Arrival Stories: Women Share Their Experiences of Becoming Mothers

by Amy Schumer (editor), Christy Turlington Burns (Editor)

"Two pink lines on a pregnancy test. The primal scream of a woman pushing through her thirty-fifth hour of labor. The moment a still-wet newborn is placed in his mother's open arms after an unexpected c-section. The bottomless love reflected in the eyes of a father seeing his daughter for the first time. The moment a baby latches to her mother's breast. Or the moment that mother decides to switch to formula. Each of these, and so many more, are stories of entering motherhood. Motherhood is an identity, a calling, a battle, a journey. By sharing their experiences, the contributors to Arrival Stories offer an informative and deeply affecting account of what it feels like when a woman first realizes she is a mother. Throughout her difficult pregnancy, and following her frightening labor experience, Amy Schumer found camaraderie and empowerment in hearing birth stories from other women, including that of her friend, activist Christy Turlington Burns. It is through their conversations that the idea for this book was born. Intimate and urgent, Arrival Stories offers a panoramic view of motherhood, and highlights the grave injustices that women of color face in maternal healthcare. It is the perfect book for any expectant or new mother, or for anyone who knows and loves one"--

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting, Essays, Memoir, Feminism, Audiobook, Self Help

229 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 5, 2022

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Either I just peed myself or my water broke"
⚠🧽Clean up in aisle 6 please 🧽⚠ That is my story.

Every woman's birth story is unique and that's what makes it beautiful. But this could also be sad for those that are unable to birth their own child.

Obviously there are some trigger warnings ~ miscarriage, abortion, unknown pregnancy, teen pregnancy, accidental pregnancy, high risk pregnancy, IVF, adoption

Side note as a mother ~ why don't I get gifts on my daughters birthday too? I mean who did all the work here and deserves a reward. Certainly not my husband who was heaving in my ear as the head came out and went back in again a few times. But, then I suppose I'd have to give my mother a gift too then 🤔

Narrated by Serena Williams, Alysia Montaño, Abby G. Lopez, Amber Tamblyn, Shilpa Shah, Christy Turlington Burns, Emily Oster, Emma Hansen, Leslie Feist, Amanda Williams, Angel Geden, Adrienne Bosh, Latham Thomas, Rachel Feinstein, Ashley Graham, Jill Scott, Jennie Jeddry and Kim DeLise, La La Anthony, Shea Williams, Sienna Miller, Katrina Yoder and Amy Schumer for 5 hours and 53 minutes.

*Short Libby library loan review*

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[Kaity · Rating 3 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm a sucker for birth stories and anthologies about motherhood. I loved the intention behind this collection and the focus on addressing maternal health outcomes, particularly for women of color. That being said, I struggled a little with some of the stories. Nearly all of the women featured have significant wealth and/or celebrity status. The financial ramifications of birthing a child were barely discussed, which I find to be a crucial missed opportunity. For someone to lament about the trials of motherhood (legitimate as they may be) in the same sentence they share that they had a night nurse and nanny was pretty unrelatable and not reflective of the "typical" parenting experience.

All of that said, I did like that the multitude of ways in which a person can arrive at motherhood were spotlighted and no two stories were alike.

[Erin Cataldi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every once in a while you read the right book at the right time. This was one of those books. I'm a first time mom and my daughter was born about three and a half months ago. Learning to be a mom was exciting and challenging - but nothing could have prepared me for the labor experience. Arrival Stories contains essays from women of all walks of life as they experience becoming moms. No two are the same. Some lost their babies, some had difficult pregnancies, some adopted, some conceived through IVF - all are candid about their experiences. It was heartening to read other experiences that were so similar and so different. My only "beef" is that many of the women in this collection are in a wealthier position than many Americans - making a few of the experiences nearly unrelatable. Other than that - I thoroughly enjoyed this collection.

[joyce w. laudon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have loved a book like this before and/or after my first child was born. One thing that struck me at the time (call me one with too much ego)was how all of the attention focused on my daughter. She was lovely/amazing but I was also thinking about myself and the complications of my delivery. At the time I thought, if it had been my appendix, people might have asked about what I’d been through. So, as I began in this paragraph, I would have liked to share my story and know those of others. Therefore I truly thank the authors of this book for the collection.

Here readers will find essays by some they have heard of (Serena Williams, Amber Tamblyn, Christy Turlington Burns and others) and those they don’t already know but will come to know in these pages. There are many experiences and points of view.

