Tina Cassidy describes her grandmother's, her mother's, and her own experiences giving birth, highlighting how the birthing process has changed throughout history and exploring the cultural history of how and why people are born the way they are.

One. Evolution and the female body -- Two. Midwives throughout time -- Three. The hut, the home, and the hospital -- Four. Pain relief -- Five. The cesarean section -- Six. The dawn of doctors -- Seven. Tools and fads -- Eight. A father's place -- Nine. The postpartum period.