The Manner Born Birth Rites in Cross-Cultural Perspective

by Dundes, Lauren; Newton, Niles; Newton, Michael; Trevathan, Wenda R.; McKenna, James J.; (Rutgers University, Sheila Cosminsky; Bates, Brian; Turner, Allison Newman; & Margarita A. Kay, Elaine Jones; Forbes, Thomas R.; Manderson, Lenore; Niehoff, Arthur; M

• ISBN13: 9780759102651
• ISBN10: 0759102651
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-03-25
• Publisher: AltaMira Press

Summary

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, such as attitudes and techniques in childbirth, the influence of societal factors that differentiate Western from non-Western maternal birthing positions, the art of midwifery, customs and beliefs regarding breastfeeding, weaning, swaddling. 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.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	vii
Introduction	1	(6)
Editor's Introduction	7	(24)
Childbirth in Cross-Cultural Perspective	9	(22)
Niles Newton
Michael Newton
Editor's Introduction	31	(22)
Evolutionary Environments of Human Birth and Infancy: Insights to Apply to Contemporary Life	33	(20)
Wenda R. Trevathan
James J. Mckenna
Editor's Introduction	53	(12)
The Evolution of Maternal Birthing Position	55	(10)
Lauren Dundes
Editor's Introduction	65	(20)
Cross-Cultural Perspective on Midwifery	69	(16)
Sheila Cosminsky
Editor's Introduction	85	(14)
Imagery and Symbolism in the Birth Practices of Traditional Cultures	87	(12)
Brian Bates
Allison Newman Turner
Editor's Introduction	99	(18)
The Cultural Anthropology of the Placenta	101	(16)
Elaine Jones
Margarita A. Kay
Editor's Introduction	117	(16)
The Social History of the Caul	119	(14)
Thomas R. Forbes
Editor's Introduction	133	(28)
Roasting, Smoking, and Dieting in Response to Birth: Malay Confinement in Cross-Cultural Perspective	137	(24)
Lenore Manderson
Editor's Introduction	161	(18)
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Cross-Cultural Perspective: Is Infant-Parent Cosleeping Protective?	163	(16)
James J. Mckenna
Editor's Introduction	179	(12)
The Cultural Characteristics of Breastfeeding: A Survey	181	(10)
Arthur Niehoff
Natalie Meister
Editor's Introduction	191	(18)
Culture and the Problem of Weaning	193	(16)
Cecil Slome
Editor's Introduction	209	(10)
Child Rearing in Certain European Countries	211	(8)
Ruth Benedict
Editor's Introduction	219	(12)
Ethnic Differences in Babies	221	(10)
Daniel G. Freedman
Suggestions for Further Reading	231	(2)
Index	233	(6)
About the Editor	239