Changing Patterns of Child-bearing and Child Rearing

Proceedings of the 1980 Eugenics Society conference edited R. Chester, Peter Diggory and Margaret B. Sutherland

"The proceedings of the Seventeenth Annual Symposium of the Eugenics Society, this volume completes a trilogy examining changing patterns of biological variables in contemporary society. It deals with obstetric and perinatal events and with our understanding of child rearing and its various patterns, combining medical and social science viewpoints to present an integrated and wide-ranging study.

The book is divided into two main sections. The first analyzes new developments in safe guarding the child during gestation and birth, and investigates the interaction between medical and psychological factors. The use of sophisti ated technology in the monitoring of labour, combined with increasing awareness of the importance of the emotional well-being of the mother, indicate an urgent need to study intervention in parturition and parenting. The Galton Lecture considers the clinical aspects, emphasizing the need for more scientific assessment of new techniques, and urging cooperation between obstetricians and paediatricians in establishing adequate clinical trials before altering the whole conduct of labour. New obstetrical techniques are reviewed and the importance of effective data collection discussed; included are a number of international comparisons. The second section of the book looks at generational continuities in child-rearing practice, and examines the changes in the attitudes and behaviour of parents towards children, with particular emphasis on the stresses of the one-parent family — an increasingly frequent phenomenon. Changing Patterns of Child-bearing and Child Rearing provides a valuable study of a rapidly changing field, presenting papers by experts actively engaged in work of both a medical and social sciences nature. Although of primary interest to obstetricians, gynaecologists, sociologists and senior midwives, other readers, especially mothers and mothers-to-be, will find this book stimulating and informative."  (From the dust jacket of the book)

ISBN 0-12-171660-0

Main contents Technology in the Care of Mother and Baby: an Essential Safeguard R. W. Beard Care of the Premature Baby: Needs and Prospects J. L. Pearce The Long-Term Effects upon the Child of Perinatal Events Peter Diggory Evaluation of Perinatal Practice: The Limitations of Audit by Death Iain Chalmers The Scope of Perinatal Statistics and the Usefulness of International Comparisons Eva Alberman Changing Patterns of Physical Development and Health in Children W. A. Marshall Aspects of Development in Contemporary Society M. P. M. Richards Generational Continuities in Child-Rearing Practices Alex McGlaughlin Contemporary Child Rearing in Evolutionary Perspective N. G. Blurton Jones Parenting in Stepfamilies Jacqueline Burgoyne and David Clark Child Rearing by Lone Fathers Tony Hipgrave Professional Intervention in the Parenting Process Douglas Hooper

We have a small number of copies of the book available from the General Secretary for £10 including postage and packing.  Second-hand copies are available on the Internet for prices ranging from $5.93 (ex-library) to £45!