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Belly Woman
Hailed as "a must-read for our times" (Aminatta Forna) and "eye-opening, kind, and inspirational" (Adam Kay), Belly Woman tells the story of what happens to pregnant women when a humanitarian catastrophe strikes.
May, 2014. Sierra Leone is ranked the country with the highest death rate of pregnant women in the world. The same month, Ebola crosses in from neighbouring Guinea. Arriving a few weeks later, Dr Benjamin Black finds himself at the centre of an exponential Ebola outbreak. From impossible decisions on the maternity ward to moral dilemmas at the Ebola Treatment Centres: one mistake, one error of judgment, could spell disaster.
An eye-opening work of reportage and advocacy, Belly Woman chronicles the inside journey through an unfolding global health crisis and the struggle to save the lives of young mothers. As Black reckons with the demons of the past, he must try to learn the lessons for a different, more resilient, future.
May, 2014. Sierra Leone is ranked the country with the highest death rate of pregnant women in the world. The same month, Ebola crosses in from neighbouring Guinea. Arriving a few weeks later, Dr Benjamin Black finds himself at the centre of an exponential Ebola outbreak. From impossible decisions on the maternity ward to moral dilemmas at the Ebola Treatment Centres: one mistake, one error of judgment, could spell disaster.
An eye-opening work of reportage and advocacy, Belly Woman chronicles the inside journey through an unfolding global health crisis and the struggle to save the lives of young mothers. As Black reckons with the demons of the past, he must try to learn the lessons for a different, more resilient, future.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2022
21 people are currently reading
426 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin Oren Black
1 book14 followersDr Benjamin Black is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist and a specialist advisor to international aid organisations - including Médecins Sans Frontières. His focus on sexual, reproductive and maternal healthcare for populations in times of crisis has taken him to many countries working with humanitarian organisations, UN bodies and government departments. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic he provided frontline healthcare to pregnant women and developed international guidelines. Benjamin was a member of the expert panel for the inquiry into racial injustice in UK maternity care.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
January 20, 2023
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Lovebookstours.
Belly Woman is the memoirs of an obstetrician focusing on two major times that deadly contagious diseases have impacted the world. This book starts out focussed on the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone back in 2014 and then moves in to the Covid19 epidemic in 2020 and 2021.
Nearly everyone alive today has experienced the world during and post covid, and this book delves into the decisions that had to be made for pregnant women and the future generations to be born. This book has been told in a gentle, tender way but brings to light some of the tough decisions, obstacles, situations and topics that arose during these difficult times and touches on some tough topics surrounding women's health especially pregnant women.
My heart went out to Benjamin so many times reading what he has faced, how often he was left with little in the way of tools and equipment to deal with situations and how passionately he fought to save lives of both mothers and babies. This really opens your eyes to the dedication, care and dedication to their job that people like Benjamin provide as front line workers in exceptionally hard times. This book makes you thankful not only for their roles but for having such caring people out there who put others lives often way before their own.
This was such an interesting and informative read leaving the reader with a grateful heart and appreciation of health and health care workers.
Belly Woman is the memoirs of an obstetrician focusing on two major times that deadly contagious diseases have impacted the world. This book starts out focussed on the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone back in 2014 and then moves in to the Covid19 epidemic in 2020 and 2021.
Nearly everyone alive today has experienced the world during and post covid, and this book delves into the decisions that had to be made for pregnant women and the future generations to be born. This book has been told in a gentle, tender way but brings to light some of the tough decisions, obstacles, situations and topics that arose during these difficult times and touches on some tough topics surrounding women's health especially pregnant women.
My heart went out to Benjamin so many times reading what he has faced, how often he was left with little in the way of tools and equipment to deal with situations and how passionately he fought to save lives of both mothers and babies. This really opens your eyes to the dedication, care and dedication to their job that people like Benjamin provide as front line workers in exceptionally hard times. This book makes you thankful not only for their roles but for having such caring people out there who put others lives often way before their own.
This was such an interesting and informative read leaving the reader with a grateful heart and appreciation of health and health care workers.
January 23, 2023
“𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨; 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭. 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺, 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳.”
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
I have been thinking about what to write for a while, and honestly I can’t even put it into words. This is the most moving, emotional, heartbreaking book I have ever read. But that left me wanting to find out more the whole way through. I’m so glad I read this eye opening book.
I think this is a story that I will never have enough. It’s 2014, Ebola is a thing in a couple of countries far away, and Benjamin flies to Sierra Leone to be a surgeon/midwife in a place with a high death rate in pregnant women and babies. Ebola feels far away, until suddenly it’s not. It’s on their doorstep, and he becomes frontline in fighting a pandemic in a foreign land, where nobody understands it yet.
The difference between Sierra Leone and the world of modern medicine is that every person in Sierra Leone knows someone who has died during childbirth, and that’s not normal. This book isn’t just about how Ebola made maternal healthcare worse, it’s about the state that maternal care was in to begin with. And personally, as someone who gave birth during a pandemic, I’m so happy I read this book and got a maternity healthcare perspective of how our feelings mattered as much as protecting the staff.
If you don’t mind hearing some pretty horrific tales, and want something eye opening and deeply moving - pick up this book. It’s worth the tears that (trust me) are inevitable.
Thank you to Neem Tree Press and Benjamin Black for my #gifted copy, and to Love Book Tours for my space on the tour.
𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲.
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
I have been thinking about what to write for a while, and honestly I can’t even put it into words. This is the most moving, emotional, heartbreaking book I have ever read. But that left me wanting to find out more the whole way through. I’m so glad I read this eye opening book.
I think this is a story that I will never have enough. It’s 2014, Ebola is a thing in a couple of countries far away, and Benjamin flies to Sierra Leone to be a surgeon/midwife in a place with a high death rate in pregnant women and babies. Ebola feels far away, until suddenly it’s not. It’s on their doorstep, and he becomes frontline in fighting a pandemic in a foreign land, where nobody understands it yet.
The difference between Sierra Leone and the world of modern medicine is that every person in Sierra Leone knows someone who has died during childbirth, and that’s not normal. This book isn’t just about how Ebola made maternal healthcare worse, it’s about the state that maternal care was in to begin with. And personally, as someone who gave birth during a pandemic, I’m so happy I read this book and got a maternity healthcare perspective of how our feelings mattered as much as protecting the staff.
If you don’t mind hearing some pretty horrific tales, and want something eye opening and deeply moving - pick up this book. It’s worth the tears that (trust me) are inevitable.
Thank you to Neem Tree Press and Benjamin Black for my #gifted copy, and to Love Book Tours for my space on the tour.
𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲.
November 30, 2022
Where do you go and how to describe this book. It is a story of two diseases that have affected mankind in recent years. And also the effects they have on and the care of pregnant women. Both at home and abroad. We always complain about the waiting lists in the NHS, but when we eventually get our treatment it is second to none. And is free at the point of contact.
Compare this with healthcare in the poorest parts of the world eg. the African continent. Where many obstacles are placed in the way of health givers such as, poor hygiene , distances to the point of care and local superstition and religious practices.
