Expecting: A Brief History of Pregnancy Advice

Chicago Shorts

by Marika Seigel

As long as there have been pregnancies, there have been suggestions for how best to bring a child into the world: from tips for homeopathic care and natural childbirth to the circulation of old wives’ tales, those who deliver advice to pregnant women are often influenced as much by their own agendas as what is best, or most comfortable, for a new mother. In Expecting, Marika Seigel, author of The Rhetoric of Pregnancy, provides a list of recommended reading and considers the history of pregnancy advice. Opening with her own birthing histories and careful explanation of how she first became interested in the topic, Seigel then casts a skeptical eye over the pregnancy guides that have circulated from the Enlightenment to the present day. Encouraging women to remain empowered when they are pregnant and to collaborate with their health care providers, Seigel articulates how best to have a healthy and affirming birth experience.

40 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 13, 2013

Reviews

[Maria McNamee-Hirt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear

A discussion of modern, premodern and post modern pregnancy advice. Sheds light on strange (now) concepts that once pervaded thought about reproduction. The time to be a parent has never been better in light of this history. Well written. If you have any interest in birth or folklore this is a good read. Industrialization merely changed the vocabulary around parental blame not the underlying, off base fear. There are now more healthful ways to enter birth culture though it may require a hired and vetted team.