Missed us? We’ve been busy…in Maria’s case, making a BABY! (Among other things.) In this mini episode we check in about maternal health numbers in the US (not amazing), the experience of becoming a mother (pretty sweet, but keep yer grains of salt handy), and - of course - hit up some feminist theory about this whole childbearing thing. What’s up, Simone de Beauvoir! If you’ve been watching The Handmaid’s Tale and need another perspective on reproduction, you’ve come to the right place. Mamma Mia! We’re multiplying! Links to Stuff We Talk AboutTheorySimone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex (1949)ContextKiera Butler, "The Scary Truth About Childbirth," Motherjones.com. Jan/Feb 2017. http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/01/childbirth-injuries-prolapse-cesarean-section-natural-childbirth/#Nina Martin, "Focus On Infants During Childbirth Leaves U.S. Moms In Danger," NPR.org. May 12, 2017. https://www.npr.org/2017/05/12/527806002/focus-on-infants-during-childbirth-leaves-u-s-moms-in-danger Catherine Pearson, “What The French Get So Right About Taking Care Of New Moms,” HuffingtonPost.com. January 17, 2017. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/what-the-french-get-so-right-about-taking-care-of-new-moms_us_587d27b4e4b086022ca939c4BonusMargaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale (1985), now a series on Hulu. Some useful medical advice for women who are pregnant, collected by NPR: https://www.npr.org/2017/08/03/541191480/if-you-hemorrhage-dont-clean-up-advice-from-mothers-who-almost-diedMusic by ABBA and Mariah.