Midwifery from the Tudors to the 21st Century: History, Politics and Safe Practice in England / Edition 1

by Julia Allison

Overview

This book recounts the journey of English midwives over six centuries and their battle for survival as a discrete profession, caring safely for childbearing women.

With a particular focus on sixteenth and twentieth century midwifery practice, it includes new research which provides evidence of the identity, social status, lives, families and practice of contemporary midwives, and argues that the excellent care given by ecclesiastically licensed midwives in Tudor England was not bettered until the twentieth century. Relying on a wide variety of archived and personally collected material, this history illuminates the lives, words, professional experiences and outcomes of midwives. It explores the place of women in society, the development of midwifery education and regulation, the seventeenth century arrival of the accoucheurs and the continuing drive by obstetricians to medicalise birth.

A fascinating and compelling read, it highlights the politics and challenges that have shaped midwifery practice today and encourages readers to be confident in midwifery-led care and giving women choices in childbirth. It is an important read for all those interested in childbirth.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780367820244
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	07/13/2020
Pages:	222
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Julia Allison is Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham, UK. She is currently Vice President of the Royal College of Midwives, and is a former General Secretary.

Table of Contents

List of figures vii

List of tables viii

Foreword ix

Preface xi

Glossary of terms, definitions and conventions xiii

Acknowledgements xvi

Introduction 1

1 Late medieval and Tudor English midwives: roles and responsibilities 7

2 Tudor midwives: their lives and practice 17

3 Midwives and maternal death in Tudor England 35

4 Midwives and infant death in Tudor England 49

5 Challenge and change to midwifery practice 59

6 Midwives, accoucheurs and the bills of mortality 70

7 Midwives, institutions and civil registration 82

8 Certified and state-certified English midwives 92

9 Early years following the 1902 Midwives Act 102

10 English midwives in peace and war, 1936-1946 110

11 National Health Service and the domiciliary midwife 120

12 District midwives and general practitioners 131

13 The centralisation and medicalisation of midwifery care 142

14 Hospitalisation of birth 153

15 Statutory control, higher education and better birth? 168

Conclusion: English midwives, 14th-21st centuries 178

Appendices 187

Appendix A Transcript of the will of midwife Margaret Burwood of Wells, Norfolk 187

Appendix B Early Parish registers read (Latin and English) 190

Appendix C Names of 16th-century and 17th-century midwives found in archives 195

Index 197