Midwives have been around since the beginning of time and they saw lots of joy and sorrow. In 1716, New York City was the first to license midwives and try to legitimize and see them as professionals. At the time, few doctors were formally educated so it made sense for midwives handle births since they did have greater knowledge.
In 1925, a nurse named Mary Breckenridge started the Frontier Nursing Service in Kentucky. The nurses rode horseback all over the Appalachian Mountains delivering babies mostly but also treating all kinds of sickness and injuries. The service received high praise for the invaluable medical care they provided.
As anesthesia came about and began to be used in the late 1800s and early 1900s, more and more women sought doctors and hospitals for deliveries. They wanted something for the pain and I don’t blame them.
In FANCY, Fancy Dalton used a midwife to deliver her baby, trusting the woman to give her excellent care. But the woman took her baby and told her it had died, giving the infant to her sister who was plagued by miscarriages.
Two years passes and Fancy grieves for the child she never got to see. Then one night during a bad storm, the midwife knocks on her door and confesses her crime in order to live with herself. This sets the journey in motion and changes her life forever.
Stolen. The word still brought chills. Fancy set her jaw. She wasn’t going to be a victim anymore. She’d fight and claw and hold on with the last shred of strength until she got back what was hers.
Today, pregnant women are increasingly choosing a midwife over a hospital setting. My niece had a midwife at home with each of her four children. Do you know of someone who opted for a midwife instead if choosing the hospital? I’m giving away three ebook copies of FANCY so leave a comment.
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I don’t know anyone who has used a midwife. My Grandma had all her babies at home. She may have had a midwife.
Hi sreesor, thanks for coming. If your grandma had her babies at home, she either had a midwife or a family member to deliver them. If no midwife was possible, a family member had to step in. A lot of the older women knew a lot about having babies. Have a blessed day.
My grandma and my great-grandma worked as midwives in the early part of the 20th Century.
denise
Wow, Denise! That’s amazing. You have a lot of family history. They must’ve seen a lot of good and bad situations. Have a blessed day. Much love.
My sister had a midwife at a hospital birthing center that nearly let her bleed to death. Were it not for her husband getting loud and belligerent, Sis might have died instead of living to give birth to three more babies after that one, for a total of six kids.
Oh my goodness, Maryellen! That’s horrifying. Thank goodness for hubby! I’m glad she went on to have three more. Have a blessed day. Much love.
I do not know of anyone who used one. My children’s births were problematic and so I was glad to be in a hospital
Debra, I was more than happy to be in a hospital. I would not have wanted to trust a midwife with my three. So much can go wrong. Thanks for coming. Have a blessed day!
I don’t know anyone who used a midwife but this sounds like an amazing book!
Hi Rhonda, thank you for coming. I hope you get a chance to read FANCY. The story simply sprang from my heart and it was almost like the characters were writing it. Have a blessed day.
My daughter-in-law use a midwife of sorts in a birthing clinic. She did not have a good experience.
Janice, I wonder how qualified some of these midwives are. I know some states regulate them and they have to show their education but I’m not sure all states are. I can see in the old days how women were forced to use them but not in this day and age. Blessings and love.
No one I know used one.
Thank you for coming, Kim. I hope you’ll enter the Lone Star giveaway. Have a blessed day.
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Hi, BN100! Thank you for coming. I’m glad you stopped by.
No one that I know used a midwife.
Karijean, they’re not that popular now. Most women like the security of a hospital. Have a blessed day.
My grandmother was a midwife! She delivered a lot of babies! She also went with the local doctor in a small town called Cripple Creek, Virginia! She was very knowledgeable and used herbal remedies for all kinds of things! My mother remembers her having to drink a tea that was horrible to her when she was very about 4 or 5. I’m guessing willow bark tea??
Very interesting, Sheila. Wow! I’m sure she had a lot of stories to tell. I didn’t know Virginia had a Cripple Creek. I learned something. Thank you for coming and sharing that. Have a blessed day.
Unfortunately I never got to see her as she passed before I was born! I would have loved to hear her stories! Yes, Cripple Creek, Virginia is where my grandparents and my mom are from about 20 minutes from where I live today!! Very small little town! Thanks for sharing your time today!
I know of no midwives or anyone that has used one before. Although my step daughter had a nurse friend in the hospital room with her. I have seen people who use them on reality TV shows. Your book sounds amazing.
Thank you so much for coming, Charlene. I hope you win a copy of FANCY. Enter the Lone Star giveaway too. Love and hugs.
One of my sister’s used a midwife that was connected to a hospital, at a birthing clinic there.
Trudy, I’m so glad you came to share. Some midwives are as knowledgeable as a doctor. But like all professions, some are not so good. Have a blessed and wonderful day.
