Like a Mother

A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy

By: Angela Garbes

Narrated by: Roxana Ortega, Angela Garbes

What to read after What to Expect . . . . A badass, feminist, and personal deep-dive into the science and culture of pregnancy and early motherhood that debunks myths and dated assumptions, offering guidance and camaraderie to women navigating one of the biggest and most profound changes in their lives.

Like most first-time mothers, Angela Garbes was filled with questions when she became pregnant. What exactly is a placenta? How does a body go into labor? Why is breast best? What are the signs and effects of post-partum depression?

But as she discovered, it’s not easy to find satisfying answers. Your OB will cautiously quote statistics; online sources will scare you with conflicting and often inaccurate information; 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 myths that surround motherhood to find answers to her questions that had only previously been given through a lens of what women ought to do—instead of allowing them the freedom to choose the right path themselves.

In Like a Mother, Angela offers a rigorously researched and compelling look at the physiology, biology, chemistry, and psychology of pregnancy and motherhood, informed by research, reportage, and her own experience. With a journalist’s curiosity and discipline, a mother’s urgency, and a food writer’s insatiability, she explores the science behind the pressing questions women have about a number of subjects, including postpartum hormones, breast milk, and miscarriage.

Infused with candor and humor, born out of awe, appreciation, and understanding of the human body and its workings, Like a Mother is a full-frontal look at what’s really happening underneath your skin (and to it), and why women need to know.

Beautiful!

I’ve been so moved by Angela Garbes’s words.

This book has been a much needed and much loved companion during the third trimester of my first pregnancy.

Terrible Narration

The narration takes away from the story so much. This is my second pregnancy and I agreed w most of what she said.

Not a mom and not pregnant

I enjoyed this book and will be rereading it if/when I go through this process. Lots of good information and leads for future research.

Trying to be great but over does it

This book has many very interesting facts about pregnancy and women’s health, as well as really important themes. But it’s also laced with heavy memoir. Much of this, for me at least, written in a style that is both tedious to read and detracts from the message. Worth a read? Will it give you things to think about deeply? Yes and Yes. But don’t be surprised to feel like it is at times quite a slog and being glad when it’s over.

Fantastic book- awful reading

I’ve listened to this book multiple times. It has been my absolute favorite so far. Beautifully written and balanced with touching stories as well as hard facts. I absolutely love it, but the voiceover reading is awful! It sounds like it’s being read for a 19th drama. Not the vibe of the book at all. But highly recommended for the content!