Often laugh-out-loud funny and irreverent, occasionally disturbing and deeply sorrowful, LADY'S HANDS, LION'S HEART is the saga of Ms. Leonard's fated journey as a young midwife. Her story intertwines three threads: her dedication to the mothers and babies she was groomed to attend; the growing renaissance, despite formidable opposition, of the profession of midwifery in New Hampshire and then in the United States; and finally, a powerful, tragic love story.
Carol Leonard, a "foremother of the modern midwifery movement," was the first midwife certified to practice legally in NH and has been practicing for over the last three decades. She is co-founder of the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA) representing all midwives in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, serving one term as President of MANA. Her work to improve maternity care in Moscow, Russia, was featured on 20/20 and was written into Congressional Record. She has delivered approximately 1,200 babies safely in their own homes.
Carol is currently writing BACKROADS BABIES ~ True Home Birth Stories from a Country Midwife, due soon from Bad Beaver Publishing!
"Carol Leonard can spin a tale beautifully. Her writing is like who she really is ... her words are spit-fire and hilarious, and filled with pain and power."
~ Lynn Richards, author of VBAC, Very Beautiful And Courageous
