Womb

A landmark book on the womb - its history, its present and the possibilities for its future - by the bestselling author of Hard Pushed: A Midwife's Story

'A gripping exploration of the science of the uterus, the politics of medicine and the future of reproductive freedom' New Statesman

'Page for page, I may not have ever learned more from a book' Rob Delaney, author of A Heart that Works

'It will change the way you think about bodies forever' Rachel Clarke, author of Dear Life

'Empowerment in book form' Maxine Mei-Fung Chung, author of What Women Want

'A phenomenal book' Elinor Cleghorn, author of Unwell Women

The womb is the most miraculous organ in the body - with the power to bring life or cause death; to yield joy or pain - yet most of us know almost nothing about it.

In this book, midwife and bestselling author Leah Hazard sets out on a journey to explore the rich past, complex present and dynamic future of the uterus. She speaks to the Californian doctor who believes women deserve a period-free life; walks in the footsteps of the Scottish woman whose Caesarean section changed childbirth forever; uncovers America's long history of forced and coercive sterilisation; observes uterine transplant surgery in Sweden and takes a very personal dive into the world of 'womb wellness'.

Written with wisdom, warmth and nuance, and combining the author's years of experience as a midwife with medical history, scientific discovery and journalistic inquiry, Womb is an extraordinary exploration of a woefully under-researched and misunderstood organ. Above all, the book reveals that the uterus is more than the sum of its biological parts: it influences all our lives in the twenty-first century, and how we celebrate, medicate and legislate the womb might yet control where we go from here.

“The stories in Hard Pushed highlight the bravery of our midwives, and the women they care for - Christie Watson, author of The Language of Kindness, on Hard PushedIt is Leah Hazard's capacity to love and give so personally to the many thousands of women she has worked with which imbues this book with its power - Julia Samuels, author of Grief Works, on Hard PushedA 'love letter' to midwives everywhere - which brings the maternity ward to life in all its gory, humorous and touching glory - Telegraph, on Hard Pushed”

Humane, intelligent but accessible, and full of fascinating insights -- Rhiannon Lucy Coslett Guardian
A gripping exploration of the science of the uterus, the politics of medicine and the future of reproductive freedom New Statesman
An excellent guide [to] a misunderstood marvel ... Womb invites us to wish others well, defend their rights to make informed choices and refuse to apologise for our own Observer
What a phenomenal book. To read Womb is to step closer to a sense of autonomy and empowerment -- Maxine Mei-Fung Chung, author of What Women Want
Leah Hazard expertly blends science with passion in this riveting book. Packed with eye-opening facts and fascinating human stories, Womb is moving, inspiring and genuinely revelatory. It will change the way you think about bodies forever -- Rachel Clarke, author of Dear Life
An erudite, compassionate and fascinating biography of a much-maligned organ. Womb is sharp and political, learned and wise, and urgent and necessary. Above all else, Leah Hazard is a brilliant storyteller. I loved it. Katherine May, author of Wintering
Page for page, I may not have ever learned more from a book. And I enjoyed myself throughout. Yes, Womb is a history book as well as a biology book but it's also an adventure and a celebration. It's sensitive but unflinching and a very, very worthy introduction to an organ I once inhabited but can only now say I truly appreciate. I loved this book -- Rob Delaney, author of A Heart that Works
Leah Hazard approaches a fascinating topic with professional expertise and lively human sympathy -- Hilary Mantel
Meticulously researched and powerfully told, Womb is an awe-inspiring exploration of one of the most misunderstood organs of the human body. Compassionate and compelling, Leah Hazard's vital new narrative reveals the importance of understanding the uterus for body autonomy, reproductive justice, and human rights. A phenomenal book Dr Elinor Cleghorn, author of Unwell Women
A bravura cultural history of the uterus and the politics that surround it ... Hazard's eye is keen, her range broad, and her tone scrupulously compassionate ...This is essential reading on the "most miraculous and misunderstood organ in the human body." Publishers Weekly
A very important book that will inform and entertain all those with a womb, and everyone who was born from one. This is a major contribution to the under researched and neglected area of women's reproductive health -- Laura Godfrey-Isaacs, co-author of Maternal Journal
A searching and compassionate investigation into "the most miraculous and misunderstood organ in the human body" ... all but the most learned medical historians will be astonished by what Hazard reveals New York Times
Womb looks at this shape-shifting organ from all angles: medical, emotional, political and futuristic. What emerges is fascinating, contentious, and potentially chilling Spectator

Leah Hazard graduated from Harvard University, and worked in print journalism and television before the births of her two daughters prompted her to change direction. Leah is now a practising NHS midwife in Scotland and has worked in a wide variety of clinical areas, from labour wards to outpatient clinics, delivering hundreds of babies and caring for countless families along the way. Her memoir Hard Pushed: A Midwife's Story was a Sunday Times bestseller in the UK. Leah hosts the popular podcast What The Midwife Said and is a frequent commentator on women's health across the media.

The size of a clenched fist, the shape of a lightbulb, with no less power and potential... Womb is the inside story of where we all began. Bringing together medical history, scientific discoveries and journalistic exploration, Leah Hazard traverses the globe in search of the truth about one of the most under-researched and important organs of the body, talking to the boundary-breaking women and men working in the field. What is upsuck and why does it change everything? Can cervical crypts store sperm for up to six weeks? Do hysterectomies affect sexual pleasure? Is the womb connected to the brain? How can smart tampons help healthcare? Why does endometriosis take so long to be diagnosed? Who birthed the first baby from a donor womb? Where are women still subject to forced sterilisation? When will external gestation be possible? With the wisdom, kindness and humour of an experienced midwife, Leah guides us on an extraordinary journey. Revelatory and moving, Womb shows that we must understand the uterus not just for healthcare - but for our human rights.

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