Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy provides a frank, funny, and factual examination of pregnancy, childbirth, and new motherhood. Unlike traditional guides, like the What to Expect series, Garbes delves deeply by investigating often-neglected topics such as miscarriage, mother’s milk, the placenta, pelvic floor, and postpartum sex. She suggests that a serious disparity exists between perceptions of pregnancy and reality. Citing extensive research from evolutionary biology, physiology, and psychology, Garbes debunks myths and offers gratifying guidance to expectant parents. In Part 1, Garbes investigates pregnancy and uncovers much inaccurate information. Pregnancy resources routinely cite flawed research that bans cheese, deli meat, raw fish, coffee, alcohol, and drugs. She finds this zero tolerance approach futile and urges women to make more informed choices. Further, Garbes asserts that expectant moms rarely learn about the placenta, how we deliver it after birth, and how its function determines the outcome of pregnancy. She then argues that though miscarriages are relatively common, falling down stairs, stress, and lifting heavy objects do not cause them. Chromosomal abnormalities do. Our bodies are smart—they often know when we should not carry a baby to term. Delivery is described in Part 2, as Garbes further refutes common misconceptions. Birth plans rarely work. Only 5% of babies are born on their due date, and scientists do not know what triggers labor. She laments the false binary between a “natural” birth and a C-section and the maternal death rate in the United States, especially for women of color or modest means. Garbes offers the “doula effect” as a possible solution, citing research on happy labors. It does not matter whether the delivery was short and simple or prolonged and painful, mothers claim that the most important thing was steady, nonjudgmental support from someone. Garbes then dissects information on mother’s milk: what it is, how it changes, how it fights sickness, and how it regulates circadian rhythms. Breast milk is miraculous, she tells us. In Part 3, Garbes presents the pros and cons of new parenthood. Her detailed descriptions of postpartum sexual intercourse are hilarious. She wonders why we do not prepare parents for the reality of gruesome, repetitive newborn care, and the loss of our old selves. She cites evidence on marital satisfaction, which typically declines after childbirth; clear negotiation of chores and child-rearing tasks can improve parental relationship quality. Referencing studies on incontinence after labor, Garbes calls for routine postpartum pelvic floor therapy. In addition, emerging science brings promise to postpartum recovery; fetal cells live in our bodies after birth (michrochimerism) and impact mothers’ long-term physical and mental health. Evidence of fetal cells in mothers’ wounds suggests these cells promote healing. Like a Mother offers an enjoyable account of one of our most monumental human experiences and should serve as a required read for every parent. Garbes finds that the feminist movement has provided benefits for many during pregnancy, but persons of color and the poor often have not reaped these gains. New scientific research is often unattainable for the millions who give birth each year. Garbes offers warm advice like a cup of cocoa, delivered by a best friend. She suggests that expectant parents ignore unwelcome advice and judgment and instead embrace unique and inclusive birthing experiences. By putting to bed the myths of perfect pregnancy, delivery, and early parenthood, we welcome more diverse stories.

中文翻译：

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书评：心理治疗中的权力语法：探索特权的动态

像母亲一样：通过怀孕的科学和文化的女权主义之旅提供了对怀孕、分娩和新母亲的坦率、有趣和真实的检查。与传统指南（如“期待什么”系列）不同，Garbes 通过调查流产、母乳、胎盘、盆底和产后性行为等经常被忽视的话题进行深入研究。她认为，对怀孕的看法与现实之间存在严重的差异。Garbes 引用了进化生物学、生理学和心理学的广泛研究，揭穿了神话，并为准父母提供了令人满意的指导。在第 1 部分中，Garbes 调查怀孕并发现了许多不准确的信息。怀孕资源经常引用有缺陷的研究，这些研究禁止奶酪、熟肉、生鱼、咖啡、酒精和毒品。她发现这种零容忍方法是徒劳的，并敦促女性做出更明智的选择。此外，加布斯断言，准妈妈很少了解胎盘，我们如何在出生后分娩，以及它的功能如何决定怀孕的结果。然后她争辩说，虽然流产相对常见，但从楼梯上摔下来、压力和举起重物都不会导致流产。染色体异常。我们的身体很聪明——他们通常知道我们什么时候不应该把婴儿带到足月。第 2 部分描述了交付，因为 Garbes 进一步驳斥了常见的误解。生育计划很少奏效。只有 5% 的婴儿在预产期出生，科学家们不知道是什么触发了分娩。她对美国“自然”出生和剖腹产与孕产妇死亡率之间的错误二元论感到遗憾，特别是对于有色人种或中等收入的女性。Garbes 引用了对快乐劳动的研究，提供了“doula 效应”作为一种可能的解决方案。无论分娩是短暂而简单的还是漫长而痛苦的，母亲们都声称最重要的是来自某人的稳定、不带偏见的支持。Garbes 然后剖析了关于母乳的信息：它是什么、它如何变化、它如何对抗疾病以及它如何调节昼夜节律。她告诉我们，母乳是奇迹。在第 3 部分中，加布斯介绍了新父母的利弊。她对产后性交的详细描述很有趣。她想知道为什么我们不让父母为可怕的、重复的新生儿护理和失去旧自我的现实做好准备。她引用了婚姻满意度的证据，这在分娩后通常会下降。家务和育儿任务的清晰谈判可以提高父母关系的质量。Garbes 参考有关产后失禁的研究，呼吁进行常规的产后盆底治疗。此外，新兴科学为产后恢复带来了希望；胎儿细胞在出生后就存在于我们的体内（微嵌合体）并影响母亲的长期身心健康。母亲伤口中胎儿细胞的证据表明这些细胞促进愈合。Like a Mother 对我们最重要的人类经历之一进行了愉快的描述，应该作为每个父母的必读书籍。Garbes 发现，女权运动在怀孕期间为许多人提供了好处，但有色人种和穷人往往没有获得这些好处。对于每年生育的数百万人来说，新的科学研究往往是无法实现的。Garbes 提供热情的建议，就像最好的朋友送来的一杯可可一样。她建议准父母忽略不受欢迎的建议和判断，而是拥抱独特而包容的分娩体验。通过揭开完美怀孕、分娩和早育的神话，我们欢迎更多不同的故事。