Each story is unique and an engaging read. I especially enjoyed the entry by Jill Scott. I remembered watching her in the adaptation of the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency. Who knew that she was pregnant then? Also, loved the one by Serena Williams. She shares what was a difficult experience and that for someone who was an athlete in peak shape.

This book is the perfect gift for the right recipient. I very much enjoyed and recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fairly diverse, impactful read. I wish something like this had been around when I was pregnant. Most of the stories included are coming from people with immense privilege, but it felt to me like that factor was regularly acknowledged in a way that supported the liberator work of counter-storytelling in the face of so much stigma and taboo. Reading this feels more meaningful given the atrocious socio-political ramp-up of anti-Roe legislation in the face of the Supreme Court's leaked opinions.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is fuelling my baby fever. My biggest takeaway is that I should not have a baby in the states. But I already knew that.

[Shari · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5⭐️
I loved reading about what experiences other moms had in their journey of becoming a mother and bringing another human being to the planet.

[Autum · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 70%

The stories I read were mostly good but honestly not was I was looking for. I’m 35 weeks pregnant with my first kid, and all of these stories were extremely traumatic and just made me even more nervous for what was coming. I appreciated the discussions and the points brought forth in each story, but like I said not what I was looking for. Also, it seemed like every mom had a midwife or someone to help her and I also don’t have that so I didn’t really feel connected to any of the stories because I know I’m not going to have a nurse come home with me or anything. Honestly, I don’t know what to expect and this entire experience just made me nervous.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I really liked hearing a bunch of different stories of women's journeys into motherhood. Some of the women were famous and well known, others lesser so, but they all shared a common experience of birth. I liked that some of these women were adoptive parents, some were doulas, some were bio mothers, etc. However, there were a lot of kind of scary stories and I'm not sure who I would recommend this to. I wouldn't really recommend it to first time moms because a lot of these birth stories were very unique. I also wouldn't recommend it to anyone with birth trauma (hi, its me) because some of the stories will put you right back into the trauma. So maybe just someone who is curious and indifferent? Someone who has recently had kids but is now done so they can relate but not worry? I'm not sure.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A woman is reborn when she leaps from the edge of who she once was into the fire of a new identify: mother."

"A child will incinerate you and then whoever you are when you rise from the ashes is a much more interesting person to be for the rest of your life."

On the whole, I loved this book. I'm still shaping my identity as a mother, so I really enjoyed reading about others' experiences around birth & motherhood and seeing how mine fit in. Each story was so unique, yet completely relatable. My one qualm is that since they were all short stories, some felt really high level - I would have liked some more depth to some of them. I think anyone could read this book but I'd recommend it to new moms in particular.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a beautiful and enjoyable book about a variety of experiences on the road to motherhood. My son is a tween but it brought me back to birthing him into the world and early days of motherhood.

On another note, this should be required reading for anyone who is trying to roll back abortion rights. In (almost?) every story, there is trial if not trauma as well as beauty and joy, another reminder that no one should be forced to carry a child to term by out of touch politicians.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arrival stories seemed like the perfect book to finish February and head into March with but I just couldn’t make it last another day because every story made me want to read another. It’s a book of love but also a book of strong women. It’s a book of struggle, of prejudice. It’s a book about how women’s healthcare isn’t what it should be in this country and that includes birthing stories. This lovely collection of essays comes largely from famous people, but it comes from women we don’t always hear from and so we get lots of different perspectives. Please be warned that this book touches on some trauma as well as miscarriages and abortion. But I highly recommend it.

[Denise LaRosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up. I’m rounding up because all mothers deserve some love. This book just didn’t do it for me. The writing was basic, the stories shared were on a similar thread, and the lack of diverse experiences made this a mundane read.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 stars for most of the book, but Amy Schumer's essay earned the book a third star all on its own. And to be fair, the low rating for the rest of the book is basically just my baggage talking.

A pretty good collection of interesting stories, but I found it frustrating how most of the women became easily or accidentally pregnant, and then had fairly uneventful birth experiences. (Obviously this wasn't true for everyone, but it was for many/most of them.)

Disclosure of my baggage: IVF veteran, survivor of a high risk pregnancy with a condition that required a c section.

[Mercer Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. Unfortunately, all of these stories are traumatic. As a doula, I get it—many pregnancies are really traumatic. I still feel that there should have been warnings, or the stories should be grouped by topic, maybe. Beyond that, a few other things: so many of these people had night nurses, and women are not the only bodies that can gestate.

