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Birth Day (Abridged): A Pediatrician Explores the Science, the History, and the Wonder of Childbirth Audiobook
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(4.02) - 238 listener ratings
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“I delivered twenty babies in the summer of 1977. I was hardly more than a baby myself, just turned twenty-four and starting my third year of medical school.” So began Mark Sloan’s three-decades-long exploration of the wonders and oddities of human childbirth. Pediatrician, husband, and father, the author has attended nearly three thousand births since that long-ago summer, encountering everything from routine deliveries to tense labor-room dramas. In Birth Day, Sloan draws on his personal and professional experience to weave the strands of memoir, history, science, and culture into a fascinating—and often funny—tapestry of this fundamental human passage. Some of Birth Day’s many topics include: • The first five minutes of life—scuba divers, astronauts, and the amazing adaptations that transform a fetus into an air-breathing, out-in-the-world baby. • Cesarean section—a look at its origins, its future, and how it came to be the most frequently performed operation in American hospitals. • The five senses at birth—does light enter the womb? How loud is it in there? What is a newborn baby searching for with those first anxious glances?
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"I learned a lot from this book. It's more of a collection of essays than a book that is supposed to be a comprehensive guide to birth. Which means that it goes more in-depth than most books about the topics covered, which include the baby's physical transition at birth, history of cesarean section, history and politics of pain-relieving drugs, dad's involvement, history of birth attendants (including doulas), physical characteristics of a fetus and newborn, and newborn resuscitation. Mark Sloan is a pediatrician, and he makes the book enjoyable with personal anecdotes and humor. The information is balanced. It helped me examine my own biases."
— Laura (5 out of 5 stars)
Birth Day Listener Reviews
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" I have always felt that people make too much of the "labor experience." Um, guys, it's one day. Yes, it's life changing in that you have a baby, but the actual labor part? One day. Or less. And not that big of a deal. Anyway, this book talked a lot about the history of childbirth (and the drugs that go along with it), as well as the transition from fetus to infant. It was interesting to read, but not something I would read again. "
— Shannyboo, 2/12/2014 -
" Lots of great info & history on babies & childbirth. This has been a fun read during my last weeks of pregnancy. "
— Mary, 2/6/2014 -
" Informative book about the fetus and procedures done today and yesterday to help a women through labor. "
— Misty, 2/1/2014 -
" Very interesting how this book is set up -- and I love how it goes in depth on several topics surrounding pregnancy, birth and infancy...especially the chapters on pain relief and birth attendants historically. "
— Natalie, 1/24/2014 -
" This guy is a good writer. The book was a real pleasure to read. I only gave it three stars because he gets preachy a few times, and I HATE that. Even if he's preaching "for" things that I too am "for", it still bugs me because I don't believe that they are for everyone. But, considering the subject matter, getting preachy just a few times is pretty good. He covers so much history in this book and I LOVED it all. "
— Lyndsey, 1/24/2014 -
" I really liked this book a lot! I thought it would be kind of dry but it was a great mix of history (interesting history though) and pertinent current information. I felt like I learned a lot and was overall just very intrigued by it. "
— Colleen, 1/19/2014 -
" I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! What more can I say? I recommend this book to parents equally as to those who have no children, never want children, don't even like children. I learned SO MUCH FASCINATING STUFF in this book and it was a very enjoyable and easy read. "
— Catherine, 1/19/2014 -
" a unique and often humorous look at the science and history of childbirth in the western world. Fascinating to learn about the cardiovascualr changes that occur when a fetus is born and becomes a baby independent of its mother. "
— Heather, 1/4/2014 -
" I really liked this book. I found it pretty interesting and entertaining. "
— Lori, 1/1/2014 -
" A great read with great writing for anybody who wants to know more about birth. I found it balanced and well-researched and I really loved that I started to feel like I knew the author. Fantastic voice. "
— Susan, 12/27/2013 -
" Written by a pediatrician, this is a book that is relatively childbirth friendly. He has good humor, and is not afraid to admit mistakes he made. I enjoyed this. "
— Katlet, 12/26/2013 -
" Great book. Wish I would have read it before Alaina was born. I am definitely interested in the info about nitrous oxide use during labor. It sounds so much better than the other alternatives for pain management. I am going to do some research. "
— Lauren, 12/24/2013 -
" Fabulous book, wonderfully and thoughtfully written. I highly recommend it, I wish it had been available when I was pregnant. Especially the section on circumsion perhaps I wouldn't have the regrets I do now had I been able to read Dr. Slaon's section on circumsion. "
— Carley, 12/18/2013 -
" An excellent look at childbirth procedures throughout history, including the author's personal perspective as a pediatrician. Full of many fascinating facts regarding those hours during labor and immediately following. "
— Patty, 12/10/2013 -
" So far I'm loving it! "
— Amber, 12/10/2013 -
" I enjoyed this readable history of childbirth from the eyes of a pediatrician. It's definitely given me some things to think about and discuss with Andy regarding our baby's birth. "
— Beth, 8/3/2013 -
" Very comprehensive look at medicalized birth from a doctor's point of view. Intertwined with some humor makes for a nice read. "
— Brigid, 10/17/2012 -
" This book was more a bunch of interesting observations of one doctor than a guide for a mommy-to-be or an interesting compilation of research. Still, I did find it interesting, especially once we got to the author (a pediatrician)'s REAL subject of expertise: the newborn. "
— Jenn, 10/9/2012 -
" very fun and informative read (especially for parents to be). "
— Annie, 6/3/2012 -
" I loved this book! It's research-based and scientific, yet very readable. "
— Megan, 5/30/2011 -
" Great info, balanced tone, and some very funny anecdotes and jokes. "
— Catherine, 4/30/2011 -
" So far I love the author's style and tone. This book is a great mix of science and stories. "
— Katie, 2/12/2011 -
" Here's my review of Birth Day "
— Jackie, 1/31/2011 -
" Very good history behind all aspects of giving birth. Especially having just had a baby - interesting contrasts between a hospital birth today and what would have happened over the last 100+ years "
— Erin, 12/12/2010 -
" A great read with great writing for anybody who wants to know more about birth. I found it balanced and well-researched and I really loved that I started to feel like I knew the author. Fantastic voice. "
— Susan, 12/4/2010 -
" Less a how-to than a recounting of experiences while in med school/on rotation, as well as some history into how certain birth practices have come into being. Very readable style & funny at times, too. "
— Katie, 10/17/2010 -
" I really liked this book. I found it pretty interesting and entertaining. "
— Lori, 10/12/2010 -
" Enjoyed the first half of this book (history and politics) more than the second half (biology), but would reread it nonetheless. "
— Caitlin, 8/10/2010 -
" It had some interesting info in it, but was just too dry and boring for my tastes. "
— Tisha, 4/14/2010 -
" Informative book about the fetus and procedures done today and yesterday to help a women through labor. "
— Misty, 1/8/2010 -
" I have to admit, I read about 2/3 of this while at my parents' place over the holidays. It wasn't that it was not interesting enough to finish, I've just read a lot of similar material so it become redundant. "
— Kristin, 12/12/2009 -
" very fun and informative read (especially for parents to be). "
— Annie, 11/6/2009