Laboring Now acknowledges the losing power struggle women have during pregnancy.

Even
though the reading doesnt infer between an able bodied pregnancy and those that are not readers
conclude that the able bodied woman that becomes pregnant does not battle the location of birth
because of institutionalization (Laboring Now, 63);institutions that place heavy emphasis on
controlled and measured environments. These institutions are training generations not to place trust in
at home births but into the doctors, hence giving over their power of decision making and autonomy
over their own body. This essay aims at feminist thought by challenge woman in their preconceived
notions of what an actual birth is. To tell women that birth is neither an abnormality nor a debilitating
state of being that causes women to lose herself in placement of her baby. Laboring Now focuses on
why women struggle with their body throughout pregnancy and where theyre doubt stems from.
This reading provides an intersectional birthing process that the medical model doesnt think
has place in birth. She states what a medical model --- a focus on doctor and hospital rule and
instruction --- doesnt do in comparison to a midwifery model --- guidance through nurture and
education --- will do and why the midwifery model is superior but hard to sustain. Rothman points out
the separation from fetus and the body. She describes the proactive and reactive roles that each model
implements and what actions each model performs in relation to treatment during pregnancy and in
labor. She gives testimonials from mid wives thats used to support the mid wife model by explaining
the added role each mid wife takes on. Rothman uses Freedmans curve as an example of the medical
model and explains the importance the curve placed on timing and predictability of births based on
quantitative and qualitative research methods.
Rothman also relied on using a timeline of clinical terms and how those terms changed over
time. She placed importance on the use of machinery, particularly the ultrasound, and its ability to
determine a normal and abnormal fetus. And then its ability to make the mother invisible. Another
reason why there were changes in midwifery to the medical model is the added benefits; epidurals
and the constraint on the length of labor (57). What is pregnancy and what is labor is what needs to
be thought about. The ability of pregnant women to (un)consciously give control over to a medical
model that tells their bodies how to perform and manage throughout the pregnancy and labor.
Rothman takes the facets of the medical model and complied medical documentation and makes an
argument to challenge the normal atmosphere for pregnancy and birth and why woman give up that
power. She expresses her disdain over Freedman Curve and the almost stoic way women are treated
during pregnancy.
Rothman determines the hit that women take when going through pregnancy. For a women
carrying a fetus is shows the potency of the male, her pregnancy is a symbolism of a dominate
heterosexual frame that the medical frame supports. Rothman touches on the symbolism of pregnancy
because her position as the pregnant woman is taken away in light of the fetus and the control of her
reproduction. Again in the stages of birth where mother is separated as a person (53) instead of being
thought of as inclusive member to birth, how she is put on display for medical personnel and how she
experiences invisibility of herself and the doctor due to his rapt attention to the baby. Also a theory
from Rothman is being able to challenge the uncertain pregnant women who doesnt know her body
well enough to distinguish between a false and actual labor. Her psychology and emotions are
challenged because she is the overzealous mother who loses bargaining position (51) with medical
officials due to her constant presence. A theory is the conflict of control during labor. What takes away
control; epidurals because they numb the body effectively robbing the mother of giving birth. What
gives women control is the interactive role they have in birthing their baby. Another theory is
responsibility, responsibility that falls on the doctor in the medical model and on the mother in the
midwife model. I think Rothman is challenging if women are acceptable to the responsibility of
pregnancy and the fetus and if not it explains the flocking to hospitals.
This reading can tie into Whose Body is this? and the struggle with the body and the restrictions
placed upon it. This articles point out the turning point of the body when it becomes clinicalized and
able to be more closely monitored and tested. Other points of the class that tie in the reading are the
discounting images of women and her important role in reproduction, the position of silence that is
normalized for women to take and the repercussion of her deciding to express concern or emotion.
Pregnant women practice the mirroring body from The Bodys Problem with Illness where they model
and gauge their reaction in comparison to women around her and because she needs predictability.

Lisa J. Moore and Mary Kosut, eds. The Body Reader: Essential Social and Cultural Readings. New York
and London: New York UP, 2010