Customer Reviews

Diary of a Midwife

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I read this book straight through while traveling recently, unable to put it down except for meal breaks! I cried through the stories of difficult hospital births, laughed through the many inspiring accounts of incredible home births and finally put the book down with a feeling of great joy and inspiration. _Diary of a Midwife_ is a keeper and worth giving to every woman you know. Juliana's insights into women's health and particularly into the "birthrights" that women have lost in the past few decades are revealing and thought-provoking.

If you are already a midwifery advocate, this book will serve to cement your beliefs. If you have doubts about the safety of home birth, this book will challenge your thinking. If you'd like to try "natural" birthing, but are a little worried, Diary of a Midwife will encourage you to find the strength you already possess and experience the true joy in giving birth.

On a personal note, I called Juliana in 1996 when I found out I was expecting my first child. Although she was shutting down her midwifery practice to start the new school at Shenandoah University, she took the time to talk to me about my options and refer me to some other midwives in the area. Her book only served to reinforce my positive impression of her and midwives in general, and I have now had two midwife-attended births--one in a center and one at home--both incredible, happy experiences. _Diary of a Midwife_ is empowering, motivating and beautiful. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

Three years ago, while I was researching available midwifery books in preparation for writing my own recently-published midwife memoir, BABY CATCHER: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife, I found Juliana's book, snatched it up, and devoured it. Sitting on the subway, I muttered aloud, 'Rats, someone else wrote the book I should have written!' But I wrote my own story, anyway, because, after all, it's different from her story. I enjoyed and appreciated every line of Juliana's book, paralleling as it does the struggles of most midwives who have tried to maintain a private practice. I recommend her book without qualification, not just as a midwife tale but also as a memoir of a courageous and empassioned woman leader.

I picked up Juliana's book and couldn't put it down! As someone who has chosen a home birth, I found her book to be uplifting and educational. Juliana opens herself up to us the readers offering both the rewarding and challenging side of being a nurse midwife. I was gripped by the many stories of births she attended both in hospitals and at a variety of homes. If you are even mildly curious about what nurse midwives are about and what they do, read this book! Physicians and nurse midwives who are committed to home births are committed individuals indeed. Thank you Juliana for this look at your life and your profession.

As an aspiring nurse-midwife, I picked up this book primarily because it was relevant to my own career goals. The author was somewhat of a rarity when she was in private practice, for very few certified nurse midwives actually attend homebirths. I really enjoyed Juliana's revelation that midwifery was her true calling (something that I could relate to) and marvelled at how she was able to so diligently achieve her goals (a great inspiration for future CNMs). Van Olphen-Fehr's tale is a mixture of birth stories, politics, and her own struggle to be the kind of midwife she wanted to be. I really appreciated the political perspective that she was able to provide, but I thought the birth stories left something to be desired. They lack depth, and to me it felt as though she failed to convey the experience's effect on her patients. To experience real birth drama, I recommend "Baby Catcher" by Peggy Vincent (incidentally, Vincent wrote an earlier review of this book). But to understand the political climate in America regarding midwifery care, this is an excellent read.

As an aspiring nurse-midwifery student, this book kept me captivated from the instant I began to read it. Less than 24 hours later, I am (sadly) done, and I am full of renewed excitement about the field I plan to enter.

I would call this book an excellent and entertaining source of information for midwifes, those considering a career in midwifery, and expectant mothers who are weighing their birthing options. What I did not expect, and was pleased to read, were the author's accounts of the political aspects of being a midwife in the frequently hostile environment of the US health care system.

As I read, my face registered giddy smiles, tears, and a creased forehead. It was definitely an emotional rollercoaster, but I have five women I know who I am absolutely going to force to read this book.

I was looking into Midwifery when I came to know of this book. I read it and knew, I will become a midwife! Now, I have the great and awesome priviledge of being HER student. She defines midwifery. Women every where are lucky to have her teaching the midwives of tomorrow.

This book totally opened my eyes to many of the ills of modern obstetrics from ethics, to drug and positions. Juliana made her book so personal that I felt like I knew her. Going through nursing school myself, I feel the beginning of her struggle. She and people like her need to be thanked for being the voices of midwives and natural birthing. This was an excellent book and is highly recommended to midwives and aspiring midwives. This is a MUST for any pregnant women or women even thinking about having children. Think twice about "traditional" American medicine!

As an RN who is thinking of becoming a midwife, this book was exteamly helpful. I was able to understand many of the challenges that midwifes faced in the 70's and 80's. This is a wonderful and compelling tale.

This book fascinated me. I am really amazed at Juliana Van Olphen-Fehr's seemingly neverending strength and energy in becoming a mid-wife in the first place, and afterward all she has done to help mothers and their babies and give them the best care possible. I was shocked at what hurdles she had to take when it came to physicians, who not only didn't support her but evened threatened her existence as a midwife. There is definitely a lot wrong with healthcare in America. Money is what counts, and not really the people's needs. I think this is pretty scary! How refreshing it was to read Mrs. Fehr's story, whose love for the mothers and babies she cared for show between each line!

full of grace and courage. Juliana did a great job of putting the reader in the room with her. I could easily visualize the excitement associated with her stories. This is a must-read for anyone interested in home birth!