Pregnancy and Birth

Goode (sociology, State Univ. of New York, Old Westbury) and Rothman (sociology, City Univ. of New York) provide a well-organized overview of the history of pregnancy and birth in the United States, with topics such as midwifery; doulas; physician care; natural childbirth; the experiences of Indigenous peoples and the LGBTQIA+ community, including transgender people; media representations; and perinatal health care costs. Data and primary documents include the Sheppard-Towner Act and the Black Maternal Health Momnibus. A chronology details the move from community-based care to professionalized medical-based care. Profiles highlight 22 individuals (Margaret Sanger, Virginia Apgar) and 18 organizations (La Leche League, Planned Parenthood). Ten signed essays share experiences of miscarriage, adoption, surrogacy, abuse, and more. It would have been beneficial to include an essay on abortion, though it is mentioned in the miscarriage discussion. Similar titles focus on the practical rather than broader pregnancy concerns.