Lying-In: A History of Childbirth in America

by Richard W. Wertz, Dorothy C. Wertz

Describes the practice of birth and society's changing attitudes towards the event since Colonial times

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Womens, Feminism, Health, Medicine, Gender

260 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Ceridwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished it. Loved.

"Sooner or later, society will have to face the problems of excessive intervention in both birth and death, if only for reasons of cost containment. When that day comes, Americans will have to look seriously at the results of their love affair with technology. A reassessent of the values placed on art and nature are in order."

Also, after massive fascinating breakdown of techno vs non-techno birth (hospital vs home, etc) the authors are basically like, the real problem is that poor black women in this country don't get good (or any) healthcare. That's what's putting us low on the international maternal and infant mortality list. What we have to do is get all people decent preventative care. Sigh. Isn't that always the conclusion.

[Brittany Batong · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my continuing quest to find out more about childbirth in the early part of the 20th century, this was another acquisition. The version I read predates but mirrors much of the information in "Brought to Bed" and "Birth", with a bit more focus than the others on the prenatal care aspect of maternity, as well as insights into health care and the medical world as they existed in various stages of American history. The scope is extensive, from the colonial period through the early 1970s, but the book contains sufficient information on any one period to satisfy amateur researchers such as myself. A solid, fact-focused book.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what I was looking for but better than expected. Such an important piece of work that illuminates the path America took that made the birth situation the way it is today. Parts of the book were very much enjoyable, especially the discussion on the evolving trends in our culture relating to childbirth and childrearing. Much of it was sad, however. I wish we could have left birth alone and not let it evolve into something that is no longer considered a normal process.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really tightly written historical narrative. Excellent for use in undergraduate seminar.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating history of how f-ed up childbirth has been in America throughout time, with a bit of an understanding of how it became SO incredibly messed up today.

[Bridget Jeffries · Rating 5 out of 5]

 This is a scholarly text originally published in the 70s, updated and re-published by Yale Press in 1989. I loved it. It’s a general survey of American attitudes towards and practices involving pregnancy and childbirth. It traces the shift from community-supported, midwife-attended, mother-centered childbirth in the colonial era to the current world of physician-attended, medicalized childbirth that emphasizes the safety of the baby and the creation of perfect children even at the expense of the mother. It covers major developments in obstetrics (anesthesia, forceps, c-sections) and medical misfires (puerperal fever epidemic, Twilight Sleep). The Wertzes’ sources are not always terribly thorough, but overall it’s a strong text that really gave me a good perspective on where childbirth has been and how we arrived at where we are.

[Vesper Stamper · Rating 5 out of 5]

What other book is there like this one? I don't know of any scholarly books objectively analyzing the history of childbirth in American from colonial times to the present. Especially valuable is the chapter on twilight sleep and its feminist foundations. Any birth professional or paraprofessional should read this and KNOW it.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the societal anthropological point of view that this book took. You must keep in mind that it was written in the 1980s so once it had come up to the "present" (aka 80s) it suddenly became very biased in its thinking. The rest of the book however was fairly well balanced in its presentation.

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative and interesting history (does what it says on the tin). Obviously this side of outdated since it was originally written and updated in the 70s and 80s, and the authors' bias of home vs. hospital birth is pretty clear, but nonetheless this is a thought-provoking read.

[Jessica McReaderpants]

I cannot find this damn book, it is somewhere in my house, when I do find it I will finish reading it and then write a review.

[Deena Scintilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually read the older version. I am very interested in how birth has become so institutionalized esp in the US and yet we have such poor outcomes compared to several developed countries.

[Mona]

An excellent book for doulas and midwives.

[Kim]

Excellent history of childbirth, particularly surrounding "social childbirth."