By Jaime Herndon

On May 5, we celebrated International Day of the Midwife. We see midwives as a type of Savvy Auntie, looking after and caring for others, including babies and children not-their-own.

The very word “midwife” means “with woman,” and is one who provides care to women during pregnancy and birth, and sometimes performs well-woman care, as well. Midwives specialize in childbirth, postpartum, and women’s health, but do not do surgery, like obstetricians do.

Traditionally a female occupation - men can be midwives, too - midwives have been around since biblical times. They were seen as alternative, independent women who were slightly outside of the mainstream. At times, with their folk remedies and holistic healing, midwives were seen as “witches” and persecuted.  Still, it was midwives who delivered babies, until a shift began from about 1770 to 1820 when upper-class women in America started to use “male midwives,” or physicians, for their pregnancies. By the end of the 19th century, medicine had gained momentum and was calling for an end to midwifery in America.

Today, less than 10% of births in the US are attended by midwives, compared to other countries, where that number is a lot higher. However, in Europe, midwives attend more than 70% of births. In fact, Her Royal Highness, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, was delivered by midwives earlier this week. The UK's Mirror reported that midwives "Arona Ahmed and her boss Jacqui Dunkley-Bent, Professor of Midwivery at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, together helped welcome the princess into the world... Professor Dunkley-Bent, 51, is said to have built up a rapport with Kate as she also delivered Prince George in 2012." The Royal Couple had a team of three midwives on standby for more than a month in case Princess Kate were to deliver early.

Photo: leaf
Published: May 6, 2015