The Perfect Birth Myth

Pushing Back Against a Broken Industry
In a nation where more than 3.5 million births occur each year, the experience of giving birth reveals who is valued, who is heard, and who is left behind.

In a nation where more than 3.5 million births occur each year, the experience of giving birth reveals who is valued, who is heard, and who is left behind.

The Perfect Birth Myth offers a sweeping, deeply human exploration of childbirth in the United States, the country with the most highly resourced and costliest maternal healthcare in the world, yet the highest rate of maternal mortality among developed countries. Drawing on decades of experience in maternal health, midwifery, and journalism, Avital Norman Nathman and Deborah Wage weave historical analysis, policy insight, personal narratives, and data from approximately 3,000 people whove given birth to examine the forces shaping American birth culture. From the purs