Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care

Pushed examines modern American maternity care through investigative journalism and extensive research. Block interviews mothers, doctors, midwives, nurses, and hospital administrators while documenting birth experiences across different settings. The book analyzes medical practices, hospital policies, and legal frameworks that shape how women give birth in the United States. Through statistics, studies, and firsthand accounts, Block explores the rise of medical interventions and cesarean sections in American hospitals. Block traces the historical shifts from home birth to hospital birth, examining how obstetrics developed as a medical specialty and how cultural attitudes toward birth have changed. The investigation covers both hospital-based care and the current homebirth movement. At its core, this is a book about autonomy, medical ethics, and the complex intersection of science, policy, and women's rights in healthcare. The work raises questions about evidence-based care and decision-making in modern obstetrics.

Readers describe this book as an investigative look at modern American maternity care that reveals concerning practices in hospitals and birth centers. Many cite the extensive research and interviews that expose unnecessary medical interventions. What readers liked: - Clear documentation of statistics and medical evidence - Personal birth stories that illustrate systemic issues - Information about alternatives to standard hospital practices - Balanced reporting that includes multiple perspectives What readers disliked: - Can feel overwhelming and frightening for pregnant readers - Some found the tone too negative toward medical professionals - A few readers wanted more solutions vs. problems - Several noted redundancy in later chapters Ratings: Goodreads: 4.24/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (180+ ratings) "This book made me angry but also empowered," wrote one reader on Goodreads. Another Amazon reviewer noted: "Should be required reading for anyone working in maternal care, though the information can be dense at times."

Birth Matters by Ina May Gaskin This investigation of American maternity systems presents alternative birth models and documents the history of midwifery in the United States.

The Business of Being Born by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein The companion book to the documentary examines birth practices in American hospitals and compares them with other developed nations.

Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born by Tina Cassidy A chronicle of childbirth through history reveals the evolution of medical interventions, cultural practices, and societal attitudes toward birth.

Cut It Out: The C-Section Epidemic in America by Theresa Morris This research-based examination explores the factors driving the rise in cesarean sections and their impact on maternal health care.

Born in the USA: How a Broken Maternity System Must Be Fixed to Put Women and Children First by Marsden Wagner An analysis of the American birth system provides data-driven comparisons with other countries' maternity care practices and outcomes.

🌟 Jennifer Block spent more than three years researching maternity care practices across America, attending births in various settings and interviewing over 100 medical professionals, midwives, and mothers. 📚 The book reveals that the U.S. has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among industrialized nations, despite spending more on maternity care than any other country. 💉 The cesarean section rate in the U.S. increased from 5% in 1970 to over 30% by the time of the book's publication in 2007—far exceeding the World Health Organization's recommended rate of 10-15%. 👶 Before the medicalization of childbirth in the early 20th century, approximately 95% of American births took place at home with midwives present. 🏥 Block's investigation found that many common hospital procedures during childbirth (such as continuous electronic fetal monitoring and routine episiotomies) are not supported by scientific evidence but continue to be widely practiced.