Amazing! A unique take on childbirth books, this touches largely on the many emotional lessons we take away from our pregnancies and births. I love the inclusive, supportive tone of the book, and that the author includes lessons from her pregnancy losses as well, a subject many people shy away from. ( )

This book was not quite what I was expecting -- more life lessons than labor stories -- but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Each chapter begins with not more than a few paragraphs of birth story, a little clipping of narrative out of the larger timeline. The rest of each (admittedly short) chapter focuses on a life lesson that also shows up in that slice of narrative. The chapters are arranged so that the narratives happen chronologically (thankfully!).

The book has a very Zen quality to it. There are some good reminders in it as well as some good things to think about. The theme of labor makes for a light and somewhat interesting frame, but I think the anecdotes could just as easily been stories from throughout the author's parenting experience, for instance, as she often shares such anecdotes in the exploration that follows each narrative.

Overall, worth the read if this sort of book appeals to you. ( )

Julia Aziz provides a window into the personal experience of pregnancy, motherhood and parenting through sharing her journey of self-discovery. There is something here that speaks to the collective, whether you agree with her conclusions or not, about the process of struggle and anxiety that the responsibility of parenting affords. Aziz bares all it seems in her approach of acknowledging the inner demons of fear and doubt and offers how she comes to terms with and makes peace with what is true for her.

Lessons of Labor, I suspect, will provoke thought and support those seeking alternative birth and parenting experiences. ( )

I won this book through the Early Reviewers giveaway. This book is a very thoughtful memoir about childbirth and the lessons the author has learned from the births of her three children as well as a miscarriage. Overall this was a quick read with each chapter starting with a memory, then a lesson learned and a brief explanation of that lesson. This is an interesting style that I have never come across before, but it can be a bit disorienting as a reader to go from a past event to the present so abruptly. Beyond the issue of the stories being fragmented I did find her insights helpful and uplifting. ( )

I received this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway. I was excited to get it, and thought it would give a helpful perspective and addition to my doula training reads. While the anecdotes did have to do with birth and motherhood, I felt the stories were choppy and it was hard to keep up with all of the jumping around between the "lessons" and anecdotes. ( )