The Unexpected History Of Midwives
video description
Date: 2025-01-11
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 20
Cavernvision
I loved that I got to give birth in Denmark. As a child in the US, my only exposure to childbirth was through TV and movies. The image of a woman, on her back, legs in stirrups, in a sterile, cold, brightly lit room with a man (doctor) yelling at her to push, was enough to put me off the idea of ever having children.
But in my 20’s, I came across a book on water birth and midwives. That’s the first time I ever considered the idea of possibly having children.
Back to giving birth in Denmark- here, you automatically have a midwife unless there’s a medical reason otherwise! I was actually encouraged to give birth at home, but decided against it as I lived in an apartment so wasn’t sure about the noise and such. So I gave birth in the birthing centre at the hospital which was perfect! I had several midwives throughout my labour (I was in labour for over 100 hours, and the whole experience was very empowering. I had complete control and say over every step of my labouring and birth.
reply
I loved that I got to give birth in Denmark. As a child in the US, my only exposure to childbirth was through TV and movies. The image of a woman, on her back, legs in stirrups, in a sterile, cold, brightly lit room with a man (doctor) yelling at her to push, was enough to put me off the idea of ever having children.
But in my 20’s, I came across a book on water birth and midwives. That’s the first time I ever considered the idea of possibly having children.
Back to giving birth in Denmark- here, you automatically have a midwife unless there’s a medical reason otherwise! I was actually encouraged to give birth at home, but decided against it as I lived in an apartment so wasn’t sure about the noise and such. So I gave birth in the birthing centre at the hospital which was perfect! I had several midwives throughout my labour (I was in labour for over 100 hours, and the whole experience was very empowering. I had complete control and say over every step of my labouring and birth.
reply
jumpingjacks5558
My great grandma was a midwife. She was a midwife in the early 1900's. She kept journals on every baby she delivered. She also had several remedies she would make for children who were sick at the time. Same for adults. There were no doctors in the area she lived in.
Reading those journals opened stories about how complex some of the births were. My great grandma was born premature only weighing 2 lbs. The family wrapped her up and put her in a shoe box next to the stove. She lived to over 90 years old. She is a hero to me. That is why I went into medicine as aan RN
reply
My great grandma was a midwife. She was a midwife in the early 1900's. She kept journals on every baby she delivered. She also had several remedies she would make for children who were sick at the time. Same for adults. There were no doctors in the area she lived in.
Reading those journals opened stories about how complex some of the births were. My great grandma was born premature only weighing 2 lbs. The family wrapped her up and put her in a shoe box next to the stove. She lived to over 90 years old. She is a hero to me. That is why I went into medicine as aan RN
reply
weird_history
This silly hippidity dipity lady I work with was fully committed to doing this herself. Thought the midwife was her BFF. Comes time to give birth at her house and there were complications. The midwife ran and the husband had to call 911. Ambulance picked her up and she needed an emergency C section. The baby and her were both at risk of dying. Losing a single child or even Mom to this sorta nonsense is silly to me. A hospital is a great thing people.
reply
This silly hippidity dipity lady I work with was fully committed to doing this herself. Thought the midwife was her BFF. Comes time to give birth at her house and there were complications. The midwife ran and the husband had to call 911. Ambulance picked her up and she needed an emergency C section. The baby and her were both at risk of dying. Losing a single child or even Mom to this sorta nonsense is silly to me. A hospital is a great thing people.
reply
danidavis7912
My former wife was attended to by a pair of midwives during her pregnancy. Those ladies were phenomenal. I don't remember what we were paying them, but I can assure you, it wasn't enough, but what we could afford at the time. The only time I ever saw the doc, was when he came in long enough to deliver my daughter, which took all of about 20 minutes, and was gone. Never saw him again. This was 41 years ago, in the US.
reply
My former wife was attended to by a pair of midwives during her pregnancy. Those ladies were phenomenal. I don't remember what we were paying them, but I can assure you, it wasn't enough, but what we could afford at the time. The only time I ever saw the doc, was when he came in long enough to deliver my daughter, which took all of about 20 minutes, and was gone. Never saw him again. This was 41 years ago, in the US.
reply
ritzlarka
My grandma was a midwife. This is a good video on the general history of them.
I believe the movie is called Out of the Ashes and it's about a Jewish gynecologist trapped in (I believe) Auschwitz and forced to work under Dr Mengele. She eventually gained her freedom only to be reviewed, interviewed, judged for what she did in the camps. Very good movie and people should check it out.
reply
My grandma was a midwife. This is a good video on the general history of them.
I believe the movie is called Out of the Ashes and it's about a Jewish gynecologist trapped in (I believe) Auschwitz and forced to work under Dr Mengele. She eventually gained her freedom only to be reviewed, interviewed, judged for what she did in the camps. Very good movie and people should check it out.
reply
belterglj
In an interesting side note, the medicalization of child birth lead to dr. s who infected their patients causing rampant childbed fever deaths. In the hospital were Ignaz Semmelweis discovered that could be prevented by washing hands, the maternity death rate in births attended by dr. s was much higher than those attended by midwifes. Fortunately they figured the problem out, eventually.
reply
In an interesting side note, the medicalization of child birth lead to dr. s who infected their patients causing rampant childbed fever deaths. In the hospital were Ignaz Semmelweis discovered that could be prevented by washing hands, the maternity death rate in births attended by dr. s was much higher than those attended by midwifes. Fortunately they figured the problem out, eventually.
reply
LBeeeeeee
I am a 25 year practicing homebirth and birth center Midwife. This is a great video, but you’ve completely forgotten to include the major major influence that black and granny midwives had on American midwifery. Modern midwifery is the way it is now because of those midwives so basically you’ve missed a third of our recent history.
reply
I am a 25 year practicing homebirth and birth center Midwife. This is a great video, but you’ve completely forgotten to include the major major influence that black and granny midwives had on American midwifery. Modern midwifery is the way it is now because of those midwives so basically you’ve missed a third of our recent history.
reply
maryellencook9528
Midwives today are almost always advanced practice RNs. To say that they are given the side eye today is ludicrous.
