Penny Armstrong (1)

I love these midwife stories. This one was more about the Amish with whom she worked. It didn't touch me in the same way that Blue Cotton Gown did. It is a very interesting look at the way women give birth in America and the way hospitals work versus home births. This comes from someone in the medical profession that was skeptical about home birthing until she started helping with them. A good read. Three and a half stars.

What a wonderful story. Penny Armstrong shares her experience as a midwife. She started out with a very traditional nursing education in the hospital setting. From there, she moved into a rural area where she delivered babies for the Amish. She does a wonderful job portaying the Amish and their belief system. As a matter of fact I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about the Amish. I would have wished for more detailed midwifery descriptions as in "The Baby Catcher". show more But she made up for that with her observations of how the medical community views (and sometimes even disrespects) laboring women and their choices. I found that very insightful and disturbing at the same time. Overall a great midwifery book! show less

Really great reading option for those considering alternatives to standard hospital birthing.

life and midwifery among the Amish