How Competent Were 17th-Century Midwives? Separating Fact from Fiction

Join me, Dr Julia Martins, in exploring the underappreciated world of 17th-century midwifery. This video takes a closer look at the roles and skills of midwives in early modern Britain, challenging the longstanding stereotypes established by male practitioners such as Percivall Willughby. I delve into Willughby's "Observations in Midwifery" to understand the context behind the rise of male midwives and their critique of traditional midwifery practices. Was there truth to their claims of incompetence among midwives, or were these assertions influenced by other motives? We'll explore the rigorous process of licensing and ethical standards that governed midwives in this era, highlighting their dedication to professional conduct and the well-being of their patients. The video examines the importance of hands-on experience, apprenticeships, and community reputation, supported by actual client testimonials and church licensing criteria. These elements paint a more accurate picture of midwives as skilled, ethical, and respected members of their communities. The discussion also touches upon the contributions of notable midwives like Jane Sharp and Louise Bourgeois, who authored midwifery manuals, indicating their deep understanding of and commitment to women's health. The video aims to counteract the negative stereotypes by providing evidence of midwives' extensive practical knowledge and professionalism, ultimately challenging the biases of later historians and the male-dominated medical field. This video is for those interested in medical history, gender studies, and the evolution of midwifery, offering a fresh perspective on the role of midwives in early modern health care. Join me in this insightful exploration of history, and please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. Don't forget to like and subscribe for more content on historical medicine and gender studies!   / juliamartins   00:00 - Intro 01:28 - Willughby's Despise and the Myth of Ignorant Midwives 02:28 - What made a 17th-century midwife good at her job? 04:01 - The Road to Midwifery Expertise 04:58 - Client Testimonies: The Key to Midwives' Reputation 06:11 - The Multifaceted Virtues of 17th-Century Midwives 07:55 - Unjust Reputation of Early Modern Midwives 09:35 - Wrap-up Primary Sources: Nicholas Culpepper, A Directory for Midwives (1651). Jacques Guillemeau, Child-Birth Or, The Happy Deliverie of Women (1612). Thomas Reynalde, The Birth of Mankind, edited by E. Hobby (2009, First ed. 1560). Eucharius Roesslin, When Midwifery Became the Male Physician's Province: The Sixteenth Century Handbook The Rose Garden for Pregnant Women and Midwives, edited by W. Arons (1994, First ed. 1526). Jacob Rueff, The Expert Midwife (1637). Jane Sharp, The Midwives Book, edited by E. Hobby (1999, First ed. 1671). Various authors, The Compleat Midwife's Practice Enlarged (1697). Further Reading: Julia Allison, Midwifery From The Tudors To The Twenty-First Century (2021). Olivia Bousquette,'Lawful and Discreet Women": Reflecting on Juries of Matrons' (2021). https://www.standrewslawreview.com/po... Sara Butler, 'More than Mothers: Juries of Matrons and Pleading the Belly in Medieval England', Law and History Review, 2019 37(2), pp.353-396. Naomi Clifford, Pregnant and condemned: Pleading the belly and the jury of matrons (2016). https://www.naomiclifford.com/pleadin... David Cressy, Birth, Marriage & Death (1997). Doreen Evenden, The Midwives of Seventeenth-Century London (2006). Jacques Gélis, History of Childbirth (1991). Hilary Marland (ed.), The Art of Midwifery (1993). Intro Music: Folk Round by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-... Artist: http://incompetech.com/