Madsen’s book focuses on an aspect of childbirth that is all too often ignored: the emotional aftermath. Few women planning a pregnancy or anticipating childbirth would dispute that the birth of a healthy child is their primary concern. Even when this happy outcome is achieved, however, the process of childbirth itself can wreak havoc on a woman’s emotional and physiological well-being–especially when unforeseen medical complications or interventions change the expected course of labor and birth. This book is a crucial resource for women working through a traumatic birth experience.