This is the tale of the epidemic of Ebola and the pandemic Covid19; their differences and similarities and their treatments in the countries where they were most rife.
It is the story of a journey undertaken by one man DR. Benjamin Black and tasks to save life, bring life into the world whilst only having the tools available to him. Not only is he in many cases having to traverse a minefield in the battle against these diseases but he is also racked in many cases with guilt. What if I had done this or should have used this treatment?
This is a read that will have you shaking your head and thanking whatever gods you believe in for people on the frontline like Benjamin Black. These people not only do their jobs but in many cases risk their sanity and their lives to bring us the care we desire.
We should all be thankful for people like Benjamin and other unsung heroes. This is a book I highly commend and recommend
Compare this with healthcare in the poorest parts of the world eg. the African continent. Where many obstacles are placed in the way of health givers such as, poor hygiene , distances to the point of care and local superstition and religious practices.
This is the tale of the epidemic of Ebola and the pandemic Covid19; their differences and similarities and their treatments in the countries where they were most rife.
It is the story of a journey undertaken by one man DR. Benjamin Black and tasks to save life, bring life into the world whilst only having the tools available to him. Not only is he in many cases having to traverse a minefield in the battle against these diseases but he is also racked in many cases with guilt. What if I had done this or should have used this treatment?
This is a read that will have you shaking your head and thanking whatever gods you believe in for people on the frontline like Benjamin Black. These people not only do their jobs but in many cases risk their sanity and their lives to bring us the care we desire.
We should all be thankful for people like Benjamin and other unsung heroes. This is a book I highly commend and recommend
May 25, 2024
I received a digital review copy through NetGalley as part of the tour in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
BELLY WOMAN is a stark tale of trying to save lives during the ebola crisis and the maternity care crisis in Sierra Leone.
It is not an easy book to read. There is so much death, so many people dying and many from things that would easily treated here in the UK. There is so much needless death from situations caused by under funding, community fear of doctors, under resourcing. I cried a lot at the injustice of it all. The book does not make it easy to overlook the deaths. The women are named, their stories - as far as was known - given. These are people not ink on the page or statistics in a report.
This is a book that exposes international complicity in health crises in poorer nations, the politicking within governments and NGOs that delays aid, the bureaucracy that slow down help. It shines a light on how exactly the need to appear smart and "better than others" means organisations new to the field go in, ignoring those on the ground for a while, claiming they know best and - at best - do not help.
It looks at the mentality of isolationism in a crisis, the desire to protect those at home (in rich countries with more to spare and greater chances of survival) and how that strangles the aid desperately needed in poorer countries. It is brutal about headlines and media fanning panic, more concerned with the white "aid heroes" getting ill (and using that to justify not sending aid) than the hundred and thousands of locals putting their life at risk daily.
This is all thrown into stark contrast by scenes set in the UK, during COVID and before, contrasting the health situation here - the resources such a electricity - and that in Sierra Leone, everything we take for granted. I found the COVID scenes particularly interesting from the perspective of someone who had worked through one of the worst outbreaks of an infectious disease in a country without the same hospital resources.
BELLY WOMAN also truthfully examines the mental toll emergency works takes and acknowledges the privilege of being able to evacuate for emotional and mental health breaks. It looks at the guilt that brings as well as the relentless grind of viral treatment work.
This is an important book, and worth reading through for that perspective on global health challenges in extremes made worse by indifference and politics.
BELLY WOMAN is a stark tale of trying to save lives during the ebola crisis and the maternity care crisis in Sierra Leone.
It is not an easy book to read. There is so much death, so many people dying and many from things that would easily treated here in the UK. There is so much needless death from situations caused by under funding, community fear of doctors, under resourcing. I cried a lot at the injustice of it all. The book does not make it easy to overlook the deaths. The women are named, their stories - as far as was known - given. These are people not ink on the page or statistics in a report.
This is a book that exposes international complicity in health crises in poorer nations, the politicking within governments and NGOs that delays aid, the bureaucracy that slow down help. It shines a light on how exactly the need to appear smart and "better than others" means organisations new to the field go in, ignoring those on the ground for a while, claiming they know best and - at best - do not help.
It looks at the mentality of isolationism in a crisis, the desire to protect those at home (in rich countries with more to spare and greater chances of survival) and how that strangles the aid desperately needed in poorer countries. It is brutal about headlines and media fanning panic, more concerned with the white "aid heroes" getting ill (and using that to justify not sending aid) than the hundred and thousands of locals putting their life at risk daily.
This is all thrown into stark contrast by scenes set in the UK, during COVID and before, contrasting the health situation here - the resources such a electricity - and that in Sierra Leone, everything we take for granted. I found the COVID scenes particularly interesting from the perspective of someone who had worked through one of the worst outbreaks of an infectious disease in a country without the same hospital resources.
BELLY WOMAN also truthfully examines the mental toll emergency works takes and acknowledges the privilege of being able to evacuate for emotional and mental health breaks. It looks at the guilt that brings as well as the relentless grind of viral treatment work.
This is an important book, and worth reading through for that perspective on global health challenges in extremes made worse by indifference and politics.
June 4, 2024
I received a copy of Belly Woman for the blog tour and I was really impressed. I don't usually read much non-fiction but this one sounded interesting so I signed up, and what a gem of a book this is. It is set in Sierra Leone which is ravaged by an Ebola epidemic which makes the already terrible situation for pregnant women there even worse.
The writing is very immediate and sometimes the scenes are a little difficult to read, but they really stick with you. The book opens by throwing you right into stand never really lets up. I challenge anybody to read this and not be both touched and develop a great respect for the doctors who do this valuable work.
Thank you very much to twr and neem tree for my copy
The writing is very immediate and sometimes the scenes are a little difficult to read, but they really stick with you. The book opens by throwing you right into stand never really lets up. I challenge anybody to read this and not be both touched and develop a great respect for the doctors who do this valuable work.
Thank you very much to twr and neem tree for my copy
November 23, 2022
A harrowing inside-look at a horrifying pandemic - Ebola in Western Africa in the years 2014 to 2016 - written by a front-line OB-Gyn, doing his part to treat maternity referrals as the world around him dissolves into the chaos of a new emergency.
“In the war we knew when the rebels were coming. We would run into the bush. Those were terrible times. But, this Ebola - you don’t see it, you don’t hear it. It is worse than a rebel.”
Barely ahead of what would soon become one of the greatest public health crises in history, the author details the experiences of hospital staff working on behalf MSF (Medicines sans frontiers) as they struggle to provide a safe and risk-managed environment in which to treat and provide emergency care to a primarily young, impoverished and desperately needy female population.
As pregnant mothers and babies arrive at the medical center by ambulance or through desperate family drop-offs, each suffering from any of a wide variety of antenatal medical crises made all the more acute due to delayed treatment and lack of appropriate local care , Dr Benjamin and his colleagues battle exhaustion and lack of resources, finding themselves treating conditions rarely seen in the developed world, such as eclampsia, sometimes days-long-stalled induced deliveries, and a horrific number of still-births (many of them also life-threatening to the mother).
