Fatemeh Ebtehaj is associate member of the Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge. Jonathan Herring is a Professor of Law at Oxford University and a Fellow of Exeter College. Martin Johnson is Professor of Reproductive Sciences in the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Christ's College.Martin Richards is Emeritus Professor of Family Research at the Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge.

• MARTIN RICHARDSPart 1: Experiences and Rites of Birth 1 Becoming a Mother: Continuities and Discontinuities over Three DecadesANN OAKLEY, MEG WIGGINS, VICKI STRANGE, MARY SAWTELL AND HELEN AUSTERBERRY2 Changing Medical Birth Rites in Britain 1970-2010 FRANÇOISE BARBIRA FREEDMAN3 Are Doctors Still Improving Childbirth? SUSAN BEWLEY AND LIN FOO4 The Midwife-Mother Relationship MAVIS KIRKHAMPart 2: Status and Consequences of Birth 5 The Loneliness of Status: The Legal and Moral Significance of Birth JONATHAN HERRING6 Refusing Medical Treatment During Pregnancy and Birth: Ethical and Legal IssuesROSAMUND SCOTT7 The Consequences for Preterm Infants of Antenatal Glucocorticoid TreatmentALISON FORHEAD AND ABIGAIL FOWDEN8 Fathers, Birth and Law RICHARD COLLIERPart 3: After Birth 9 Recording Births: From the Reformation to the Welfare Reform Act REBECCA PROBERT10 The Changing Form of Birth Registration JULIE MCCANDLESS11 Birthright had Nothing to do with It; Royal Inheritance in the Middle AgesFRANCIS WOODMAN12 Infanticide and Insanity in 19th Century England SHELLEY DAY SCLATERPart 4: Timing of Birth13 Explaining the Trend towards Older First Time Mothers – A Life Course PerspectiveIRENEE DALY14 Too Late or Too Many – Dilemmas Facing the Modern Woman Seeking Help with FertilityPETER BRAUDE AND TAREK EL-TOUKHY15 IVF Birth Data Presentation: Its Impact on Clinical Practice and Patient ChoiceEMILY JACKSON AND HOSSAM ABDALLA

Birth Rites and Rights contains a mixture of empirical and theoretical chapters, drawing on a range of disciplines, including anthropology, psychology, gender studies, (medical) sociology, law, and history. On the whole this is a strength of the book...each author refers to points or arguments made in other chapters which generates a dialogue between the authors, and creates a sense of cohesion around the book, The book offers something for everyone, and is particularly useful for sociology and medical students.

Fatemeh Ebtehaj is associate member of the Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge. Jonathan Herring is a Professor of Law at Oxford University and a Fellow of Exeter College. Martin Johnson is Professor of Reproductive Sciences in the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Christ's College.Martin Richards is Emeritus Professor of Family Research at the Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge.

• MARTIN RICHARDSPart 1: Experiences and Rites of Birth 1 Becoming a Mother: Continuities and Discontinuities over Three DecadesANN OAKLEY, MEG WIGGINS, VICKI STRANGE, MARY SAWTELL AND HELEN AUSTERBERRY2 Changing Medical Birth Rites in Britain 1970-2010 FRANÇOISE BARBIRA FREEDMAN3 Are Doctors Still Improving Childbirth? SUSAN BEWLEY AND LIN FOO4 The Midwife-Mother Relationship MAVIS KIRKHAMPart 2: Status and Consequences of Birth 5 The Loneliness of Status: The Legal and Moral Significance of Birth JONATHAN HERRING6 Refusing Medical Treatment During Pregnancy and Birth: Ethical and Legal IssuesROSAMUND SCOTT7 The Consequences for Preterm Infants of Antenatal Glucocorticoid TreatmentALISON FORHEAD AND ABIGAIL FOWDEN8 Fathers, Birth and Law RICHARD COLLIERPart 3: After Birth 9 Recording Births: From the Reformation to the Welfare Reform Act REBECCA PROBERT10 The Changing Form of Birth Registration JULIE MCCANDLESS11 Birthright had Nothing to do with It; Royal Inheritance in the Middle AgesFRANCIS WOODMAN12 Infanticide and Insanity in 19th Century England SHELLEY DAY SCLATERPart 4: Timing of Birth13 Explaining the Trend towards Older First Time Mothers – A Life Course PerspectiveIRENEE DALY14 Too Late or Too Many – Dilemmas Facing the Modern Woman Seeking Help with FertilityPETER BRAUDE AND TAREK EL-TOUKHY15 IVF Birth Data Presentation: Its Impact on Clinical Practice and Patient ChoiceEMILY JACKSON AND HOSSAM ABDALLA

Birth Rites and Rights contains a mixture of empirical and theoretical chapters, drawing on a range of disciplines, including anthropology, psychology, gender studies, (medical) sociology, law, and history. On the whole this is a strength of the book...each author refers to points or arguments made in other chapters which generates a dialogue between the authors, and creates a sense of cohesion around the book, The book offers something for everyone, and is particularly useful for sociology and medical students.

Fatemeh Ebtehaj is associate member of the Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge. Jonathan Herring is a Professor of Law at Oxford University and a Fellow of Exeter College. Martin Johnson is Professor of Reproductive Sciences in the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Christ's College.Martin Richards is Emeritus Professor of Family Research at the Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge.

• MARTIN RICHARDSPart 1: Experiences and Rites of Birth 1 Becoming a Mother: Continuities and Discontinuities over Three DecadesANN OAKLEY, MEG WIGGINS, VICKI STRANGE, MARY SAWTELL AND HELEN AUSTERBERRY2 Changing Medical Birth Rites in Britain 1970-2010 FRANÇOISE BARBIRA FREEDMAN3 Are Doctors Still Improving Childbirth? SUSAN BEWLEY AND LIN FOO4 The Midwife-Mother Relationship MAVIS KIRKHAMPart 2: Status and Consequences of Birth 5 The Loneliness of Status: The Legal and Moral Significance of Birth JONATHAN HERRING6 Refusing Medical Treatment During Pregnancy and Birth: Ethical and Legal IssuesROSAMUND SCOTT7 The Consequences for Preterm Infants of Antenatal Glucocorticoid TreatmentALISON FORHEAD AND ABIGAIL FOWDEN8 Fathers, Birth and Law RICHARD COLLIERPart 3: After Birth 9 Recording Births: From the Reformation to the Welfare Reform Act REBECCA PROBERT10 The Changing Form of Birth Registration JULIE MCCANDLESS11 Birthright had Nothing to do with It; Royal Inheritance in the Middle AgesFRANCIS WOODMAN12 Infanticide and Insanity in 19th Century England SHELLEY DAY SCLATERPart 4: Timing of Birth13 Explaining the Trend towards Older First Time Mothers – A Life Course PerspectiveIRENEE DALY14 Too Late or Too Many – Dilemmas Facing the Modern Woman Seeking Help with FertilityPETER BRAUDE AND TAREK EL-TOUKHY15 IVF Birth Data Presentation: Its Impact on Clinical Practice and Patient ChoiceEMILY JACKSON AND HOSSAM ABDALLA

Birth Rites and Rights contains a mixture of empirical and theoretical chapters, drawing on a range of disciplines, including anthropology, psychology, gender studies, (medical) sociology, law, and history. On the whole this is a strength of the book...each author refers to points or arguments made in other chapters which generates a dialogue between the authors, and creates a sense of cohesion around the book, The book offers something for everyone, and is particularly useful for sociology and medical students.