The Manner Born: Birth Rites in Cross-Cultural Perspective: Niles Newton: AltaMira Press

The Manner Born

Birth Rites in Cross-Cultural Perspective

Textbook

The Manner Born

Birth Rites in Cross-Cultural Perspective

Textbook

Description

This essential collection on maternal and child health focuses on the rites of giving birth from a cross-cultural perspective. The distinguished list of contributors describe 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 sociobiological perspective on early infant behavior. This book will be valuable for courses in medical sociology and anthropology, public health or behavioral sciences, psychology and psychiatry, and for pre-med students.

Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Chapter 1: Childbirth in Cross-Cultural Perspective
Chapter 3 Chapter 2: Evolutionary Environments of Human Birth and Infancy: Insights to Apply to Contemporary Life
Chapter 4 Chapter 3: The Evolution of Maternal Birthing Position
Chapter 5 Chapter 4: Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Midwifery
Chapter 6 Chapter 5: Imagery and Symbolism in the Birth Practices of Traditional Cultures
Chapter 7 Chapter 6: The Cultural Anthropology of the Placenta
Chapter 8 Chapter 7: The Social History of the Caul
Chapter 9 Chapter 8: Roasting, Smoking and Dieting in Response to Birth: Malay Confinement in Cross-Cultural Perspective
Chapter 10 Chapter 9: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Cross-Cultural Perspective: Is Infant-Parent Co-Sleeping Protective?
Chapter 11 Chapter 10: The Cultural Characteristics of Breast-Feeding: A Survey
Chapter 12 Chapter 11: Culture and the Problem of Weaning
Chapter 13 Chapter 12: Child Rearing in Certain European Countries
Chapter 14 Chapter 13: Ethnic Differences in Babies