A candid, feminist, and personal deep dive into the science and
culture of pregnancy and motherhood
Like most first-time mothers, Angela Garbes was filled with questions
when she became pregnant. What exactly is a placenta and how does it
function? How does a body go into labor? Why is breast best? Is wine
totally off-limits? But as she soon discovered, it’s not easy to
find satisfying answers. Your obstetrician will cautiously quote
statistics; online sources will scare you with conflicting and often
inaccurate data; and even the most trusted books will offer
information with a heavy dose of judgment. To educate herself, the
food and culture writer embarked on an intensive journey of
exploration, diving into the scientific mysteries and cultural
attitudes that surround motherhood to find answers to questions that
had only previously been given in the form of advice about what women
ought to do—rather than allowing them the freedom to choose the
right path for themselves.
In Like a Mother,
Garbes offers a rigorously researched and compelling look at the
physiology, biology, and psychology of pregnancy and motherhood,
informed by in-depth reportage and personal experience. With the
curiosity of a journalist, the perspective of a feminist, and the
intimacy and urgency of a mother, she explores the emerging science
behind the pressing questions women have about everything from
miscarriage to complicated labors to postpartum changes. The result
is a visceral, full-frontal look at what’s really happening during
those nine life-altering months, and why women deserve access to
better care, support, and information.
Infused with humor
and born out of awe, appreciation, and understanding of the female
body and its strength, Like a Mother debunks common myths and
dated assumptions, offering guidance and camaraderie to women
navigating one of the biggest and most profound changes in their
lives.