An inclusive and relevant pregnancy book is exactly what we need
- Riddhi Laijawala
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Pregnancy is expected to be a “one size fits all” phenomenon. Every stereotype of a pregnant person involves peeing on a stick, sharing the happy news with your partner, throwing up every morning, and having a straightforward delivery where you’re screaming out in pain until the miracle of life is pushed out of your body.
However, this isn’t always the case. Not everyone has a planned pregnancy (or conceives after years of trying), not everyone has a partner, not everyone has a complication-free pregnancy, and not everyone has a complication-free delivery. Many books and resources fail to capture just how much of a physical and emotional rollercoaster pregnancy can truly be. However, Laura Godfrey Isaacs’ recently published book, Pregnancy and Birth: A Graphic Guide is something I read wearing my researcher hat, and I enjoyed it for a variety of reasons.
Before I get into the book, I thought I’d introduce Laura, whose work has previously been talked about on Inspire the Mind here, and here. Laura is a midwife, writer, graphic artist, and creative producer, whose career is “dedicated to exploring the lived experience and politics of the representation of women’s bodies”.
This book has been a collaboration between Laura and illustrator Lilly Williams, and guides the reader through one of the (aptly called) ‘most significant adventures’ in their life. Rather than telling the reader that "this will be all positive", she highlights that this experience can be one with excitement, fear, and ambivalence – all of which are normal. At the beginning, she explains that this is a book not only for people who are currently pregnant, but also for those thinking about starting a family, and I think that’s great. More research is emerging focusing on pre-conception mental health as a precursor to perinatal mental health, so having adequate resources to refer to before becoming pregnant can go a long way.
I also like the focus on fear of brth and birth trauma, two very significant things that aren’t talked about enough. Birth trauma has been investigated as a prominent risk factor for postnatal depression, and can often manifest as childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder. It is essential to talk about these potential complications.
What I truly appreciated is how inclusive it is. And when I had a brief look at Amazon reviews of the book, nearly all of them highlighted this as one of the major strengths of the book. Not only do they use inclusive language, but also inclusive illustrations, like the one below.
Understandably, a great deal is actually focused on birth. Once again, I appreciated how appropriate the illustrations were. I especially liked that female reproductive organs were not censored out.
I know there is a great deal of debate about the censorship of labour online. In fact, there was a time when Instagram had banned photos of childbirth online. This ban was removed in 2018 after considerable controversy. I am of the school of thought that childbirth, a natural process, should never be censored. If age-appropriate movies and TV shows show explicit sexual scenes and nudity, why is childbirth not held to the same standard? This is particularly why I liked the illustrations in this book.
As a writer and editor for Inspire the Mind, I am passionate about making science accessible and understandable beyond the world of academia. It is no surprise, therefore, that what I liked about Laura’s book is the use of accessible language when explaining the science and the physiology of labour and delivery. Through Lilly’s appropriate illustrations and Laura’s midwifery experience, readers are able to understand complex concepts through pictures and words.
In chronological order, the final sections of the book are all about postpartum care, for both mum and baby. Within this section, I liked the focus on breastfeeding, specifically because it did not shame those who choose not to, or simply cannot, breastfeed. It goes on to explain problems that may arise while feeding a newborn, while sharing practical tips on how to work around them.
Above all, I simply did enjoy reading this book. I didn’t read it from the perspective of a female who one day hopes to start a family, but as a researcher, trained to critique and read with a very fine lens. Yet, as I read, I found myself genuinely enjoying it and appreciating the author and illustrator for the thoughtful work they’ve done in creating an inclusive and relevant book.
They avoid falling into the trap of toxic positivity. There’s no suggestion that everything will magically be “all fine and dandy.” Instead, they offer a very realistic, honest, and relatable picture. In an age of information overload, rampant misinformation, and opinions flying from every direction, on social media, in the news, and beyond, it is resources like this that truly make a difference.