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Abstract
Introduction. Women during labour always were supported by another woman. Midwife is probably the oldest profession in the world and was describing in antiquity. At the beginning of the 20th century h Poland was under partition. Education and working conditions for midwives were different in different part of Poland. Nowadays midwife is independent medical profession and education is only possibility on university level.
Aim. The aim of the work is to present the education and work of a midwife in historical terms from 1900 to 1918 in Poland and to compare with modern times.
Material and methods. Conducted analysis of scientific literature, historical documents and legal acts concerning the profession of a midwife in the Prussian, Russian and Austrian partitions in the years 1900-1918.The realities of the midwife's profession at present where analyzing on the basis of the subject literature and current acts concerning the profession of a midwife.
Results and conclusions. Education of midwives in Poland in the years 1900–1918 was significantly different from education in modern times. The midwife's competencies were quite similar in both analyzed periods. The midwives were and they are responsible for caring for the woman during physiological pregnancy, physiological delivery and postpartum period and the care of the newborn baby.
Key words: midwife, the history of the profession, the former maternity care, modern midwifery.