Author Description

Pregnancy and childbirth both remain mystical and magical times, characterized by feelings of hope, uncertainty, and worry. No matter how many scientific innovations come along, there is still room for home-grown beliefs and traditions handed down through the family. Couples buying a stroller may still ask for it to be delivered after the birth, and some grandparents will shrink from tickling the baby's feet in case it grows up to have a stammer. Countless beliefs and customs are gathered in this intriguing collection, along with explanations on how and why they arose, in which parts of Britain they have been particularly popular, and to what extent they survive today. Arranged thematically, this is an interesting blend of familiar, unfamiliar, and frankly bizarre beliefs.