As Dr Black and his team soon find, the situation rapidly progresses to one that threatens to be dire for both patients and staff, as the Ebola virus, contagious and readily transmissible through bodily fluids, (aided by washing and care provided as part of funeral practices) begins its rampage of local communities and the already-critical maternity patient base.
Faced with uncertainties, now crossing over into medical quagmire, the team faces profound decisions and dangers, made all the more impossible by the twenty-four to forty-eight hour window needed to identify the presence of Ebola in a perhaps semi-conscious, bleeding and acutely ill patient.
If patient isn’t symptomatic, are they contagious?
How to treat, or perform surgery while managing an unknown level of risk to the surgical staff?
How to manage the potentially-deadly fluids of pregnancy?
Can a delivered baby (or fetus) test positive regardless of mothers Ebola status? (The answer to this question turns out to be ‘yes’)
As the crises deepens, critical decisions must be taken with the aim to reduce risk, manage exposure, and build more robust infection control practices, for the safety of both patients and staff.
As the number of patients infected and the associated fatality rates reach horrifying proportions, and the first doctors and other critical staff members begin to fall ill, it’s hard for the reader to imagine a more terrifying, heartrending and devastating situation.
A must-read, and certainly an eye-opening one, - compelling any reader to never again take available and appropriate medical care for granted - this book shines a light on the unsung heroes amongst us, in service of those who may be “pregnant with limited access to emergency care”, and whose very lives (and those of their offspring) necessitate an unrelenting endeavor.
A great big thank you to the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
“In the war we knew when the rebels were coming. We would run into the bush. Those were terrible times. But, this Ebola - you don’t see it, you don’t hear it. It is worse than a rebel.”
Barely ahead of what would soon become one of the greatest public health crises in history, the author details the experiences of hospital staff working on behalf MSF (Medicines sans frontiers) as they struggle to provide a safe and risk-managed environment in which to treat and provide emergency care to a primarily young, impoverished and desperately needy female population.
As pregnant mothers and babies arrive at the medical center by ambulance or through desperate family drop-offs, each suffering from any of a wide variety of antenatal medical crises made all the more acute due to delayed treatment and lack of appropriate local care , Dr Benjamin and his colleagues battle exhaustion and lack of resources, finding themselves treating conditions rarely seen in the developed world, such as eclampsia, sometimes days-long-stalled induced deliveries, and a horrific number of still-births (many of them also life-threatening to the mother).
As Dr Black and his team soon find, the situation rapidly progresses to one that threatens to be dire for both patients and staff, as the Ebola virus, contagious and readily transmissible through bodily fluids, (aided by washing and care provided as part of funeral practices) begins its rampage of local communities and the already-critical maternity patient base.
Faced with uncertainties, now crossing over into medical quagmire, the team faces profound decisions and dangers, made all the more impossible by the twenty-four to forty-eight hour window needed to identify the presence of Ebola in a perhaps semi-conscious, bleeding and acutely ill patient.
If patient isn’t symptomatic, are they contagious?
How to treat, or perform surgery while managing an unknown level of risk to the surgical staff?
How to manage the potentially-deadly fluids of pregnancy?
Can a delivered baby (or fetus) test positive regardless of mothers Ebola status? (The answer to this question turns out to be ‘yes’)
As the crises deepens, critical decisions must be taken with the aim to reduce risk, manage exposure, and build more robust infection control practices, for the safety of both patients and staff.
As the number of patients infected and the associated fatality rates reach horrifying proportions, and the first doctors and other critical staff members begin to fall ill, it’s hard for the reader to imagine a more terrifying, heartrending and devastating situation.
A must-read, and certainly an eye-opening one, - compelling any reader to never again take available and appropriate medical care for granted - this book shines a light on the unsung heroes amongst us, in service of those who may be “pregnant with limited access to emergency care”, and whose very lives (and those of their offspring) necessitate an unrelenting endeavor.
A great big thank you to the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
November 10, 2025
These memoirs of an obstetrician are heartbreakingly beautiful. Mostly based during the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone in 2014 it also touches on the covid pandemic in the UK in 2020/21.
As Ebola spreads through a country which already has one of the highest maternal death rates in the world this book explores the painful decisions that had to be made. It doesn’t shy away from raw emotions and at times I felt like I was right there with the author as they struggled with trying to do the right thing as well as wondering if they would be Ebolas next victim.
The gentle, storytelling writing style makes this an easy read whilst exploring some really challenging topics surrounding Womens health. It is well balanced with sparks of joy alongside deep sadness and was a book I couldn’t put down but really didn’t want to end.
As Ebola spreads through a country which already has one of the highest maternal death rates in the world this book explores the painful decisions that had to be made. It doesn’t shy away from raw emotions and at times I felt like I was right there with the author as they struggled with trying to do the right thing as well as wondering if they would be Ebolas next victim.
The gentle, storytelling writing style makes this an easy read whilst exploring some really challenging topics surrounding Womens health. It is well balanced with sparks of joy alongside deep sadness and was a book I couldn’t put down but really didn’t want to end.
January 23, 2025
This is my second reading of this book in preparation for writing this review. I shared this sentiment with Dr. Black during our virtual Being.Lagom book club meeting, but it bears repeating: from the very first pages, his humility, self-awareness, and remarkable courage shone so brightly that I couldn’t help but be drawn in. He continues to inspire me as I ponder my own career path as a junior doctor - and I can only hope that this review does a little bit of justice to his wonderful work.
Belly Woman shook me to my core as a fervent believer in Effective Altruism—who once viewed humanitarian service as simply “getting on a plane to do good” without fully grasping the sheer scope of complexities involved.
Dr Black’s harrowing account of managing maternal healthcare amid the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone offered a visceral lesson on why any real, lasting impact must be forged from inclusive, equitable collaboration with local actors. Reading about frontline staff who were “screaming into a vacuum” (166) yet ignored or brushed aside by higher powers was a stark reminder that no matter how sophisticated your response protocols might be, if they fail to heed grassroots expertise, they will fail pregnant women—and entire communities .
The book’s opening chapters immersed me in an ethical minefield where “roulette, not medicine, became the order of the day” (40) As someone who's always dreamed of serving with MSF, I found myself wondering how I would persevere in an environment where even everyday decisions—like whether to perform an emergency C-section—became a roll of the dice between life, death, or the heartbreak of stillbirth. But Belly Woman does more than highlight moral dilemmas: it forces us to confront how little cosmic altruism matters if fundamental practices, like hospital supply-chain management or reliable electricity, are absent. Dr Black’s descriptions of staff delivering babies in near darkness, guided by phone lights, underscored for me that all the passion in the world cannot eclipse the need for systematic resources and preparation.
Even more piercing were the lessons about communication—about the need to treat patients as partners, despite language barriers. The book reveals how trust and genuine human connection form the backbone of crisis medicine. “Egos can kill” (324) was not just a grim observation; it was a call to dismantle the notion that foreign “experts on arrival” understand best.
