Hard Labor

By Susan L. Diamond

Book Overview

An obstetrical nurse tells the truth about childbirth and modern medicine. Diamond's vision is of childbirth as a natural, normal event which should be enhanced by modern medicine. For this edition, she has added a section on how she left "organized" medicine to take her message directly to women, and on her recent work as a certified doula (a type of birth attendant).

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312856822
• ISBN13: 9780312856823
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Forge
• Length: 380 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.0" x 1.3" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

loved it

I loved this book so much I read it twice. It inspired me to persure a career in teaching prepared childbirth. The language was harsh and I also feel uncalled for, but you can't beat the book. Must read.

An excellent, true-to-life story of Delivery Room nursing

I am a former Labor and Delivery Nurse of five years and I just can't believe how true and accurate Susan's account of Delivery Room nursing is. It was as if she were writing my own story. The detailed way she recalls specific patients, good and bad encounters with doctors, problems with hospital politics, certain good or bad deliveries, and her personal feelings about all of the situations is so touching and real. The book is an excellent account about what really happens in hospital delivery rooms and disqualifies the frequent notion that Labor and delivery nurses have a fun, easy job "playing with babies all day." This book is a must-read for all L & D nurses, Doulas, Midwives,mothers, and anyone specifically interested in the amazing role of a woman giving birth.

Compelling read for anyone interested in L & D

As an aspiring doula, I was captivated by Hard Labor. I especially enjoyed reading about the events that led her to become an obstetrical nurse. As I am facing a similar journey, I was fascinated by her description of the duties and demands facing ob nurses today.

Excellent book!

This is the first book in a long time that I've read cover to cover. Very engaging and exactly what I was looking for as I am 7 months pregnant and expecting a hospital birth this time. I was feeling quite adversarial toward the medical establishment and this book put it all in perspective, I now have much sympathy for the nurses and doctors. Hopefully I will be lucky enough to have a nurse as involved as Susan.

Excellent, informative, and unfortunately all too true

Ms. Diamond not only captures the intensity and drama of the OB unit...but her personal journey through the process of becoming a seasoned RN is heartbreaking to watch enfold, yet an inspiration to those of us who still believe in the power of birth.