While “Birth” by Tina Cassidy doesn’t give you information on how your child is growing inside of you or what method of birthing will give you the best experience, it is a book you won’t be able to put down.

Truly an eye-opener, “Birth” presents a factual history of childbirth all over the world, from what it might have been like to give birth in medieval or Victorian times to labor and delivery in America in the 1970s. Instances of doctors spreading infection from woman to woman and crushing babies’ skulls to extract them from their mothers will make you question doctors, hospital practices and the trust you may have initially had in them. You may even come to the conclusion that a homebirth with a midwife and a doula is the safest way to birth a child.

Regardless of your opinion of the book when you’re done reading it, you’ll walk away with a wealth of knowledge about the history of childbirth and a new understanding of how the birthing process came to be where it is today.

While I wouldn’t recommend “Birth” to a first-time mother-to-be in search of prenatal advice, I would recommend it to anyone who has or will eventually have children. The author’s message to trust your instincts before anyone else will stay with you long after you’ve closed the book. Pick up a copy here.