Dr Black’s experiences demonstrate that only by empowering local staff—those who know the culture, terrain, and patients intimately—can we truly protect women grappling with pregnancy during an epidemic.
Equally significant is how Belly Woman peels back layers of post-epidemic tragedy. The “unseen” maternal deaths continued even after Ebola waned, because pregnancy was viewed as an “explosive risk” during the crisis—then, as soon as headlines faded, it disappeared from the global radar once more (254)
For someone like me, who believes that rational decision-making and carefully targeted interventions can maximise positive impact, this cyclical neglect was agonizing to read. Outbreaks end, media attention drifts, and temporary humanitarian setups dismantle, yet without a robust, locally led healthcare infrastructure in place, the same preventable deaths recur.
Benjamin Black’s raw narrative left me convinced that doing good better requires both humility and a willingness to act on what local frontline responders say. We can import short-term medical teams, cutting-edge technology, or experimental treatments, but none can supplant the fundamental need for ongoing trust, local capacity-building, and staple essentials—clean water, a stable power supply, a functioning operating theatre. These “mundane” elements are no less critical than the heroic acts of individually saving lives in the moment.
At the end of Belly Woman, I felt a jarring mixture of hope and despair.
◉Hope, because of individuals like Black and the extraordinary local healthcare workers who stuck it out—some giving their lives for their communities. (159)
◉Despair, because the book lays bare how easily powerful decision-makers can sabotage fragile improvements through bureaucracy or sheer arrogance. It is a wake-up call I needed as a rookie doctor: that good intentions must align with deep respect for local know-how, adequate supply chain logistics, and an unwavering commitment to leaving no mothers behind, even after the cameras depart.
In short, Belly Woman is a soul-stirring read that has recalibrated my entire approach to medical service. It is not enough to merely “want to help” in crisis zones; we must become adept at collaborative leadership, mindful resource management, and empathetic communication with patients whose language we might not share but whose utter vulnerability we do. I close this review more determined than ever to advance my efforts with High Impact Medicine and to infuse in each community member with principles of Effective Altruism that is truly inclusive, listening to leaders on the ground, championing robust local healthcare structures, and ensuring every obstetric ward has what it needs to stop the next epidemic from becoming yet another lost chapter for women’s health
Belly Woman shook me to my core as a fervent believer in Effective Altruism—who once viewed humanitarian service as simply “getting on a plane to do good” without fully grasping the sheer scope of complexities involved.
Dr Black’s harrowing account of managing maternal healthcare amid the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone offered a visceral lesson on why any real, lasting impact must be forged from inclusive, equitable collaboration with local actors. Reading about frontline staff who were “screaming into a vacuum” (166) yet ignored or brushed aside by higher powers was a stark reminder that no matter how sophisticated your response protocols might be, if they fail to heed grassroots expertise, they will fail pregnant women—and entire communities .
The book’s opening chapters immersed me in an ethical minefield where “roulette, not medicine, became the order of the day” (40) As someone who's always dreamed of serving with MSF, I found myself wondering how I would persevere in an environment where even everyday decisions—like whether to perform an emergency C-section—became a roll of the dice between life, death, or the heartbreak of stillbirth. But Belly Woman does more than highlight moral dilemmas: it forces us to confront how little cosmic altruism matters if fundamental practices, like hospital supply-chain management or reliable electricity, are absent. Dr Black’s descriptions of staff delivering babies in near darkness, guided by phone lights, underscored for me that all the passion in the world cannot eclipse the need for systematic resources and preparation.
Even more piercing were the lessons about communication—about the need to treat patients as partners, despite language barriers. The book reveals how trust and genuine human connection form the backbone of crisis medicine. “Egos can kill” (324) was not just a grim observation; it was a call to dismantle the notion that foreign “experts on arrival” understand best.
Dr Black’s experiences demonstrate that only by empowering local staff—those who know the culture, terrain, and patients intimately—can we truly protect women grappling with pregnancy during an epidemic.
Equally significant is how Belly Woman peels back layers of post-epidemic tragedy. The “unseen” maternal deaths continued even after Ebola waned, because pregnancy was viewed as an “explosive risk” during the crisis—then, as soon as headlines faded, it disappeared from the global radar once more (254)
For someone like me, who believes that rational decision-making and carefully targeted interventions can maximise positive impact, this cyclical neglect was agonizing to read. Outbreaks end, media attention drifts, and temporary humanitarian setups dismantle, yet without a robust, locally led healthcare infrastructure in place, the same preventable deaths recur.
Benjamin Black’s raw narrative left me convinced that doing good better requires both humility and a willingness to act on what local frontline responders say. We can import short-term medical teams, cutting-edge technology, or experimental treatments, but none can supplant the fundamental need for ongoing trust, local capacity-building, and staple essentials—clean water, a stable power supply, a functioning operating theatre. These “mundane” elements are no less critical than the heroic acts of individually saving lives in the moment.
At the end of Belly Woman, I felt a jarring mixture of hope and despair.
◉Hope, because of individuals like Black and the extraordinary local healthcare workers who stuck it out—some giving their lives for their communities. (159)
◉Despair, because the book lays bare how easily powerful decision-makers can sabotage fragile improvements through bureaucracy or sheer arrogance. It is a wake-up call I needed as a rookie doctor: that good intentions must align with deep respect for local know-how, adequate supply chain logistics, and an unwavering commitment to leaving no mothers behind, even after the cameras depart.
In short, Belly Woman is a soul-stirring read that has recalibrated my entire approach to medical service. It is not enough to merely “want to help” in crisis zones; we must become adept at collaborative leadership, mindful resource management, and empathetic communication with patients whose language we might not share but whose utter vulnerability we do. I close this review more determined than ever to advance my efforts with High Impact Medicine and to infuse in each community member with principles of Effective Altruism that is truly inclusive, listening to leaders on the ground, championing robust local healthcare structures, and ensuring every obstetric ward has what it needs to stop the next epidemic from becoming yet another lost chapter for women’s health
June 7, 2024
Although this is not quite what I was expecting when I agreed to take part in the blog tour, I am so very glad that I did as it is a fantastic book.
If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:
https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:
https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
November 7, 2024
An excellent book about maternity care in Sierra Leone. I would've liked a little more description about emotions, feelings and patient outcomes as towards the end it became a lot about logistics of running the hospital. Loved the contrast with Covid too.
June 5, 2024
Belly Woman is a harrowing, emotive read. It is also utterly compelling. Written from a humanitarian and medical perspective, Black's memoir is a matter of fact account of his time working at the MSF in Sierra Leone at the height of the 2014 Ebola outbreak. The raw descriptions of pregnant women suffering miscarriages and stillbirths with limited medical resources is heartbreaking, and highlights the stark difference with Western healthcare.
Powerful images of the mental toll taken on the medical team is also clearly laid out.
Although I was unsure what to expect when I first started reading, I was transfixed by the individual women's stories and those of Black and his colleagues contained within this book, and all too aware of my previous ignorance. This is an important book that could be used as an educational tool, if that's not already the case.
Powerful images of the mental toll taken on the medical team is also clearly laid out.
