Volume 4, Issue 4 – Fall 2012

In this issue we cover various aspects of pregnancy and birth among gods and humans. We show how gods can change themselves into clouds or beasts, or have their offspring arise from the foam of the sea or the heads of their fathers. For the daughters of Eve, the pregnancy is longer and the delivery more painful, as a consequence of the unpleasant affair with the forbidden fruit. We also show how Saint Nicolas was able to stand upright as soon as he was born, how Bacchus was born from Jupiter’s thigh, and how the giant Gargantua came into this world. Please read about women’s agelong struggle for reproductive freedom, poor Princess Charlotte, and the use of forceps to extract babies from their suffering mothers.

Frontispiece

Feature Articles On a miraculous birth …. Frank Gonzalez-Crussi The midwives of San Gimignano, 1336 …. Mary A. Osborne Princess Charlotte …. George Dunea & Einar Perman Medical History Historical contraception …. Emily R. W. Davidson Changes in childbirth in the US: 1750-1950 …. Laura Kaplan Forceps: a brief history Leaders in the development of Western obstetric practices Art, Literature, and Medicine Fertility/futility …. Raina Cowan Death lullabies in Russian culture …. Tatiana Novikova Renaissance birth trays How Gargantua was born Doctors, Patients, and Diseases Miracle on Kedvale …. Mary Sommers When angels sing …. Mary Sommers A silent birth …. Rose A. Devasia Gynecology and obstetrics …. Matko Marusic On Becoming a Medical Professional Broken water …. Erika L. Lundgrin Emotional medicine …. Lauren Fore

From our Past Issues The dead mother series of Egon Schiele …. Prudence Gourguechon Lost babies …. Nancy Gershman Famous Hospitals Montreal Children’s Hospital …. Barry Pless Poetry Apple tree, Baby poems …. Jeanne Bryner At 38 weeks, wondering …. Catherine Belling Mother’s Day is different this year …. Diana Heiman Plaintive music …. Ron Domen After the funeral …. Terri Kirby Erickson No good options …. David G. Thoele In the NICU, The tumor …. Lydia Kang Heavy. Period., We breathe together …. Cheryl L. Kaplan Zachariah Hektorama: Divine Births Eve: fashioned from Adam’s rib Athena: born from her father’s head Birth of John the Baptist Pegasus: born from Medusa’s blood Aphrodite: born from the foam of the sea The birth of Moses The birth of Santa Claus On a miraculous birth