Birthing in Unprecedented Times: Geographies of Risk in Birth Stories

This book shines a light on the way in which risk – in and beyond childbirth – is highly contextual, and the way in which risk-management strategies can be understood as socially and materially constructed.

Through rich and often poignant narratives of womens’ birth stories, Birthing in Unprecedented Times explores the place of risk and distribution of decision-making power in giving birth. This work asks the question: what happens if we prioritize the birthing person’s agency in understandings of birth risks? Thought-provoking and at times provocative, this work will be of interest to anyone interested in birth and the social politics of obstetric care.
-Kate Boyer, Reader, School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University, UK.

Decidedly political, Birthing in Unprecedented Times centres the stories of mothers who give birth during times of rapid social, political and economic change. Von Benzon and colleagues consider how healthcare services – when under extreme pressure – remove autonomy during birth, but also capture moments of genuine care and connection between mothers and NHS staff.
-Dr Aimee Grant, Centre for Lactation, Infant Feeding and Translational Research (LIFT), Swansea University, UK.