Childbirth

The theme of childbirth is an important one in the book. Both Ari and Mina have to make lots of adjustments to their lives after their children are born. Ari bemoans the fact that she didn't have a female support system to teach her what to expect and to help care for her and her baby afterwards. She thinks about how nice it would have been to have had her baby a hundred years ago when women supported each other. Mothers, sisters and grandmothers and extended family and friends participated in the preparation for the baby to come. Then, after the birth, the women all helped the new mother adapt to feeding and caring for the baby. Ari marvels at what this extended network of love must have been like for both mother and child.

Childbirth was especially difficult for Ari who had a C-section. She...