Midwives in the Past

Paper Summary:

The paper explains how the midwife played an extremely important role in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The paper discusses the culture in which the midwife played her essential role in the community and society and relates how midwifery was one of the few medical practices in history which were dominated by women. The midwife was an essential part of medical healthcare in a time when there was very little medical knowledge and almost no support, except for the church, for these women. The paper concludes that their daily lives would have been arduous and stressful but they succeeded in building a legacy which has been retained until today.

Outline:
Introduction
A Day in the Life of an English Midwife

From the Paper:

"In contradistinction to its earlier history, contemporary midwifery is a regulated science in which the midwife provides care to women during normal pregnancies and turns to physicians or doctors for help in the event of any complications. However the situation was very different in the 16th century and "In the history of European continent the practice of midwifery by the medical profession did not begin until the middle of the 16th century." (Historical Background of Midwifery) England in particular was not as advanced in the regulation and control of midwifery as were Germany and other continental countries during this period. The first book by and English midwife entitled The Midwives Book or the Whole art of Midwifery Discovered; directing childbearing women in how to behave themselves was written in 1671. This book was a guide to the domestic midwife and also provides advice on how to use the new invention of the obstetrical forceps. In comparison the position of the midwife in the sixteenth century was more primitive and based on village and community affiliations and on information and guidance between women only. The situation with regard to the culture of the time as well as the role and position of women in the society is therefore extremely important in understanding and discussing the challenges and duties that the early English midwife had to face."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Drife J. The start of life: a history of obstetrics. December 7, 2005. http://pmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/78/919/311
• Hellwarth, Jennifer Wynne. I Wyl Wright of Women Prevy Sekenes': Imagining Female Literacy and Textual Communities in Medieval and Early Modern Midwifery Manuals. Critical Survey 14.1 (2002): 44+.
• Historical Background of Midwifery. Contributions by the Midwives of Antiquity to the Art and Science of Modern Medicine. December 9, 2005.http://www.collegeofmidwives.org/legal_legislative01/HxMfryIndex01/antiqmdw.htm
• History of Medicine. December 7, 2005.http://www.ewtn.com/library/HOMELIBR/10122A.TXT
• Loudon, Irvine, ed. Western Medicine: An Illustrated History. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997.

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