#288 | THE CESAREAN EPIDEMIC AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR US | WITH RACHAEL SOMERSTEIN

The Happy Mama Movement with Amy Taylor-Kabbaz

Welcome back, Mamas, to this week's episode of The Happy Mama Movement Podcast!

Today, we're joined by Rachel Somerstein, a powerhouse in maternal health journalism and the author of Invisible Labor: The Untold Story of the Cesarean Section. Combining personal stories, investigative research, and historical insights, Rachel’s work seeks to drive essential conversations around c-sections and maternal health.

We in-depth on:

1. The Unseen Side of C-Sections: Rachel shares the profound and often overlooked realities surrounding cesarean sections, which are the most frequently performed operation worldwide.
2. The Blend of Memoir and Research: How her background in journalism and creative writing shaped Invisible Labor, weaving history and personal narrative to shed light on maternal health issues.
3. Maternal Health Advocacy: The societal and medical structures that impact maternal well-being and how storytelling can influence systemic change.
4. Experiences in Journalism and Academia: Rachel’s journey as an associate professor and her motivation to amplify maternal health stories through her teaching and research.
5. Driving Conversations Through Writing: The impact of Rachel's work, which has been featured in major publications and on NPR, and how she hopes her book will foster a broader understanding of the complexities of childbirth.

I hope this conversation leaves you feeling informed and empowered. If you found it valuable, please share it to help mothers everywhere access the support and information they deserve.

ABOUT RACHEL SOMERSTEIN:

Rachel Somerstein is the author of Invisible Labor: The Untold Story of the Cesarean Section (Ecco 2024), a groundbreaking book that investigates the history and nuances of c-sections through a unique blend of memoir, research, and reporting. Her work has appeared in The Boston Globe, The Guardian, Longreads, The Washington Post, Women’s Health, and more, and she has been featured on NPR. With a PhD in mass communications and an MFA in creative writing, Rachel is committed to using narrative and rigorous research to elevate critical discussions on maternal health. She is currently an associate professor of journalism at SUNY New Paltz.

RESOURCES:

Website: www.rachelsomerstein.com

LinkedIn: Rachel Somerstein

Instagram: @rachelesomerstein

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