" A Womb of One's Own is a significant scholarly achievement, but it is also more than that. Tara Mulder is an immersive storyteller who guides us into intimate spaces from an ancient past. She attends to the unique specificity of women's reproductive lives, all while pushing the reader to see the connection between past and present struggles for reproductive autonomy and control. This beautiful book is for anyone who wishes to think deeply about the history of childbirth."--Anna Bonnell Freidin, author of Birthing Romans: Childbearing and Its Risks in Imperial Rome "It is said that stories are data with a soul. In naming women--and telling their stories--Mulder not only honors the rich and complex experiences of childbearing women in ancient Rome but also reminds us that the history of obstetrics is not confined to the past. It forms the very foundation of the beliefs, narratives, and structures that have long displaced women from our central role in the birthing suite--a legacy that still echoes in many modern obstetric practices. By illuminating where we have come from, Mulder reveals where we stand today, offering a powerful reminder that midwives and birthing women have the wisdom, agency, and resilience to ensure history does not continue to dictate destiny.

"--Aviva Romm, MD and midwife.