Motherhood is often portrayed as one of the most fulfilling experiences in a woman's life. Books on pregnancy, birth and motherhood not only tell women what they should do, these books also encourage women to have high expectations of what is inevitably a "journey into the unknown". This new book takes a different approach by telling the individual stories of 800 recent mothers. We hear about what happened to them during pregnancy and childbirth, what contributed to good and bad experiences of birth, and what these women thought of the care they received. Ninety of the women went on to participate in interviews two years later. The result is a moving and powerful account of what it is like to be a mother in the 90's. Topics covered include caring for children, running the household, and providing financial Mental health issues are also addressed--one in seven women was depressed in the year after childbirth. In this unique book, they discuss the origins of this depression and how they coped with it.

Missing Voices: The Experience of Motherhood is essential for all mothers, fathers, for anyone contemplating having children, and for all those concerned with the health and well-being of mothers, children and families.