Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife

This book was recommended to me by one of my nursing instructors, who knew I was interested in entering into Nurse Midwifery. I wish I had read it back then, as it gives some excellent insights about birth. What made this book particularly interesting (and useful) to me, is that it is written by someone who attended many births in many different settings. Vincent was a nurse, a nurse-midwife in a hospital, and a home-birth midwife. This means she gives a very well-rounded view, rather than just promoting one setting over the other. Also, unlike some books about midwifery and natural birth, she doesn't paint all medical professionals as evil. In fact, she is very careful to mention those that were wonderful advocates for the mothers, as well as those that she felt were callous or unethical. Her birth stories are enjoyable to read. Some are endearing, some empowering. She doesn't say that all births were perfect, but she does say that birth itself is perfect, and that is a refreshing point of view when so many people are taking one side or the other about natural birth. I give this book a 5 star review for being honest, concise and entertaining. It is not a how-to book, so don't expect lengthy medical dialog describing the birth process. It focuses on the characters in birth--mother, father, child, attendees. It does however prove that with proper support, birth can be a wonderful process rather than a horror-fest, even when things go wrong.

WONDERFUL book, perfectly written. I loved the short story form, and I love how it follows the evolvement of birth over Peggy's career and life! It also mirrors my own mother's experience with childbirth as she was having babies from the 60's to the 80's, just as Peggy was working in the industry. I loved hearing the professional perspective. I also lived just outside the bay area where the book takes place, and was born in Marin county in the 80's, which is right near Peggy's turf, while she was active! That made it all the more fun for me, thinking of her humming around town, while I was being born, just over the bridge. :) The book was great, I related to it personally, it was funny, emotional, sad, happy and she's passionate about her topic. All great components of a writer. I'll be sending this off to a friend, which I rarely do! Great book! I couldn't put it down and ripped through it in just a couple days. I was sad when it was over!

I just loved reading through Peggy's tales. She has so much experience with such a wide variety of people. It made me very excited for my own future birth experiences! It also gave me realistic examples of how women and their partners behave during the laboring process. You can never tell how someone is going to react to their labor beforehand! She also gave a lot of food for thought with her own birthing experience. She made a good point about pigeon holing yourself with one birthing method (like Lamaze), and encourages realistic thinking. I know now I must expand my research. Though her own journey took a sad end, it opens your eyes to the realities midwives have to deal with. I hope this book encourages folks to protect midwifery. As even with so much progress, things can still turn sour. There are scary stories presented in this book, so be emotionally prepared to read those if you are pregnant.

If you read only one book during pregnancy, read this one. Now, this probably wouldn't be the book you'd expect to answer all your pregnancy needs. It doesn't tell you about diet, exercise, the growth of your fetus. This is a book about a midwife and the women she's helped to deliver. For me, reading these varied stories, told with humor and consideration, almost all of which had a positive outcome, was such a relief to my anxiety about childbirth. It helped me see that there are so many types of "normal" and that my delivery was going to be "normal" regardless of the process or outcome. I wanted to start the book again as soon as I finished it. And, I repeat, Peggy Vincent is funny and fun and tells a great story! You are going to wish she were your midwife.

Vincent combines humility and tenderness with the science of perinatal care -- not easy to do. My son's girlfriend, who was delivered at home by her father under Peggy's watchful eye, loaned me the book. I knew Peggy when I did Obstetrical Anesthesia at Alta Bates, although not well. I have the greatest respect for her personally, professionally, and as a mother. Her views on obstetrical care were courageous for the time. Would that I had not believed the traditional dogma that home deliveries are inherently dangerous! One reviewer says the book rambles a bit. For me, Peggy is not a writer so much as a storyteller, as if recounting history around a fire with her tribe. The Bible quotations were offensive; otherwise I would have given the book 5 stars. This is not something I expect Christians to understand. If you are pregnant, the book may be scary. Pregnancy and birth are scary. Countless women and babies have died due to perinatal complications. Modern medicine has improved survival, but not without its own life-threatening risks. Having and raising children is a huge responsibility, but there is no greater joy or love.

This book is absolutely amazing. I did not want this book to end so I slowed down my reading hoping to drag it out. The book was a great insight into the beauty of a women being able to bring a person into this world the way god intended. I felt at times as I was there with Peggy the descriptions of the labor and births so perfect, loving and at time hilarious. Each birth to her during the time of her private practice was special in its own way and her ability to remember each of them. I have learned how special midwives are since "Doctors have lost sight of what normal labor looks like and how women really behave when artificial barriers are removed". It was hilarious when she would take the placentas to her kids school. Interesting was the "primal need of women to find a close, dark, protected space in which to bring safely bring forth their babies. Rejecting the prepared king size bed". I did get annoyed and upset with her when she kicked a goose so hard that it beak over tail went 15 feet above the lake vibrating her leg all the way to her hip then laughed about it. unlike how doctors think "childbirth is normal until proven otherwise"

Oh my, this book was amazing. Reading Peggy's book made me seriously consider becoming a Midwife. She is so passionate and has so many stories to tell. It also helped me, as a pregnant woman, feel more confident in my body and in my ability to have a natural unmedicated birth. Definitely a worthy purchase. A note to expectant mothers: Please please skip through reading the chapters titled Spirit Baby and Spirit Baby II. They are both regarding the loss of a child. During Spirit Baby II, I had to put the book down and sob for an hour. It was so incredibly hard to read and had I known what I was about I probably would have skipped it. We all already fear the loss of a child and having to hear a story like such it really struck me hard. Do yourself a favor and avoid the heart-wrenching chapters listed above.

Bought this for a student for a research project. Good book and it was a helpful resource.

I loved this book, how I wished the author had been around when my children had been born. What a privilege for the women she so expertly guided through the most natural and beautiful experience of childbirth, determined whenever possible to keep it as it should be,unmedicalised. My own judgement of a good book is this, I have precious little time for reading, but if it is seriously unputdownable, then you'll find me stirring a sauce or gravy with the book in one hand and spoon in the other, this is such a book. I had this one read in a couple of days and in the back of my mind I was thinking of the friends to whom I could pass it on, who would love it as I had. The author skillfully brings her own family to the narrative thereby adding the personal element which I enjoyed. As a nurse myself this is just the kind of book I look out for and I can heartily recommend it to my peers. I sighed when I had finished this book, sorry to have it end.

I must have read this book much sooner. I love it very much. Long time without falling in love so hard with a book. When I grow up I wanna be like Peggy Vincent.

It's a really good book to read for doulas, midwives and any birthworker .

I devoured this extremely readable book. Interesting and well written. Each individual birth story as well as the overall story of Peggys life and development is very well told. I wound up loving this woman and respecting how she stepped up for so many women on their birth/motherhood journeys.

Very nice book!