This collection on maternal and child health focuses on the rites of giving birth from a cross-cultural perspective. The distinguished list of contributors describes the many customs surrounding birth through infancy, highlighting a wide range of variation in practices across cultures. They discuss attitudes and techniques in childbirth, the interaction between human evolutionary form and birthing procedures, the influence of societal factors that differentiate Western from non-Western maternal birthing positions, and the art of midwifery. Also treated are less well-known areas of birthing such as the imagery of birthing, placenta rituals, and popular beliefs about the amniotic membrane called a caul. In addition, the authors explore the humoral medical tradition used in birthing, the possible influence of cultural practices on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), customs and beliefs regarding breastfeeding, weaning, swaddling, and finally a sociological perspective on early infant behaviour. This book should be valuable for courses in medical sociology and anthropology, public health or behavioural sciences, psychology and psychiatry, and for pre-med students.