There was a time when the average American woman was more likely to die from childbirth than from any other condition except tuberculosis. This was especially true in areas where hospitals and quality medical care were scarce or nonexistent. But deep in the rolling hills of eastern Kentucky's Cumberland Range, one woman almost single-handedly changed those dismal figures. Her name was Mary Breckenridge, and her goal was to introduce quality, professionally trained midwifery to the United States. The Frontier Nursing Service, opened in 1925 in Leslie County, Kentucky, set out to meet the health needs of women and infants in one of the poorest regions of America.This book tells the story of Breckenridge's unparalleled dedication to midwifery and provides a historical overview of the first 40 years of the Frontier Nursing Service. The story is told in human terms, focusing on how such a successful organization was built out of commitment and compassion against all odds. It covers dozens of midwife cases, examining the fascinating interaction between the local residents and the brave nurse-midwives who rode first on horseback, later in Jeeps and other forms of transport, to improve the lives of eastern Kentucky families and to reverse the highest infant mortality rate in the country.

About the Author
Marie Bartlett is a writer and communications consultant with hundreds of articles to her credit. This is her fourth nonfiction book. She lives in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Reviews
"Bartlett is an excellent storyteller...valuable...refreshing"-Asheville Citizen-Times; "the adventures of the nurses provide entertainment for the interested reader while providing some statistical and historical content for the scholarly"-ALCAlines; "a heroic narrative"-The Journal of Southern History; "Bartlett creates a human connection between reader and subject that is both compelling and informative"-Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health; "Mary Breckinridge was one of those earth angels God gave to the Appalachian people of Eastern Kentucky. The Frontier Nursing Service is an incredible story of a life of service and sacrifice"-Stella Parton, singer and owner of Attic Entertainment Music.



Book Information
ISBN 9780786433421
Author Marie Bartlett
Format Paperback
Page Count 260
Imprint McFarland & Co Inc
Publisher McFarland & Co Inc