I delivered twenty babies in the summer of 1977. I was hardly more than a baby myself, just turned twenty-four and starting my third year of medica...
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May 09, 2010
mari
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I am absolutely loving this book. Not even finished yet, but had to review already.
One of my best friend's mom sent it to me when she learned I was pregnant.It is written by the father of a former student of hers. It is an in depth look at delivery and babies. It tells the history of birthing, and goes through the science in a very understandable way.
If you aren't much into science and knowing the gory details (not that they are that gory) of natural and cesarean births More...
One of my best friend's mom sent it to me when she learned I was pregnant.It is written by the father of a former student of hers. It is an in depth look at delivery and babies. It tells the history of birthing, and goes through the science in a very understandable way.
If you aren't much into science and knowing the gory details (not that they are that gory) of natural and cesarean births More...
Dec 01, 2011
Valerie
rated it: 
This book was cool!
Did you know?
• The first well-documented, successful Cesarean was performed in 1826 in South Africa by Dr. James Barry—who managed a 40-year medical career before anyone discovered “he” was actually a woman.
• For pain management during labor, Pliny the Elder prescribed drinks containing ground snails, earthworms, and goose poop. Other ancient labor pain remedies included belly salves made from viper fat, eel gall, powdered donkey hoof, and snake ton More...
Did you know?
• The first well-documented, successful Cesarean was performed in 1826 in South Africa by Dr. James Barry—who managed a 40-year medical career before anyone discovered “he” was actually a woman.
• For pain management during labor, Pliny the Elder prescribed drinks containing ground snails, earthworms, and goose poop. Other ancient labor pain remedies included belly salves made from viper fat, eel gall, powdered donkey hoof, and snake ton More...
Jan 10, 2012
Rebecca
rated it:
Awwwww … newborn babies! I am a bit excited by the image of an innocent, soft, wrinkly newborn baby these days, for obvious reasons. Less than eight more weeks until a newborn daughter joins my family!
I found Birth Day by Mark Sloan (published 2009) one day when I was browsing the shelves looking for something about pregnancy or babies, and it was just perfect! Dr. Sloan is a pediatrician, regularly on rotation at the hospital to care for the newborns who may need a little assistance g More...
I found Birth Day by Mark Sloan (published 2009) one day when I was browsing the shelves looking for something about pregnancy or babies, and it was just perfect! Dr. Sloan is a pediatrician, regularly on rotation at the hospital to care for the newborns who may need a little assistance g More...
May 01, 2009
Elizabeth
rated it:
Birth Day is an amazing book. One of the best I've read on childbirth. It's a book I'd recommend to every mother-to-be, father-to-be and parent. Dr. Mark Sloan writes from his own experiences as a pediatrician, interspersing stories of his patients with medical information, quirky medical history and advice to new parents. If you're wondering what a fetus sees and hears inside the womb, Dr. Sloan will tell you. If you'd like to know what the shocking transition from womb to world might be li
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Apr 05, 2009
Charity
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I found this book fascinating. Before James was born I must have read almost fifty books on pregnancy, babies, and the like. I found them informative and some, alarming. Not one of them touched on the interesting topics of the changes that a fetus undergoes to become a baby, the why's of how the mother and baby change, the ways that pregnancy can affect an involved father, and the history behind the practices of childbirth methods and philosophies of today. This book did. It was an absorbin
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Jan 08, 2010
Laura
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I learned a lot from this book. It's more of a collection of essays than a book that is supposed to be a comprehensive guide to birth. Which means that it goes more in-depth than most books about the topics covered, which include the baby's physical transition at birth, history of cesarean section, history and politics of pain-relieving drugs, dad's involvement, history of birth attendants (including doulas), physical characteristics of a fetus and newborn, and newborn resuscitation. Mark Sloan
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May 05, 2010
Rosemarie
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I really enjoyed this book - written by a pediatrician. He really takes you on a tour of what childbirth was like throughout the ages and how we got where we are today (good and bad). And I especially like that he has his opinions, but is also very diplomatic about how he presents his facts. For example, he's not anti-cesearean, but you can tell that he doesn't agree that many people choose it because they don't want the pain of labor. He'd prefer to see more pain relief choices in the US (as t
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Mar 21, 2011
Christina
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I thought it was an interesting point of view about Childbirth. I enjoyed reading it and learning some of his insights, etc. I thought it kind of obnoxious and one-minded though that he focused so much on evolution and that's the reasoning behind so many things.... no, I do not agree that we came from apes. And, yes there is a reason that a human fetus is able to recognize faces, even before he has seen them. It's called, we lived in Heaven before we came to earth... Anyway, still a good book.
