The birth of a child in Byzantium regardless of its sex, was a particularly happy event, although parents, like their ancestors, ancient Greeks and Romans, clearly prefer boys. Indicative are the words of the ancient Greek poet Euripides, who said that boys were the supports (pillars) of the family, while in Roman society man was the head of the family and had absolute power over it: he decided on the life or the death of its members, married his children, adopted new members, released slaves, managed his property as he wished. On the contrary, girls were perceived as a burden to their parents, especially those who were not rich, because they had to dower them in order to marry them.

A couple had to have children. With motherhood women fulfilled their social purpose. The solely responsible in case a couple remained childless, was the woman; some people even interpreted that fact as a punishment from God.
On the eve of the day of the birth, women used to confess and receive Communion. The reason for that is that the birth at that time had many risks, not only for the mother but also for the child. They mainly gave birth at home. However, in some texts we read that specially designed areas for this purpose, ie. maternity clinics existed. Thus, from the Life of St. John the Merciful we learn that in Alexandria there were seven clinics of that type.

Women usual delivered their babies with the help of midwifes, who were old and experienced women. A doctor was called in only in case of compilations, in order to save both the lives of mother and child (with Caesarean section) or just the life of the mother, in case saving both of them wasn’t’ possible. From icons in manuscripts of that time we know that women used to give birth lying on a bed (as it is done nowadays), sitting on a stool or even standing in an upright position supported by the shoulders of other women.

When the baby was born, the midwife cut both the umbilical cord and the placenta and looked after the baby, checking its senses and confirming that it was healthy. Then she washed the baby in lukewarm salted or flavored with herbs such as myrtle, laurel and mastic tree water, believing that this would strengthen its body. After the bath she wrapped the baby in swaddling clothes (diapers), holding its hands and feet still as they believed that this practice was helping its members to be developed straight and not bent due to the uncoordinated and abrupt movements of the baby. This view was believed to be true up until relatively recently, about fifty years ago, but today this practice is considered to be unhealthy and damaging to the child's development. After looking after the baby, they kept pieces of the amnion, the sac that contained the baby while it was in the womb that may have stuck on the baby's face, because they believed that this was a sign of good fortune for the child.

A woman giving birth faced a lot of dangers: she could get fever or even bleeding from infection during the childbirth that could seriously endanger her life. Back then, because they didn’t know the real reasons, they attributed this danger to an evil presence, called Gello or Gyllo, who wanted to harm both women and children. Another prejudice considered the woman, who just gave birth, as impure, polluted.

These perceptions had as a result the best possible protection of the mother and child the first days that followed the birth. The mother (giving birth) stayed for a period of seven days in isolation, and according to a rule that was imposed by Nicephorus the Confessor, not even her baby was allowed to be with her in the same room. With the completion of forty days after birth, the woman left the house and went to the church with her ​​baby in order to get the blessing of the Church.

 While breastfeeding she followed a special diet, containing plenty of liquids (eg soups), wet rusk, eggs and the so-called lochozema, which was either wine mixed with sugar and lime pieces, or baked semolina with butter and honey.

The acquaintances and friends of the couple visited them in order to wish for the baby bringing gifts such as fruits, nuts, candies, and even coins, depending on their economical situation. Shortly after, the child's birth was celebrated with feasts, dances and songs. It seems that they also celebrated birthdays with gifts and feasts.

Similar customs were followed when a prince was born. When the empress was ready to give birth, she was transported to a special room of the palace that was called Purpura; that is why the children born there were also called Porphyrogennitoi. When the successor of the throne was born, messengers were sent all over the empire to notify the thrilling news. The citizens of Byzantium used to send their gifts depending of the sex of the newborn. One of the first people visiting the baby was the Patriarch in order to give it the wishes and blessings of the clergy. Symposia, festivals, and horse races, where the name of the baby was revealed, were organized to mark the happy event.