Although I was unsure what to expect when I first started reading, I was transfixed by the individual women's stories and those of Black and his colleagues contained within this book, and all too aware of my previous ignorance. This is an important book that could be used as an educational tool, if that's not already the case.
August 14, 2023
Who else likes a book of true medical stories? 🙋♀️
Heading into a science and music festival weekend near Manchester in July I was looking for something to read to take to the fest and stumbled into a thrift store (charity shop) there operated by Oxfam. I found this telling by Dr. Black, an OBGYN who practices in London. He spent several years in the 2010s in Sierra Leone during an Ebola outbreak working with Doctors Without Borders (MSF). The interesting thing about this story is that the Ebola outbreak had not started when he headed down there from England. It began shortly after he arrived. Most of the doctors in the area at the start of the Ebola epidemic were actually concerned about outbreaks of Lassa fever. The unfolding of the realization and horror of Ebola was riveting from a medical perspective. Then there’s the gut wrenching social component of the women and their OBGYN needs.
Pregnancy is still a high cause of death in Western Africa and access to proper roads and care along with old standing beliefs of a woman’s body and ownership means many give birth in complex situations even without battling a brutal virus like Ebola. The author did a clever thing in the book which was to bounce back and forth between the women of West Africa’s pregnancy and experiences during this outbreak and regular pregnancy experiences from women in London. The differences were stark and have stuck with me. As an American, especially living in Texas, I have also thought about our current US laws in regards to women’s bodies and agency as it relates to pregnancy. This a well written experience that carefully displays all the various emotions of patients and the volunteer doctors doing their best to battle an illness with no cure and a high mortality rate. Ebola isn’t eradicated and will be back in another outbreak someday. Its ability to be curtailed requires cooperation and fast action and unrest like what’s happening in west Africa now can complicate control. Books like this provide an excellent first person understanding.
Heading into a science and music festival weekend near Manchester in July I was looking for something to read to take to the fest and stumbled into a thrift store (charity shop) there operated by Oxfam. I found this telling by Dr. Black, an OBGYN who practices in London. He spent several years in the 2010s in Sierra Leone during an Ebola outbreak working with Doctors Without Borders (MSF). The interesting thing about this story is that the Ebola outbreak had not started when he headed down there from England. It began shortly after he arrived. Most of the doctors in the area at the start of the Ebola epidemic were actually concerned about outbreaks of Lassa fever. The unfolding of the realization and horror of Ebola was riveting from a medical perspective. Then there’s the gut wrenching social component of the women and their OBGYN needs.
Pregnancy is still a high cause of death in Western Africa and access to proper roads and care along with old standing beliefs of a woman’s body and ownership means many give birth in complex situations even without battling a brutal virus like Ebola. The author did a clever thing in the book which was to bounce back and forth between the women of West Africa’s pregnancy and experiences during this outbreak and regular pregnancy experiences from women in London. The differences were stark and have stuck with me. As an American, especially living in Texas, I have also thought about our current US laws in regards to women’s bodies and agency as it relates to pregnancy. This a well written experience that carefully displays all the various emotions of patients and the volunteer doctors doing their best to battle an illness with no cure and a high mortality rate. Ebola isn’t eradicated and will be back in another outbreak someday. Its ability to be curtailed requires cooperation and fast action and unrest like what’s happening in west Africa now can complicate control. Books like this provide an excellent first person understanding.
September 1, 2024
As I passed through Freetown, I was debriefed by Sarah, who asked what this mission had meant to me. I thought for a moment, but the truth stung: I wanted absolution - to find a small way to repair our failings to women and their communities over the previous years. I knew we never could, but I hoped we had planted a seed that would grow into something stronger for the future. 320
'What is the point of a hospital if you can't get to it?' 318
Breathtaking and poignant. I've turned the last page and am in a state of awe. With Belly Woman, Benjamin Oren Black shares his time spent in Sierra Leone, working with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) as an ob/gyn, during the Ebola outbreak. The divide in realities between western hospitals and the more isolated, NGO hospitals is stark. Imagine working in a hospital without running water, or electricity, or even lights. Each day, I would balance my fears of Ebola against my desire to treat the patients coming through our doors with obstetric catastrophes. 65 Yes, and the patients he saw were often completely catastrophic. For example, pre-eclampsia is a fairly common complication of pregnancy. However, in Sierra Leone the patients arrive with full blown eclampsia, which is more dangerous to the life of the mother and fetus, than pre-eclampsia. This could be avoided if they were treated during the pre-eclampsia stage.
As my eyes adjusted to the evolving darkness inside the maternity ward, I asked, 'How do you see at night? How can you deliver a baby?'. Kadiatu picked up her mobile phone from the table and stuck it in her mouth. At the end was a little torch light. 'Like this,' she said, sounding as if her mouth was full of boiled sweets. I imagined providing clinical care, supporting the birth of a baby, with a mobile phone inside my mouth. 279
Not only is the book an absolute WOW, but Benjamin Black is also a fantastic writer. Here are a few choice sentences:
He spoke in English with a thick French accent, slowing his words down, each one punching the air, carefully chosen and clear. 81
As the rainy season advanced, the daily thunderstorms attacked the parched red earth, beating it into submission and flooding what had once been dust. The large droplets bashing the corrugated iron roofs created a deafening cacophony, like thousands of steel drums being struck by an angry mob. 103
Her voice had the sound of a thousand missions, someone who had seen the best and worst of humanity. 123
The aeroplane juddered as it passed through the heavy storm clouds gathering like the furrowed eyebrows of a teenager over Lunghi. 246
A moment for the cover. The graphic art on the cover is striking. The subtitle on the yellow ribbon reminiscent of crime scene tape. It is a crime that women continue to needlessly die in childbirth.
Chapter 6 is titled after a Regina Spektor lyric No One laughs at God in a hospital.. I've gotta say I do love Regina Spektor and, in honor of this chapter, am currently spinning her latest album. If you haven't discovered her music yet, well: Laughing With
If you work in the field of healthcare you honestly must read this good read.
Dr. Benjamin Black graciously joined our online book discussion via Being.lagom: book group discussion
Also, enjoy this snippet from an interview with the author, Benjamin Black:
interview
'What is the point of a hospital if you can't get to it?' 318
Breathtaking and poignant. I've turned the last page and am in a state of awe. With Belly Woman, Benjamin Oren Black shares his time spent in Sierra Leone, working with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) as an ob/gyn, during the Ebola outbreak. The divide in realities between western hospitals and the more isolated, NGO hospitals is stark. Imagine working in a hospital without running water, or electricity, or even lights. Each day, I would balance my fears of Ebola against my desire to treat the patients coming through our doors with obstetric catastrophes. 65 Yes, and the patients he saw were often completely catastrophic. For example, pre-eclampsia is a fairly common complication of pregnancy. However, in Sierra Leone the patients arrive with full blown eclampsia, which is more dangerous to the life of the mother and fetus, than pre-eclampsia. This could be avoided if they were treated during the pre-eclampsia stage.
