This book reconstructs the history of conception, pregnancy and childbirth in Europe from antiquity to the Twentieth century, focusing on its most significant turning points. It explores a history, that far from being linear, progressive or homogeneous, is characterised by significant continuities as well as transformations. 'Nadia Maria Filippini is a highly regarded social historian with a prolific scholarship centred on women's reproductive history. With this volume, beautifully translated by Clelia Boscolo, English readers can access Filippini's groundbreaking long durée approach to childbirth history, revealing patterns that evolved over 25 centuries.' Costanza Gislon Dopfel, Social History of Medicine, UK