When I discovered the book Born Into This: A Creative Guide Through Reproductive Health, I was hopeful it was exactly what I needed. A justice-oriented guide that uses creativity to explore our own perspectives? Yes, please! The Born Into This website explains, “Through reading lessons and exercises, this guide examines the injustices and privileges present in reproductive health—and why that plays an important role in reproductive care.” It is perfectly aligned with my own philosophy. I believe that the key to breaking old systematic barriers to care is to take a creative approach, to begin thinking outside of our conditioning. Finally, a book about reproductive health that aims to do that! Not only that but it’s written by fellow doulas and birth educators, Tara Brooke and Gina Giordano. I was sold.
When I received the book in the mail, I opened it up to find a handwritten note. I loved this personal touch. Navigating our medical system can feel so isolating for an area of our lives that is incredibly intimate. The note made me feel like the people who worked on the book are my buddies, my colleagues, my advocates.
This guide takes the reader through every stage of the reproductive journey for a person with a uterus, estrogen, and the ability to bear children. The authors begin by defining reproductive health, rights, and justice. Then, we are taken through every stage and nearly every decision we may make through our child-bearing years—choices regarding hormones, menstrual cycles, birth control, abortion, miscarriage, pregnancy, postpartum, and finally menopause. The authors close the book with a chapter that doubles as a call to action, “So, How Can I Commit to Reproductive Justice?” It ends with the same message it begins with: that these personal choices become political when legislation restricts our ability to freely choose.
Two things stood out about this book: the beautiful illustrations and its positioning as a “creative guide.” It is distinctly different from the information-heavy reading materials I have been drowning in while I pursue my doula and Lamaze certifications. The beautiful watercolor illustrations and the minimalist layout offer a calm reading experience in contrast to the subject matter, which can be heavy. Reading it is an experience. It doesn’t feel like a task. The design of the book invites the reader to sit down with a tea (or, for me, a dry red wine), put on some calming music, and dive into learning and journaling.
Each chapter of this book begins and ends with journal prompts, which encourages the reader to reflect on their own perspectives and experiences, as well as cultural perspectives on various topics. The book is worth purchasing just for these prompts. I won’t share any in this post because you should purchase the book and work through them in order. What I like about the prompts is that they inspire the reader to think about reproductive health in a deeply personal way. I found myself engaging with the content in a way that I wouldn’t have if I were simply reading information. I also believe that the hand-eye connection involved with journaling helps us to process ideas more thoroughly. And this quick guide packs in a lot of information to process.
The book offers perspectives on reproductive health that are far more progressive than the generally cultural understanding in the United States. They use gender neutral language and demystify the differences between sex, gender, and sexuality. By page fourteen, the average person has a lot to think about. While our cultural perspective of gender is beginning to change, the field of reproductive health is still incredibly gendered. Most of the go-to publications write only about women giving birth (ignoring men or non-binary individuals who give birth) and describe only traditional, heteronormative family structures. Newer editions of some publications, like the fifth edition of Penny Simkin’s The Birth Partner, have made the shift to use inclusive language. Still, the vast majority of education and content uses gendered and non-inclusive language. This guide encourages birth workers to make the switch to non-gendered language but does so in a non-accusatory way. It sparks self-reflection, which I believe is the most effective way to influence change. The truth is, most people who use gendered language are well-intentioned. I see doulas using the words “mama” and “mom” to connect with their clients. This guide gently explains why using such words can isolate a lot of people who need our support.
As I was going through the guide, I found myself asking who would I recommend this guide to? I think it could be useful for young teens just beginning their reproductive journey. It could prepare them for what may come while avoiding excruciating detail. I questioned whether an average teen would maintain interest in chapters on bodyfeeding or menopause. But they would at least have the information on hand when questions arise. I would also recommend the guide to doulas and birth educators who are just beginning their journey or experienced birth workers who want to shift to a more inclusive practice. As I read, I found myself brainstorming new ways to present information to clients. I even thought of incorporating some journal prompts into my classes. It is sprinkled with tips for supporting people through various stages. I do want to note, the information should be taken as an overview. If you are pursuing a career in birth work, you will need to dive much deeper into each area.
The authors don’t frame any choices as better or worse than any other ones. I value the benefit of remaining neutral—it ensures that readers don’t feel judged for any decisions they make. Some choices are difficult and people make them for complex reasons that cannot be summed up in a book. In this way, the tone was refreshing. In the chapter on cesarean birth, I found myself rethinking the way I talk about the subject (even something as simple as using the term cesarean birth as opposed to cesarean section).
I wondered, however, if the authors remained neutral to the extent that they withheld some important evidence-based information. For example, they didn’t share any information about the impacts on hormones or the baby’s microbiome with cesarean birth. They suggested speaking with a provider before electing to have a cesarean. However, this suggestion ignores the fact that some providers push for cesareans, simply for convenience, even when it is not medically necessary. Sadly, we can’t always rely on providers to give us all the evidence-based information.
This brings me to my biggest critique of the book—its lack of references and resources. The authors don’t provide any further reading so that people going through the guide can gain more knowledge in areas of interest. In fact, they do not even provide the sources for statistics they provide. Though the information seems correct, I haven’t yet gone through and fact-checked. So I cannot speak with certainty that all the information is completely accurate. Providing resources, references, and further reading, authors build trust with readers. Being able to access factual, evidence-based information is an issue of reproductive justice. Reproductive health advocates should empower individuals to make informed decisions and be smart consumers.
Despite my few concerns, I would still recommend this guide to fellow birthworkers, as well as anyone interested in gaining a deeper perspective on reproductive health, rights, and justice. However, I would caution that this guide is incomplete. It should be read in conjunction with other materials that share evidence-based research behind each of these topics as well as statistics on health disparities. As birth workers, we will need to do a little legwork for clients in helping them find resources. I love that this guide includes information from every part of a person’s birthing years, including abortion, which many texts conveniently leave out. Any person with the ability to bear children could benefit from going through this guide, journaling with the prompts, and making notes in the margins for further research. I would give it a 4.5/5 for its innovation and paving the way in how we think about reproductive health.
You can learn more and order a copy of the book from their website.