As my eyes adjusted to the evolving darkness inside the maternity ward, I asked, 'How do you see at night? How can you deliver a baby?'. Kadiatu picked up her mobile phone from the table and stuck it in her mouth. At the end was a little torch light. 'Like this,' she said, sounding as if her mouth was full of boiled sweets. I imagined providing clinical care, supporting the birth of a baby, with a mobile phone inside my mouth. 279
Not only is the book an absolute WOW, but Benjamin Black is also a fantastic writer. Here are a few choice sentences:
He spoke in English with a thick French accent, slowing his words down, each one punching the air, carefully chosen and clear. 81
As the rainy season advanced, the daily thunderstorms attacked the parched red earth, beating it into submission and flooding what had once been dust. The large droplets bashing the corrugated iron roofs created a deafening cacophony, like thousands of steel drums being struck by an angry mob. 103
Her voice had the sound of a thousand missions, someone who had seen the best and worst of humanity. 123
The aeroplane juddered as it passed through the heavy storm clouds gathering like the furrowed eyebrows of a teenager over Lunghi. 246
A moment for the cover. The graphic art on the cover is striking. The subtitle on the yellow ribbon reminiscent of crime scene tape. It is a crime that women continue to needlessly die in childbirth.
Chapter 6 is titled after a Regina Spektor lyric No One laughs at God in a hospital.. I've gotta say I do love Regina Spektor and, in honor of this chapter, am currently spinning her latest album. If you haven't discovered her music yet, well: Laughing With
If you work in the field of healthcare you honestly must read this good read.
Dr. Benjamin Black graciously joined our online book discussion via Being.lagom: book group discussion
Also, enjoy this snippet from an interview with the author, Benjamin Black:
interview
February 25, 2025
A book which gives you both the best and the worst of humanity, right next to each other.
Benjamin Black has had an incredible life; I had the opportunity to attend a lecture he gave a few months ago, and trust me when I say that the pages in this book (whilst extensive), are still only a distillation of all the lives he has lived. And that he was able to, and chose to let us in to see some of those, is a great honour.
The obvious comparison is to David Nott's 'War Doctor'. Also a wonderful book, but this is better. More human, more reflective and honest. Kinder and able to admit its mistakes.
I could wax lyrically for ages about this book, but it doesn't feel appropriate. The sheer emotion and vulnerability within it defy praise, perhaps even make that praise seem superficial, misplaced. So I won't. But I could.
Benjamin Black has had an incredible life; I had the opportunity to attend a lecture he gave a few months ago, and trust me when I say that the pages in this book (whilst extensive), are still only a distillation of all the lives he has lived. And that he was able to, and chose to let us in to see some of those, is a great honour.
The obvious comparison is to David Nott's 'War Doctor'. Also a wonderful book, but this is better. More human, more reflective and honest. Kinder and able to admit its mistakes.
I could wax lyrically for ages about this book, but it doesn't feel appropriate. The sheer emotion and vulnerability within it defy praise, perhaps even make that praise seem superficial, misplaced. So I won't. But I could.
December 29, 2022
The book brings to our attention the sheer dedication, care, kindness, understanding, love and bravery that medical professionals show in some of the most unnerving and challenging circumstances that they are faced with. The focus here is the Ebola epidemic which took hold in the year 2014 in Africa.
The author attempts to compare Covid-19 in England to Ebola in Africa, although some good points are made here, I felt there was a lot missing.
We look at the similarities and treatments that are available in both instances. Dr Benjamin Oren Black shares with us his story. This man goes above and beyond what is necessary in order to save lives and make things as good as they possibly can be. Although Covid-19 is one of the focuses of the book it is mainly about Ebola and what was happening over there in Africa.
We look at the experiences of hospital staff working on behalf MSF (Medicines sans frontiers) as they struggle to provide a safe environment in which to treat their patients (mostly young people and pregnant women) The conditions they have to work in with very limited tools and resources is unimaginable and just wrong. You can feel the sadness and frustration within the pages as the author explains conditions and procedures.
There will be some parts that people will find tough to read but the author does throw in some good humor to lighten the load! Dr Benjamin Oren was right there on the front line risking his life when really he didn’t need to, he could have easily walked away but he didn’t, he chose to get stuck in and do what he knew was right in his heart, and that’s the point here - we don’t always see and understand how lucky we are to have people like him in our world.
The book reminds us that there is good out there, it encourages us to be there for each other, be nice to your friends, neighbors and families, help each other and support each other. It encourages you to take an interest in what is happening in our world and to learn from it. When times are hard, we should all be pulling together and not fighting and arguing.
Overall, a very important and interesting read littered with inspiring moments and insightful thoughts and discussion starters. Well, worth a read.
The author attempts to compare Covid-19 in England to Ebola in Africa, although some good points are made here, I felt there was a lot missing.
We look at the similarities and treatments that are available in both instances. Dr Benjamin Oren Black shares with us his story. This man goes above and beyond what is necessary in order to save lives and make things as good as they possibly can be. Although Covid-19 is one of the focuses of the book it is mainly about Ebola and what was happening over there in Africa.
We look at the experiences of hospital staff working on behalf MSF (Medicines sans frontiers) as they struggle to provide a safe environment in which to treat their patients (mostly young people and pregnant women) The conditions they have to work in with very limited tools and resources is unimaginable and just wrong. You can feel the sadness and frustration within the pages as the author explains conditions and procedures.
There will be some parts that people will find tough to read but the author does throw in some good humor to lighten the load! Dr Benjamin Oren was right there on the front line risking his life when really he didn’t need to, he could have easily walked away but he didn’t, he chose to get stuck in and do what he knew was right in his heart, and that’s the point here - we don’t always see and understand how lucky we are to have people like him in our world.
The book reminds us that there is good out there, it encourages us to be there for each other, be nice to your friends, neighbors and families, help each other and support each other. It encourages you to take an interest in what is happening in our world and to learn from it. When times are hard, we should all be pulling together and not fighting and arguing.
Overall, a very important and interesting read littered with inspiring moments and insightful thoughts and discussion starters. Well, worth a read.
February 8, 2023
Belly Woman
I don't think I've ever cried so much reading a book, but it was also (cliche alert) inspirational. What happened to some of these women, children and the other medical staff is almost unbelievable and it is captured here in such an intense but readable way.
The author shares enough about himself that you feel like you get to know him, but at the same time, it's feels like it's not a book all about him. It's more of on-the-ground look at the women and children in Sierra Leone and the chaos and fear that came with early Ebola, as well as the work an entire team did to fight it.
In contrast to other humanitarian books I've read, this story really shows the stories of his colleagues from Sierra Leone who, in the face of this new scale of outbreak and danger, quickly become Ebola experts in this dangerous setting. A story about one his colleagues in paticular will haunt me for long time.
In some ways, it had a lot of the things I enjoyed about "This is Going to Hurt" by Adam Kay, like interesting medical cases and behind-the-scences of maternity units, but with all the different challenges that come with being in a very different, lower rescource setting, as well as during an outbreak. I think this is a really important book which I would recommend to anyone interested in women, childbirth, and global health, or even just interested in the stories of how people live and work in these sorts of emergencies.
