Labor of Love: A Midwife's Memoir

I adore this book - it is real, has wonderful birth stories and comes from a place where you feel as if you know Cara, the midwife. Great read for all midwives, CPM and CNM. As a CNM student who previously studied to be a home birth CPM, I appreciated that Cara had her feet in both worlds and was able to collaborate and bridge the world, albeit not all the time, between the medical establishment and midwifery model. I laughed, I cried, I learned. And, I was really sad when I read the last page. Great book!!!

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 somewhat basic and light on actual birth situations, I would recommend this book to people who may not have a lot of knowledge about natural birth but were extremely touched by the movie's message or want to learn more about natural/homebirth.

"Labor of Love" is a GREAT read! I love midwife memoirs, and Cara Muhlhahn has a great story and has written a beautiful book. She tells the good, the bad and the tragic. She also fits in stats on birth in America, the good and bad of hospitals and physicians in normal birth. This book really resonated with me, a student nurse-midwife, and if you have ever experienced anything having to do with birth this is a must-read. Even if you haven't, Cara has an excellent way of describing the birth culture in a way that I think someone who is unfamiliar with it would get a good idea of the realities.

The book was very good although I do think that she was a little hard on hospitals and personally I thought the author needed a little "professional humilty", a term she used to describe a doctor in the book. That being said, I loved her passion for her job and I am sure she is well liked by her peers and the moms ( and dads) of the babies she delivers. I feel her passion is very admirable and so important when working with patients. I am quite sure if I had delivered at home when I had my children, I would want someone like Cara by my side. The typo I am speaking of comes on page 180. When speaking of down syndrome she states that " Just five years later, at age 40, the chances are one in 1." That's incorrect. Do I recommend this book? A big YES!!!!!!! Sincerely, Sue B. NICU RN

The "behind the scenes" quality of the book and what it took to become a homebirth midwife with Cara's level of confidence, skill and expertise will be invaluable for years to come to all aspiring midwifes. I knew in my heart, but did not really understand until reading the memoir that being a homebirth midwife is truly the work of only a chosen few, not many other people are willing give so much of their life in service of others, and not begrudge the enormous personal sacrifices.