HW 40

JM-Hey, Tina Cassidy thanks for writing Birth. Your reflection on the history of birth with unique connections really got me to rethink my ideas on birth and the common practice surrounding it.

 

 TC-Really, which parts were most effective or important for you?"

 

JM-Well, in the last third of the book where you focused on the aftermath of birth and the postpartum effects, but what I really identified with was the part about the father's role, which was good juxtaposition to the first 2/3rds of the book where it was heavily based on the woman. But let me be more specific.

1. The studies that showed the father's prescence made mothers relax (pg198)

2. The couvade syndrome and a fathers need to feel what the mother is feeling(210)

3. The negative affects of not breast-feeding (236)

TC- But what could I have done to make this a better book - that would more effectively fulfill its mission?"

 

JM-Well, let's be clear - your text sought to provide historical analysis from the perspective of a mother for the book-reading-public to better understand pregnancy & birth in our culture. Given that aim, and your book, the best advice I would give for a 2nd edition of the text would be, instead of basing the book so heavily on historical facts, get people's opinion. But I don't want you to feel like I'm criticizing. I appreciate the immense amount of labor you dedicated to this important issue and particularly for making me think about how the history of birth and the dominant practices in other cultures contrast with our own & whether or not we are doing it right, how we might figure that out, and what we would do from there. In fact, I'm likely to seriously weigh my options when I have a child as a result of your book.

 

TC-Thanks! Talking to you gives me hope about our future as a society!