A review by bookish_katie
The Secret Midwife: Life, Death and the Truth about Birth by Katy Weitz, Philippa George

dark emotional funny informative medium-paced

3.5

I am so sorry for what “Pippa” went through. Both, midwives and the ladies under their care deserve so much better! I was infuriated to read (hear — audiobook) about how management regularly hung out the midwives to dry.

I enjoyed “Pippa’s” perspective and think the topic is SO important, so thanks to the Secret Midwife who wrote her story down. I hope she is doing well, despite the very precious working situation.

That said, I nearly stopped reading/listening after chapter five: 

The author writes later in the book that they try not to judge the ladies in their care. This clearly didn’t work out in the case of the woman who desperately refused any interventions, with a tragic result for the baby. This mother is judged harshly by “Pippa” as selfish and arrogant. However, the chapter leaves open whether anyone bothered to find out *why* that lady refused any intervention. Was she scared? If so, why? Any previous medical trauma? Other trauma related to bodily autonomy? This lack of empathy (displayed again at a later point towards a factory worker in shock) very nearly put me off the book.

I am glad so stuck with the book, as I enjoyed the rest of it.