I don't think I've ever cried so much reading a book, but it was also (cliche alert) inspirational. What happened to some of these women, children and the other medical staff is almost unbelievable and it is captured here in such an intense but readable way.
The author shares enough about himself that you feel like you get to know him, but at the same time, it's feels like it's not a book all about him. It's more of on-the-ground look at the women and children in Sierra Leone and the chaos and fear that came with early Ebola, as well as the work an entire team did to fight it.
In contrast to other humanitarian books I've read, this story really shows the stories of his colleagues from Sierra Leone who, in the face of this new scale of outbreak and danger, quickly become Ebola experts in this dangerous setting. A story about one his colleagues in paticular will haunt me for long time.
In some ways, it had a lot of the things I enjoyed about "This is Going to Hurt" by Adam Kay, like interesting medical cases and behind-the-scences of maternity units, but with all the different challenges that come with being in a very different, lower rescource setting, as well as during an outbreak. I think this is a really important book which I would recommend to anyone interested in women, childbirth, and global health, or even just interested in the stories of how people live and work in these sorts of emergencies.
January 16, 2023
I found this hard to ‘rate’ because of the context of the book. However, I give it 5/5 because it was such a hard read but shows you that some people are born fighters and will do whatever they can - in this case, Benjamin Black is exactly that.
This was probably one of the hardest but most eye opening reads I’ve read in a long time. I found it quite a struggle but it was written excellently - definitely eye opening.
I learned a lot about Ebola when I was younger through school and college but never to this extent, I knew it was bad but when you talk about how it affects some of the poorest countries in the world and add in pregnancy, its a whole different ball game.
I, obviously, have lived through COVID-19 myself and found it hard never mind being pregnant and in a poor country. They need to work with what they have and sometimes, that’s just not enough.
If you choose to read this, its a bit of a reality check for us who have our wonderful NHS (which may be near breaking) but we have the hygiene, skill set and equipment for most things they come up against. As a proud member of NHS, this book touched home and is a reality check for a lot of people.
Thank you to @benjamblack for your fight for these people, for the work you do and for writing this book. You truly are one of the unsung heroes. I will cherish this book and recommend. Thank you for allowing me a copy.
Thank you to @lovebooktours for having me on tour.
This was probably one of the hardest but most eye opening reads I’ve read in a long time. I found it quite a struggle but it was written excellently - definitely eye opening.
I learned a lot about Ebola when I was younger through school and college but never to this extent, I knew it was bad but when you talk about how it affects some of the poorest countries in the world and add in pregnancy, its a whole different ball game.
I, obviously, have lived through COVID-19 myself and found it hard never mind being pregnant and in a poor country. They need to work with what they have and sometimes, that’s just not enough.
If you choose to read this, its a bit of a reality check for us who have our wonderful NHS (which may be near breaking) but we have the hygiene, skill set and equipment for most things they come up against. As a proud member of NHS, this book touched home and is a reality check for a lot of people.
Thank you to @benjamblack for your fight for these people, for the work you do and for writing this book. You truly are one of the unsung heroes. I will cherish this book and recommend. Thank you for allowing me a copy.
Thank you to @lovebooktours for having me on tour.
January 7, 2023
This is an emotionally difficult book to read, I very much had to take it chapter by chapter with long breaks between.
It's heartbreaking knowing what the Dr's and nurses were truly facing in the Ebola outbreak of the mid-2010s! I remember the news coverage of it, but nothing prepares you for these real accounts of it. Especially with this having a maternal medicine slant on it and so soon for the majority of us who have come out of the Covid pandemic and could relate many of the situations to both endemics.
We know that a lot of Africa is less developed and steeped in corruption, making the monetary divide larger than it should be. However, the extent of parts of it are recounted in here and are appalling.
There's some really difficult moments throughout, the focus is on maternal medicine and in these poorer countries this has a less positive outcome much of the time. I quite enjoy medical tales from the front line generally speaking, but there were times in this I wished the author hadn't been so honest because it really packed a physical and emotional punch. He had to tell his whole story though, these women who were failed, were unlucky or survived, deserve to have their stories told.
A hugely compassionate man that the NHS should be incredibly thankful for!
A great read.
It's heartbreaking knowing what the Dr's and nurses were truly facing in the Ebola outbreak of the mid-2010s! I remember the news coverage of it, but nothing prepares you for these real accounts of it. Especially with this having a maternal medicine slant on it and so soon for the majority of us who have come out of the Covid pandemic and could relate many of the situations to both endemics.
We know that a lot of Africa is less developed and steeped in corruption, making the monetary divide larger than it should be. However, the extent of parts of it are recounted in here and are appalling.
There's some really difficult moments throughout, the focus is on maternal medicine and in these poorer countries this has a less positive outcome much of the time. I quite enjoy medical tales from the front line generally speaking, but there were times in this I wished the author hadn't been so honest because it really packed a physical and emotional punch. He had to tell his whole story though, these women who were failed, were unlucky or survived, deserve to have their stories told.
A hugely compassionate man that the NHS should be incredibly thankful for!
A great read.
December 19, 2024
“Belly Woman” is a powerful memoir penned by Benjamin Black, chronicling his experiences of providing care to pregnant women during the devastating Ebola pandemic in Sierra Leone between 2014 to 2016. The narrative also delves into how the United Kingdom later applied the insights gained from the Ebola crisis to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Upon initially delving into this book, I was uncertain about what it would entail, but it quickly captivated me. Black’s writing skillfully unveils the perilous circumstances surrounding childbirth in Sierra Leone, offering a candid and poignant portrayal. The book proved to be both compelling and heartrending, particularly in its depiction of the challenges faced by women and healthcare professionals. It served as a profound revelation, leaving me with a deep appreciation for the healthcare system in the UK, despite its imperfections.
Reviewing this book is challenging, but I wholeheartedly recommend it to those intrigued by medical memoirs.
Disclaimer: It’s important to note that the book may be triggering for some readers. I’ve outlined a few potential triggers below:
– Detailed descriptions of childbirth
– Themes of child loss
– Depictions of death
– Instances of neglect
Upon initially delving into this book, I was uncertain about what it would entail, but it quickly captivated me. Black’s writing skillfully unveils the perilous circumstances surrounding childbirth in Sierra Leone, offering a candid and poignant portrayal. The book proved to be both compelling and heartrending, particularly in its depiction of the challenges faced by women and healthcare professionals. It served as a profound revelation, leaving me with a deep appreciation for the healthcare system in the UK, despite its imperfections.
Reviewing this book is challenging, but I wholeheartedly recommend it to those intrigued by medical memoirs.
Disclaimer: It’s important to note that the book may be triggering for some readers. I’ve outlined a few potential triggers below:
– Detailed descriptions of childbirth
– Themes of child loss
– Depictions of death
– Instances of neglect
September 19, 2022
📚What happens to pregnant women when a humanitarian catastrophe strikes? Belly Woman shines a light on a story often left untold.
