Black History & The History of Childbirth
Happy Black History Month!
Do you have tea? This is a sit & chill moment :)
As a child, I remember how exciting black history month was in my household.
For over 30 years, my mother taught in Brownsville, Brooklyn. As February approached, her enthusiasm became contagious. The month unfolded with profound discussions, joyous celebrations, and creative expressions, as she shared the rich history & contributions of our ancestors & current leaders with her students. This month, I am honored to continue the tradition by highlighting the significant contributions of black midwives & their pivotal role in shaping the history of childbirth.
In the world we know now, more than 98% of births occur in the hospital. The shift of childbirth to the hospital setting started in the early 1900s. Hospital births were managed by doctors, a profession largely occupied by men. Let’s pause for a moment, because I have to explain something that won’t make sense, but this is our history. It was taboo for men to be present during birth in the early 1900s. Even fathers were not welcomed into the birthing space until the 1960s. So, sir. How are you managing birth if you never watched it unfold? The math is not mathing, friend. Men managing birth reflected a stark departure from the historical norm where women played a central role in supporting the birthing process.
Since men lacked this personal experience, they relied on their medical expertise, medicalizing a very natural & physiological event. Imagine how scary this transition must have been for women. The birthing process evolved into a managed experience; this restricted the inherent autonomy women should have over their own bodies. I’m so biting my tongue right now, I could go on for days.
Well before the 1900s, birth occurred at home & it was a vibe. Loved ones would gather to support the birthing person & their family. It was a celebration, a time to welcome new life, with the assistance of a midwife who was trained to assist women during birth. Birth was often supported by black & indigenous women who passed down their traditional healing practices and knowledge base from generation to generation. For centuries, black midwives have been the healers of their tribes & communities. Their knowledge & skills saved lives.
In Africa, black women served as traditional midwives. They were deeply connected with the needs of mothers they worked with. They used their hands to heal & their wisdom of mother earth to integrate plant-based medicine into their practice. Their skills were sought after when they were enslaved & brought to America in the 17th century. Black midwives oversaw the care of pregnant slaves and the wives of their slave masters. Some midwives were able to travel to care for pregnant women, giving them the ability to provide care in different communities.
On another episode of Here We Go Again: In the early to mid-20th century, as birth moved to the hospital setting in the US, there was a big push for the role of midwives to be eliminated. Physicians and public health administrators felt midwives (their competitors) were undereducated and lacked proper hygienic practices, contributing to the deaths of mothers & infants. It was a time that illness & disease was prevalent in the United States. Policies were set in place calling for formal training of midwives & regulating how midwives practiced. Access to midwifery training was not readily available to all midwives. Black midwives faced exclusion from certain institutions, encountered financial barriers limiting their access to training, and were often unable to attend schools due to the challenges of distant travel. By the 1930s the number of births that took place at home, under the care of a midwife, declined considerably. Hospitals did not offer an infection free birthing experience. What they did offer was a pain-free birth, but at a cost. The medications used to deliver this promise often wiped the memory of birth from women’s minds.
In the north, doctors replaced most midwives. In the south, black midwives continued to practice in rural communities, especially in communities that did not have access to hospitals. Midwives from the south were referred to as granny midwifes, not based on their age, but based on the knowledge & wisdom they brought to the table. Many times, they served as the only accessible healthcare provider in remote rural populations.
Women’s liberation movement ignited the desire to bring birth back home. During the 1970s, women sought midwifery care to support their pregnancies. Rates of birthing center & home births has risen over time, most notably, pre & post COVID. There are so many amazing black midwives across the globe. Being able to personally witness their timeless traditions & care has truly influenced many birthworkers today.
As we can see, for many centuries, black midwives were (and still are) the pillar of their communities, across all generations, cultures & races. Their journey has not been easy, but their dedication despite it all is truly a blessing to us all. Their knowledge has influenced many of the current practices & initiatives that support the natural unfolding of birth.
“Black midwives have played a pivotal role in shaping the history of childbirth, their legacy is carried on by many practicing midwives today.”
Shining Light on 3 Midwives
Mary Francis Hill Coley, born in 1900, served as a midwife in Albany, Georgia, delivering over 3,000 babies during her career.
Margaret Charles Smith was a midwife in a rural area in Alabama during the 1900s. Smith caught her first baby at the age of 5 years old while waiting for the midwife to arrive.
Maude Callen, born in 1898, became a nurse and midwife, delivering over 600 babies during her 60 years of practice. She was known for her advocacy in women’s health & opened the Maude E. Callen clinic to serve members of her community.
Credit: National Museum of African-American History & Culture, Urban Institute, Library of Congress Blogs