A refreshingly down-to-earth story about one woman's pregnancy, childbirth – and the harsh realities of today's NHS maternity care.

Sarah Close's journey begins with excitement, anticipation and all the plans that a first pregnancy brings. But it doesn’t take long for those plans to start going awry. Soon she is struggling to navigate missed warning signs, bewildering bureaucracy and unexpected turns – including a potential disaster that is only narrowly averted. Her story is often dark, but it is also relatable and packed with warmth, wit and unsentimental honesty.

This is a book for every woman whose pregnancy and birth did not go to plan, or who has felt overlooked in a healthcare system under pressure. It’s for anyone who wants to know what’s really going on behind the doctor's curtain – and for the hard-pressed staff trying to hold everything together.

Highly readable, candid and frequently laugh-out-loud funny, This Did Hurt takes us behind the headlines to explore what happens when maternity care is pushed too far.