If ever there was a BOLD book Born in the USA: How a Broken Maternity System Must Be Fixed To Put Women and Children First is it. Marsden Wagner, a physician, scientist and former Director of Women’s and Children’s Health at the World Health Organization, holds nothing back as he leaps into the state of the maternity care system in the United States passionately informing readers that this system is failing to deliver safe, effective care for mothers and babies.

Dr. Wagner, as many know, is a long-time supporter of the midwifery model of care. When I read this book I wondered if it would be an us/them book about maternity care, essentially arguing his heart out against obstetrics and for midwifery. But, refreshingly, Dr. Wagner looks firmly at the research and, perhaps because he knows how hard it is to be an obstetrician these days, takes a strong compassionate look at obstetrics today and how it is more than difficult, he argues impossible, for obstetricians to be all things to all women. “No other specialist anywhere in healthcare tries to maintain competence in so many areas. It is not humanly possible,” Dr. Wagner tells us.

Dr. Wagner also makes powerful arguments that challenge obstetric care today charging the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist (ACOG) with having an absolute monopoly in American maternity care today. In essence he presents a critique of a maternity care system that he feels is not mother-friendly and desperately needs to be.

If you want to understand the politics of maternity care today this is an excellent book. It’s a must-read book for pregnant women, maternity care professionals and I even see it as a GREAT gift for a pregnant mother to hand to the friends and family who will support during her pregnancy.

I invite you to read this courageous book with the BOLD Book Club and then at the end of February join us for a live teleconference with Dr. Wagner.

To join the BOLD Book Club click HERE.