Having a baby is a private miracle, yet it is also the source of much shared joy. For this reason, women and families in every country and every culture have customs to ensure that the journey into motherhood is marked and remembered. From yoga-inspired routines for resting during pregnancy to favorite proverbs printed on the khangas used to carry African newborns and the origins of the baby shower to the Japanese ritual where Sumo wrestlers make babies cry, each page of "On Becoming a Mother" is filled with inspiration, humor, and insight about the beginnings of parenthood. This beautifully curated collection of traditions, folk songs, stories, crafts, lessons, and advice from mothers around the world is the perfect gift for the new mother or mother-to-be.

Author Biography

Award-winning journalist and filmmaker Brigid McConville is the global creative director of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, which is based in London and Washington, D.C. When she is not traveling the world to ensure the alliance's mission that pregnancy and childbirth are safe for all, she splits her time between London and the west country of England.