10 stars to-it is fantastic). Birth tales, interwoven with her career path, etc. Cara’s book is very light reading. Births are mentioned, in very light detail. The book documents her life, from her time in the womb (yes, really) to her high school years, to her years abroad, to nursing, to the sickbay, to midwifery training, to birth focal top, to homebirth do, to the movie. Its certainly more about Cara than anything else.
She is very arrogant appearing in the book. Much mention of her being unique, saving lives, thought she shouldn’t have to pay parking tickets b/c she does such vital work, etc.
some quotes of her arrogance:
“meanwhile, I feel I offer my patients levels of safety that are sometimes no longer available in the formulaic, protocol driven situation of institutionalized medicine. ”
“at the risk of seeming vain or arrogant, let me question: which develop of care saved that woman’s life? Defensive, institutionalized medicine or individualized attentive care”
“I help women give birth to babies in their homes. there is no one but me who can help them” (this was in talking to someone, not the reader)
also, in discussing Down’s syndrome, she said that age 40, the risk of having a baby with Down’s is “one in 1″. 100% of 40 year ancient women having babies don’t have babies with Down’s. Thats an evident error she shouldn’t have published.
It’s a slow read, not terribly exciting, and very pro-Cara. It wasn’t terrible, by any means. Certainly not as excellent as I had hoped.
Go read “Baby Catcher” instead.
Rating: 3 / 5
To those that say Cara comes across as too smug, self-satisfied, etc etc, I say shoot, of course she’s proud of her life choices. She’s a homebirthing midwife! That takes some serious guts and hard hard work. I would be very proud too. In this day and age, when midwifery is looked down upon as unsafe and unserious, it’s hard enough to be a midwife much less an independent one that is all about homebirths.
The writing isn’t the most literary ever, but I didn’t care – her voice came through loud and clear, and the tale she had to tell was incredible. And, I’m sure I’m not the only one to say this, but I ever do become a midwife, part of the inspiration will come from midwives like you, Cara!
Rating: 4 / 5