If you want stories about birth and labor, as the women around you instead.

[Jena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fully recognize this book isn’t for everyone, but it was perfect for me! Arrival Stories is a book of essays written by women on the arrival stories of their children. Amy Schumer compiled this book and she did a fantastic job finding a range of stories from easy births to complicated births, natural births to c-sections to at home births, adoption stories to infertility stories to miscarriages and stillbirths.

This book made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me feel all the things.

If you had asked me a few years ago, this book probably would not have appealed to me. After having my daughter, nearly 2 years ago now, I have become obsessed with birth stories. They aren’t kidding when they say no 2 birth stories are alike and you can’t prepare for what will happen when yo give birth. I love telling my “Arrival Story” and I will gladly listen to anyone else’s!

I highly highly highly recommend this to any momma’s (or anyone else) who are like me and love to hear these stories!

Trigger Warnings: Miscarriage, abortion, stillbirth.

[Kareena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a huge fan of Amy Schumer's comedy, but when I saw this, I knew I had to read it. Women in this book are from many walks of life. I appreciated the variety in tone and purpose from each essay. It helps build the bond that those who carry children share. It could be triggering as many of these women do not have easy experiences. Please proceed with caution if challenging birth stories are triggering to you. I found it very validating of my choices, as well as making me in awe of the people in my life who choose to carry and parent children. There are stories from birthing mothers as well as mothers who come into from a different angle. I would love a follow up to this book with more stories from a variety of backgrounds. I appreciated that women of color were strongly represented, as they deal with so much as birthing parents. Would love more of a variety of experiences in a follow up.
Highly recommend.

[WendyYoga56 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally a book where women openly share their stories about the “behind-the-scenes” truths of the not so rosey paths to motherhood. I almost bled to death and had an emergency hysterectomy performed right after my daughter was born, yet I generally keep that to myself so as not to “upset” other women — particularly women in their childbearing years. I see now that is the convention of our society to preserve the idea that pregnancy and delivery are bliss and joy for every single woman. I hope more women feel comfortable sharing their truths after reading this book. Thank you!

[Anne (Not of Green Gables) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5.

Though I fully respect and admire each woman who spoke out about their experience with pregnancy during this anthology/essay collection, I can't help but feel like there is a level of privilege for 75% of them. I wish this had more of a broad look on the topic, maybe with regular women and not those who carry weight in the form of finance or family connections.

[Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook was such a unique and awe-inspiring experience. Every one of these arrival stories are raw, brave, emotional, and life changing. If you are a mother, or find birth fascinating, or are interested in the stories women have to tell, I guarantee you will enjoy this collection.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw this book was edited by Amy Schumer and thought I would be in for a fun read. I also saw this book at the local bookstore recommended as a good Mother’s Day gift. Both were wrong. While this was a very interesting read, it’s not light and fluffy. Instead it is a collection of birth stories that were often traumatizing and sometimes sorrowful. The book also focused on the stories of women of color and the difference between the birth experience for them as compared to white women. It was an interesting read, and I’m glad I read it. But now I’m looking for another light reading.

[Jen Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mother who went through hella shit to become pregnant, had a rough ass pregnancy and then a super long labor/ turned c-section, this book was right up my alley! I really enjoyed listening to other birth stories and hearing how I’m not alone in the things I have felt.

[Kaitlin Lewis-Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read for those interested in maternal healthcare and racial biases in medicine. Adoption, miscarriage, and abortion are all represented within these stories, as well as single-parenthood and non-traditional family models.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ummmm LOVED THIS! It’s a series of essays by different influential women who are also MOMS! There are some crazy stories and I think the book should have a TW. Really nice to read in between things because they’re short stories. Man, women are amazing!

[John Sevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this collection falls into the realm of 'not writers attempting to write' without any of the benefits of an editor that isn't just slapping their work together because their collective fame is thought to be enough to sell copies.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy and quick read. Lots of interesting and diverse stories about motherhood, and what that looks like for everyone.

[Fabulous Book Fiend · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, it defintely put me off having children in any form because it just sounds so so awful but the mix of stories and narrators was great!

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Any Schumer essay was the best ! I already knew some of her story from following her pregnancy on social media but learned more about how sick she was throughout the pregnancy 😳

[Kristen Clayton · Rating 3 out of 5]

For anyone working to decide if or how they want the experience of motherhood.

[Kimber · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of stories of women entering motherhood in all fashions. It helps you remember, as a mother, that we're not all that different. I liked this a lot!