Book Review: On Becoming A Mother

Having a baby is such a huge milestone in a woman's life, which is marked & remembered by many different customs around the world. On Becoming A Mother: Welcoming Your New Baby & Your New Life With Wisdom From Around The World is a lovely collection of traditions, folk songs, stories, crafts, lessons & advice from mothers around the world, from varied economic, spiritual & cultural backgrounds. From yoga-inspired routines for resting during pregnancy to favourite proverbs printed on the kangas used to carry African newborns, from the origins of the baby shower to the Japanese ritual where Sumo wrestlers are asked to make babies cry, each page is filled with inspiration, humour & insight about the beginnings of parenthood.

I really enjoyed reading it, particularly the pages all about idioms related to being pregnant--that was probably my favourite. I liked that it doesn't just read like an anthropology textbook--it was a mix of personal stories too.

The book will be published in time for Mother's Day this year, so it's the perfect gift for a new mother or mother-to-be. You could get some great ideas from the book for planning a unique baby shower too. Proceeds support the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood. You can buy it on the OneWorld Publications site for $11.89 USD.

The White Ribbon Alliance aims to inspire & convince advocates who campaign to uphold the right of all women to be safe & healthy before, during & after childbirth. Find out more online at www.whiteribbonalliance.org or follow on Twitter @WRAglobal.

Award-winning journalist & filmmaker Brigid McConville is the global creative director of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, which is based in Washington, DC, & London, UK. She travels the world to ensure the alliance's mission that pregnancy & childbirth are safe for all. She organizes international conferences, & frequently meets with world leaders, the UN, & women from diverse national, economic, & cultural backgrounds. Brigid lives in London.

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