Dec 08, 2010
Carolina
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This is a great book on birth for the science nerd!!! I loved learning about how evolution has made labor so different compared to a female gorilla, the reason newborns have no neck and look almost identical (no more "he looks like Daddy" comments please), and the sensory world of the womb. He also goes into the history of pain relief, such as the awesome poison/morphine combo of the Twilight Sleep method, and the way ancient Greeks ruled out babies too weak to survive by dunking them
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Jul 06, 2010
Rachel
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This book was filled with fascinating facts and history. It's amazing to realize how much birth has changed in such a short amount of time, and yet not changed much at all. I wasn't a fan of his belief that we came from apes and his discussion of evolutionary changes based on that. I found them to be a bit of a jump. But in terms of being non-judgemental I feel he finds a middle of the road when it comes to medicated/non-medicated and other potentially controversial topics.
Jan 05, 2010
Shannyboo
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I have always felt that people make too much of the "labor experience." Um, guys, it's one day. Yes, it's life changing in that you have a baby, but the actual labor part? One day. Or less. And not that big of a deal. Anyway, this book talked a lot about the history of childbirth (and the drugs that go along with it), as well as the transition from fetus to infant. It was interesting to read, but not something I would read again.
Jun 06, 2009
Annaliese
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This book was a nicely written tour of birth. It includes everything from evolution of the primate pelvis, the author's experience as an obstetric intern, a historical tour of medical interventions and anaesthesia, and the author's take on the modern hospital birth scenario including doulas (pro), epidurals (mixed), and postnatal testing. None of it is overbearing, and it's well written.
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Apr 22, 2010
Brenna
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An interesting, entertaining, and readable look at childbirth, the history of technology surrounding it, and health care professionals' changing approaches to it. Interesting stuff too about the baby's body in utero and in the first few minutes of life, as well as the hormonal changes that happen to the expectant woman's partner as she goes through pregnancy.
Aug 25, 2011
Erin
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Of all the birthing books I've recently read (most of which I'm not going to bother reviewing), this is by far the most readable, the most interesting, and the most even-keeled, in terms of presenting information. I really enjoyed the stories he presented as a parent and a pediatrician who has been involved in many births.
Jan 22, 2010
Christine
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An interesting natural history of the human birth process. The early part of the book, wherein the author details how human evolution took us down the path to painful childbirth (as opposed to our simian cousins, who apparently have it relatively easy
!) was particularly interesting/
!) was particularly interesting/
Feb 24, 2011
Deidra
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I liked the way this book showed various options throughout history and cited different studies on modern methods. I appreciated learning more about development and the transition from fetus to infant. If nothing else, it made me extremely grateful to be having a baby with today's advancements and options!
Nov 01, 2009
Ann
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I love books like Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, with their straightforward, scientific view of something that often carries a deep emotional impact. Birth Day takes what Stiff does to death and does the same thing with birth. Medical but without an agenda, it covers everything from the five senses of the fetus to labor pain care through history to the Cesarian misnomer. Fascinating, fascinating.
Sep 08, 2009
Chieko
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I learned a lot about childbirth, and I enjoyed especially scientific part of information. The only reason why I put 4 is only because I don't necessarily agree with the "evolution" of human being part of it. But I really enjoyed reading.
Jun 09, 2009
Heather
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a unique and often humorous look at the science and history of childbirth in the western world. Fascinating to learn about the cardiovascualr changes that occur when a fetus is born and becomes a baby independent of its mother.
Oct 09, 2009
Natalie
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Very interesting how this book is set up -- and I love how it goes in depth on several topics surrounding pregnancy, birth and infancy...especially the chapters on pain relief and birth attendants historically.
Oct 17, 2010
Katie
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Less a how-to than a recounting of experiences while in med school/on rotation, as well as some history into how certain birth practices have come into being. Very readable style & funny at times, too.
Dec 05, 2010
Susan
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A great read with great writing for anybody who wants to know more about birth. I found it balanced and well-researched and I really loved that I started to feel like I knew the author. Fantastic voice.
Aug 29, 2009
Zen
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It really is a "blend of personal anecdote, hard science, and bizarre historical detail". As a history buff and one whose family has zero children in it, this was a good read in many ways.
Dec 01, 2011
Beth
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I enjoyed this readable history of childbirth from the eyes of a pediatrician. It's definitely given me some things to think about and discuss with Andy regarding our baby's birth.
Jun 01, 2009
Kris
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This is the only pregnancy-related book I've found worth reading so far. Some cool evolutionary discussion and lots of interesting facts about what goes on with the baby in the womb.
Jun 07, 2011
Katlet
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Written by a pediatrician, this is a book that is relatively childbirth friendly. He has good humor, and is not afraid to admit mistakes he made. I enjoyed this.
Jul 18, 2009
Catherine
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I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! What more can I say? I recommend this book to parents equally as to those who have no children, never want children, don't even like children. I learned SO MUCH FASCINATING STUFF in this book and it was a very enjoyable and easy read.
Sep 05, 2009
Amy
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Fascinating book. Well researched but written so the science is accessible to a non-scientist. I wish I had read this before my daughter was born -- so much good info!
Jul 04, 2009
Brigid
rated it:
Very comprehensive look at medicalized birth from a doctor's point of view. Intertwined with some humor makes for a nice read.
