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I enjoyed this novel Hannah, Delivered. Elizabeth Jarret Andrew’s writing was spare but so evocative and lovely.
Hannah works as support staff in a hospital in Minnesota. When she sees the birth of a baby, something is awakened within her. With the encouragement and support of her nurse midwife friend Maryann, she ends up spending two years in New Mexico becoming a certified midwife.
Even though home births are illegal in Minnesota, she needs to return home, and she begins teaching classes and yes — delivering babies.
The characters are all so well written. Hannah herself, trying to live out her new calling, while trying to justify the approval she wants but doesn’t usually get from her father, and come to terms with the death of her mother. Her father, the Lutheran priest, trying to age gracefully and dealing with the new radical associate that’s been sent to his church. Her fellow midwife trainee Stuart is beyond description, but is a perfect foil to Hannah. Each of the mothers has her own story as well.
The novel starts off with an indication that Hannah has gotten into trouble, which sets up a dramatic framework which kept me reading. The ending felt slightly rushed (perhaps because I just didn’t want it to end), but was still satisfying.
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Crystal Rose says
I gave birth in the hospital.
liz l says
Never given birth 🙂
Danielle Johnson says
My most recent son was born barely making it to triage at the hospital. It was very close to not making it to the hospital. A scary car ride.
Daniel M says
haven’t given birth
Adrien Beatty says
I have never given birth my children however were born in a hospital
Sharon Kaminski says
I gave birth in the hospital several years ago.
Nicole Sender says
I delivered in the hospital.
Carly D. says
I haven’t yet, but I am already thinking about my options!
Anita Yancey says
I gave birth to my daughter in the hospital. But my mom gave birth to all four of us kids at home.
Sue Hull says
I had my daughter in the hospital.She’s now in labor having my granddaughter in the hospital.Thank you for the great giveaway 🙂
Sandy Cain says
I gave birth to my one child in the hospital. It was a miserable experience. If I could do it all over, I’d have a home birth with a midwife.
Jody Gardner says
I am a mother of six four girls and two boys.
Expecting our boys was so difficult troubled prenancy form the start. My husband became a long hauler (truck driver) during my last trimester with our fist son. He was due home and I had waited to long to go to the hospital needless to say our son was born at home dilivered by fire department, neighbor and pastors wife were there to help with our daughters. My husband arrived home with a note on our front door saying go the hospital. Its a boy.
Our last son was cysection, born with some complications for both he and I.
Sandy Cain says
Yikes, Jody Gardner, God bless you!!!!!!
Nancy says
Both our children were born in a hospital.
janet woodling says
I gave birth twice at hospital.
Angela Saver says
I have given birth at the hospital twice!
[email protected]
riTa says
Two Caesarians in hospital, one in Germany and one in Oshkosh, WI.
I was present when daughter-in-law gave birth naturally–a water birth. Beautiful experience!
christine reyes says
I delivered all three in the hospital, lol I could never do an at-home birth.
Linda Kish says
I delivered my son in the hospital. He was a high risk birth.
Joy says
I gave birth 4 times in the hospital, but wanted to have the last 2 at home; my husband and my mother vetoed that idea.
Becky says
Hospital births here.
Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew says
A minor correction–home births weren’t illegal in MN in the 1990s, but ATTENDING a home birth was. The climate around midwifery has changed significantly since then, all for the better. Thanks again for the review, Jennifer! And I hope all you moms enjoy the book!
Sandy Cain says
Sounds SUPER, Ms. Andrew! I look forward to this!
Terra Heck says
My three births were in a hospital. Thanks.
Laurie says
I gave birth in a hospital.
Liza Vladyka says
natral in hospital all 6 times
Jessica Medina says
I gave birth at a hospital.
anne says
I gave birth at the hospital.
meagan bs says
I gave birth in a hospital.