I love, love, LOVE this book!! A must- read if you enjoy birth stories and or midwifery! I couldn't put it down! ~Staci
"Lady's Hands, Lion's Heart is the telling of my journey as New Hampshire's first modern midwife. The book begins with the birth of my son when I had the unexpected experience of being cruelly strapped down during his delivery. The story spans thirteen years--1975 to 1987-- and is told with three threads.
The first thread is the home births and my apprenticeship with the wonderful old country doctor, Dr. Francis Brown, the only physician in the state who still attended births at home. He took me on as his sidekick, and we trooped around the New Hampshire countryside for years while my own practice was blossoming.
The second thread is the renaissance of the profession of midwifery in the United States, despite formidable opposition from a jealous medical profession.
The third thread is my love story with the impossibly handsome and brilliant obstetrician, Dr. Ken McKinney.
The book ends with a heart wrenching death.
Lady's Hands, Lion's Heart is first and foremost for the midwives. It is a dance and a song to the women who refused to be intimidated and who courageously continued their calling despite efforts to demoralize and criminalize and ridicule their passion. My book is for all the charismatic, skilled, feisty, articulate, opinionated, wild, and beautiful midwives. You are my sisters."