This is a memoir by an obstetrician, Dr Benjamin Black, that chronicles his journey as a humanitarian doctor in Sierra Leone from 2014-2019 which was the centre of the Ebola outbreak.
I couldn’t put this book down. Because I was in awe of the author and all the medical staff fighting to save the lives of pregnant women during an unsettling time such as the Ebola outbreak. I sensed their fear, anxiety, sadness and determination to keep fighting to bring the international community together to help the most inflicted area. Ebola is all done, but we can learn from their experience to deal with pandemics better in the future.
I don’t know how to review a memoir like this because I have too much respect for the author and everyone mentioned in this book. All I can say is PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. It’s so important that the stories of these lost lives and survivors are told.
This is a memoir by an obstetrician, Dr Benjamin Black, that chronicles his journey as a humanitarian doctor in Sierra Leone from 2014-2019 which was the centre of the Ebola outbreak.
I couldn’t put this book down. Because I was in awe of the author and all the medical staff fighting to save the lives of pregnant women during an unsettling time such as the Ebola outbreak. I sensed their fear, anxiety, sadness and determination to keep fighting to bring the international community together to help the most inflicted area. Ebola is all done, but we can learn from their experience to deal with pandemics better in the future.
I don’t know how to review a memoir like this because I have too much respect for the author and everyone mentioned in this book. All I can say is PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. It’s so important that the stories of these lost lives and survivors are told.
November 22, 2022
Black's story is moving account of his experience in 2014 and chronicles his time on the front line. The stark difference between the medical standards he was used to in the UK and those he was required to work with in Sierra Leone were staggering. Although this perhaps comes as little surprise, the book certainly serves as an eye-opener.
The decisions Black and his colleague had to make to protect vulnerable women and their unborn children from a deadly disease were, quite literally, life-changing. Parallels are drawn by Black between the Ebola crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic (fake news; difficulty in grasping infection control; recognising, testing and tracing the disease among others) but the medical injustices are clear.
Rarely have I been as moved by a book as I was by Belly Woman. As we have seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical practitioners on the front line are heroes; protecting and helping those in the face of a deadly disease, whilst also trying to protect themselves.
Fascinating and thought-provoking, Belly Woman is an absolute must-read.
The decisions Black and his colleague had to make to protect vulnerable women and their unborn children from a deadly disease were, quite literally, life-changing. Parallels are drawn by Black between the Ebola crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic (fake news; difficulty in grasping infection control; recognising, testing and tracing the disease among others) but the medical injustices are clear.
Rarely have I been as moved by a book as I was by Belly Woman. As we have seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical practitioners on the front line are heroes; protecting and helping those in the face of a deadly disease, whilst also trying to protect themselves.
Fascinating and thought-provoking, Belly Woman is an absolute must-read.
December 2, 2022
What struck me most was the dedication and the bravery that the doctors show in the most challenging circumstances. When you add to that the deadly risk of catching Ebola, you realise how inspirational they are. The importance of maternal care is spelled out by Dr Black, “Around the world, a woman dies every two minutes from a pregnancy-related complication....her death will be tragic, not only for herself and her children, but for her whole community”. In Belly Woman we learn about lots of cases that Dr Black dealt with. I was touched by the detail described of each one. It showed his care and the importance of each and every birth. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time and I will never take for granted the maternal care that we receive from the NHS.
August 31, 2025
A harrowing read oftentimes, Dr Black recounts his experiences of working in low-resource and remote obstetrics in Sierra Leona against the backdrop of the Ebola epidemic. The descriptions are vivid and evocative, and transport the reader into his shoes - you feel the same anxieties, trepidations, fears and joys. From a medical perspective, this is a no-holds-barred recount - I learnt a fair bit about obstetrics too.
As someone who is interested in humanitarian work myself, this book has served as somewhat of a wake-up call. Some of the decisions which need to be made in the field are grim, and clearly carry a degree of moral injury for individuals working in these contexts.
An enthralling and emotional read - I would highly recommend to others.
As someone who is interested in humanitarian work myself, this book has served as somewhat of a wake-up call. Some of the decisions which need to be made in the field are grim, and clearly carry a degree of moral injury for individuals working in these contexts.
An enthralling and emotional read - I would highly recommend to others.
February 18, 2023
Benjamin Black has written an incredible account of his experiences helping pregnant women in the midst of an Ebola outbreak. Some of the choices he and his team have to make are heartbreaking and the description of the poor conditions and lack of resources are mind boggling. Reading the book as a mother it was hard to comprehend the things that these women have to go through. As a narrator, Black shines a spotlight on humanity, crisis and care. The book is incredibly detailed and whilst it makes compelling reading I have had to take a step away to digest some if the content. A very important book.
February 27, 2023
I can’t even put into words how heartbreaking this book was, even more so that most of my family live in Freetown. I was so naive about how deadly Ebola was until reading this book and I’m so ashamed to say that. So many lives lost and sadly it wasn’t just down to the virus itself. Medical professionals are true gems in our world especially those who put their lives on the line for humanitarian crises. Every time I speak to my aunties and nieces back home, I’ll think of the many women and babies who died and be thankful this is not the story of anyone in my family. Thank you for sharing Doctor Benjamin.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2022
I flew through this book and, even with no medical background (I'm an English teacher!), found it accessible, engaging and totally inspiring. It's brilliantly written - Black really can write - evoking the experience for readers of Sierra Leone in the midst of the Ebola epidemic whilst also encouraging us to consider the parallels with the Covid pandemic (but it isn't overbearing). I was also struck by the humanitarian and anthropological considerations of this sort of work. The book will stay with me for a long time - I highly recommend it.
October 24, 2022
This book is simultaneously inspiring and heartbreaking. Beautiful poignant story of how women's health crises in Sierra Leone was affected by ebola, and the emotional roller-coaster the author experienced during his time there. This book doesn't pull any punches. I couldn't put it down. The stories have stayed with me and I have no doubt will continue to change my perspective at work and in my life.
December 7, 2022
Wow, did this need book need a good editor!? A vitally important story very poorly told. I did not enjoy this book, it was far too long, poorly structured, repetitive… and the doctor came across as a very cold man. He seemed to lack empathy to me, so different to other doctors’ memoirs I’ve read, when empathy and compassion oozes from every page ( think Henry Marsh)
I skipped 40 per cent of the book; had just had enough of the tedium.
I skipped 40 per cent of the book; had just had enough of the tedium.
December 12, 2022
Such a rare talent to be able to describe a humanitarian crisis and yet do it in such a captivating moving gripping way. I could not put this book down. I loved every page of this book and think it should be read by everyone - men and women. It is written in such a beautiful way - weaving his own personal journey into the painful memories of his journey with these inspiring heroines he treats along the way. I cried, I smiled, I was most of all inspired. A total must read!!!
April 3, 2023
A brilliant and beautifully written book, shedding light on just how dangerous it is to be a woman giving birth in Sierra Leone. It was both fascinating and heart-breaking to read of the challenges faced by the healthcare professionals who cared for these women during the west African Ebola epidemic, as well as reflecting on how the UK would later respond to the covid 19 pandemic. I loved it!
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