Outline of the history of obstetricsuntil the 20th century

Abstract

The profession of midwife is one of the oldest professions in the history of mankind. Its background has been shaped by instinctive human behavior since ancient times, gradually enriching itself thanks to the constant demands of life in a slow process of mastering and observing the surrounding nature. This knowledge was constantly deepened and disseminated more and more widely, giving oral instructions to subsequent generations. It should be emphasized that the first fruits of obstetrics are the midwife–self-taught, who devoted herself to this activity spontaneously. She rushed to the aid of a woman in labor and passed on the experience gained to her successors, often daughters, through demonstrations and oral transmission. It must not be forgotten that these were women with inborn abilities, who, learning in the school of life, through accurate and correct reasoning, achieved extensive experience and proficiency in obstetrics. The aim of this study is to outline the history of the profession, or rather the vocation, of a midwife, from antiquity, through the Middle Ages, to the beginning of the twentieth century of modern time. Today, in civilized countries, children are born in hospitals where they are given special care. However, there are countries where this hospital care is lacking and the help of a female midwife is absolutely indispensable.