If you thought that midwives are just there to catch babies as they’re delivered, Leah Hazard’s great autobiography will open your eyes.
She intersperses stories of the women she’s cared for with an honest and unflinching picture of what it’s really like to work in the NHS.
This isn’t easy reading: you’ll discover why too many midwives abandon the jobs they love as the profession takes its toll on their lives and mental health.
My partner is a doctor and this really made me understand why he comes home looking so frazzled and sometimes feels so burned-out.
The best thing about this memoir is that the author can write. I’ve read many stories of fascinating careers where the author is obviously a great professional but sadly not a great story-teller.
Hazard writes beautifully and her work comes alive. You can see the women and feel their remarkable tales.
I read this over the course of two days and thoroughly recommend it.