Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy

Spurred by frustration as a first-time mother receiving an overwhelming amount of advice from doctors, books, and the internet that was “definitive yet contradictory” and “inextricably tied to the language of morality,” Garbes has created an empowering resource “rooted in emerging science and real-life stories.” In each chapter, she shares up-to-date, well-substantiated information about women’s physical and mental health, aiming to help readers reduce their anxiety and make truly informed choices. Garbes is at her strongest in chapters that address the biology of pregnancy and lactation in detail, bringing a geeky sense of wonder to the composition and functionality of breast milk, the structure of the placenta, and the care of the pelvic floor. In other chapters, she approaches the complex topic of risk with introspection rather than judgement, discussing the fraught question of whether to use psychiatric medicines during pregnancy. Finally, Garbes makes space to talk intimately about her most distressing experiences as a mother, such as the grief of miscarriage and the terror of losing control when labor does not go to plan. Throughout this thoughtful book, she speaks to her readers as peers, providing affirmation that their experiences are important and that they are not alone. (May)