Also, midwives, L&D nurses, NICU, and Nursery nurses are still allowed in most circumstances to baptize a newborn if the parents request it and there are no ministers or priests available.
reply
Midwives today are almost always advanced practice RNs. To say that they are given the side eye today is ludicrous.
Also, midwives, L&D nurses, NICU, and Nursery nurses are still allowed in most circumstances to baptize a newborn if the parents request it and there are no ministers or priests available.
reply
y_fam_goeglyd
In the UK we have midwives from the time we register as pregnant. I've had 4 different deliveries, two led by doctors, the others just with midwives, including a home delivery. Midwives are the best.
During the start of midwifery as a more scientific subject, most official midwives were males.
reply
In the UK we have midwives from the time we register as pregnant. I've had 4 different deliveries, two led by doctors, the others just with midwives, including a home delivery. Midwives are the best.
During the start of midwifery as a more scientific subject, most official midwives were males.
reply
btetschner
Eating ANOTHER Weird History candy!
Eating Wiley Wallaby licorice (Watermelon. while watching this Weird History video!
I bought this at Tractor Supply Store.
Inspired by the Weird History videos about candy.
Rocko, from Rocko's Modern Life, is a Wallaby.
reply
Eating ANOTHER Weird History candy!
Eating Wiley Wallaby licorice (Watermelon. while watching this Weird History video!
I bought this at Tractor Supply Store.
Inspired by the Weird History videos about candy.
Rocko, from Rocko's Modern Life, is a Wallaby.
reply
cloud6060
Absolutely insane to tag Josef Mengele as physician. That's like tagging Osama Bin Laden as the owner of a construction company. It's a gross understatement of the war crimes they inflicted. Hey, you ever heard of that painter guy Adolf something
reply
Absolutely insane to tag Josef Mengele as physician. That's like tagging Osama Bin Laden as the owner of a construction company. It's a gross understatement of the war crimes they inflicted. Hey, you ever heard of that painter guy Adolf something
reply
roselyncampisi822
My mom was born by a midwife. Her older sisters too. My youngest aunt was the first to be born in the hospital back in 1940. Some women like a water birth and have the baby at home. In today's world you have choices. Which is do nice.
reply
My mom was born by a midwife. Her older sisters too. My youngest aunt was the first to be born in the hospital back in 1940. Some women like a water birth and have the baby at home. In today's world you have choices. Which is do nice.
reply
aliasfakename3159
Midwives had lower infant mortality rates than doctors cuz they made washing their hands a priority. Also, they encouraged women to walk around and sit upright so gravity could ease the baby down the birth canal.
reply
Midwives had lower infant mortality rates than doctors cuz they made washing their hands a priority. Also, they encouraged women to walk around and sit upright so gravity could ease the baby down the birth canal.
reply
cherryblossoms85
I had a mid-wife through out my pregnancy with my eldest and she was great. She was even there when my daughter was born but there still had to be a Dr. there too for whatever reason I forget.
reply
I had a mid-wife through out my pregnancy with my eldest and she was great. She was even there when my daughter was born but there still had to be a Dr. there too for whatever reason I forget.
reply
sarahnejdl
I birthed both of my boys with a midwife in the early 2000’s at a birth center. Wonderful experience both times, no complications. Little bit of good luck, good genetics & good midwifery!
reply
I birthed both of my boys with a midwife in the early 2000’s at a birth center. Wonderful experience both times, no complications. Little bit of good luck, good genetics & good midwifery!
reply
weird_history
Save the babies! Be pro-life! Show compassion and embrace expectant mothers (both women and girls) in crisis pregnancies! Be a helping hand that gives life, not one that takes it away!
reply
Save the babies! Be pro-life! Show compassion and embrace expectant mothers (both women and girls) in crisis pregnancies! Be a helping hand that gives life, not one that takes it away!
reply
weird_history
The mispronunciation of the word midwifery all the way through this video is enough to set your teeth on edge. Clearly the speaker has never actually heard the word, just read it.
reply
The mispronunciation of the word midwifery all the way through this video is enough to set your teeth on edge. Clearly the speaker has never actually heard the word, just read it.
reply
johnoutler5996
Nothing personal but this new narrator simply does not have a fraction of the same enthusiasm as the original narrator. I think I can do better, let me take a crack at it.
reply
Nothing personal but this new narrator simply does not have a fraction of the same enthusiasm as the original narrator. I think I can do better, let me take a crack at it.
reply
Biggoypiloy
You gonna make an entire video and NOT DOUBLE CHECK HOW TO ACTUALLY PRONOUNCE MIDWIFERY What lazy nonsense this shit is so aggravating throughout this effing video
reply
You gonna make an entire video and NOT DOUBLE CHECK HOW TO ACTUALLY PRONOUNCE MIDWIFERY What lazy nonsense this shit is so aggravating throughout this effing video
reply
beebeelicious
Even now midwives are highly experienced and knowledgeable, far more so in some areas than the doctors. They still get paid really badly in the UK!
reply
Even now midwives are highly experienced and knowledgeable, far more so in some areas than the doctors. They still get paid really badly in the UK!
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
