Talking to a friend about midwifery the other day, I repeated the oft quoted mantra 'Everyone needs a midwife! "
He laughed and said he didn't think he did. Of course, he had, but far before he could remember.
Anyone who has ever lived needs or needed a midwife at some point in their lives. (Whether or not they got one is, of course, a different matter).
Another oft-quoted saying: midwifery is the second oldest profession in the world. I beg to differ. I believe it is the oldest. (I'd be happy to concede prositution as the second. Maybe).
So, the history of midwifery and midwives stretches back to the beginnings of humanity. I do not aim to go back that far in this blog, although I'll do my best to go back as far as possible. I'm going to start with the medieval period in Europe, mainly because that's where my primary interest lies at the moment.
Please comment, or add "any snippets of information, or questions.
About Me
- Val Levy
- France
- Retired now, Val has worked as a midwife, midwife teacher and researcher for many years. Val has a PhD in Midwifery Studies from the University of Sheffield, and a Masters from the University of Exeter. She has published many academic papers and co-edited the Midwifery Practice: A Research Based Approach series of books. Val now lives in France, where she has been busy writing, and hopes to publish her first book of historical fiction within the next year, centred around - you've guessed it - medieval midwives.