I don’t really know of anyone who used a midwife, even my mother went to a hospital to have her babies. Not sure about my grandmother she may have has some of her babies at home. She had 11 children on my father’s’ side.
Eleven children! Oh my goodness, Quilt Lady. That’s amazing. Probably some of them were born with a midwife present. Blessings and love, my friend.
No I know used a midwife.
Thank you for coming, JCP. I always enjoy seeing you. Have a blessed day.
I do know of families who have had all their babies at home with a midwife, But I would never recommend doing so. I was an RN in the Nursery ICU, and know just how quickly a delivery can go south for either the baby, or mother, or both. Its just not worth the risk to me, even with a well-trained midwife or doula. Having emergency equipment and personnel at your fingertips can mean the difference in lives being saved or lost. Transporting to a hospital when things go south, albeit quick, can just take too long.
Sherry, a hospital is just a safer environment. Like you said, so much can go wrong in just an instant. I’m grateful for doctors and nurses. Blessings and love.
Welcome Linda. Yes I have a very good friend who was a nurse herself. She had a very good friend who was a mid wife who delivered at home all four of her children. She has delivered many more also. She is a fabulous lady with heart of gold and compassion. She is a believer strongly in Jesus and prays with the mother to be before, during and after the birth. quilting dash lady at comcast dot net
Lori, a woman of faith would be comforting I think. Thanks for coming to see my post. Sending blessings and love your way.
My mother never had a mid-wife but did go to what at that time was called a nursing home ( specifically where babies were born with women in attendance). This is long before nursing homes were just for older aged people or any one who could not take care of themselves. I remember visiting there after one of my siblings was born and viewed the table used when the woman delivered her child. The time would have been in the mid 50’s. I, myself, was born in a nursing home in a very small town in 1944.
Judy, thank you for coming. My mother had me at home and the doctor came to the house. He was an old country doctor and took excellent care of his patients. That was in 1948. You sure can’t get a doctor to do that now. Hope you have a blessed day.
I have not known anyone that used a midwife.
Thanks for coming, Colleen. It’s always great to see you. Blessings and love.
I know of no one who used a midwife in my family. But if I hadn’t of had complications with my second birth , I was wanting to use one. And as for the book. OMG! Read it in one setting. Yesterday. But would be honored to have a copy for my Linda Broday book collection…
Tonya, it’s so good to see you. Thanks for coming. I’m so glad you liked the book. I saw your review on Facebook. Thank you so much. You’re so sweet. Love you, lady.
Hi, Linda. Congratulation on another wonderful story. My daughter considered using a midwife when my oldest granddaughter, now 32 and wonderfully healthy, was born but then labor came quickly and she went to the hospital. Which turned out to be a good thing since the baby developed meningitis. I am always on the cautious side and like the idea of that big hospital just in case . . .
Hope you are enjoying your summer. We’re in the middle of another heat wave but should pass in a few more days. Take care. Sally
Thank you for coming, Sally. I’m glad your daughter was in the hospital. Wow! Just think of how many babies and mothers died before we had such excellent care. It’s been so hot here but is cooling down some. We actually have a chance of rain later today and tomorrow. Thank you for the good wishes about FANCY. Blessings and love.
Not too many midwives around my rural area when I was expecting!
Teresa, maybe that was a good thing. I’m glad you had a safe delivery. Thanks for coming.
I don’t know anyone that chose a midwife over the hospital. Back when my husband was born (1945) it was not uncommon to call the doctor to the home for the delivery. My husband and twin brother was born at home.
No one that I know used a midwife. This book sounds good.
I don’t know anyone personally that’s chosen a midwife, but I do know of people that have gone that route and found it to be really great.
Congrats and Happy Release Day Miss LINDA. Sorry I’m just now getting around to this, I started out early this morning on inspections. I don’t know any midwives, but I think it’s a great old concept reinventing itself.
Sounds like a great story! I know a few people who have had midwives. A friend of mine has an aunt who became a fully licensed midwife. She does all her deliveries in hospitals so that if there is a problem she cannot attend to, there are nurses and doctors who can. Kind of the best of both worlds.
I had my daughter at a midwife clinic 25 years ago. It was a good experience. When I had my son two years later, we opted for a hospital birth, mainly because of insurance. It was also a good experience. I didn’t have complications either time (for which I am very thankful!), so I could recommend both. 🙂
The book sounds great!
Congratulations on your new release, Linda! It looks wonderful! I had some complications with my first baby and was so glad to be in a hospital. My grandmother had 11 kids and I think she had them all at home. Last one was born in 1944 and he’s only 3 months older than my oldest sister! I don’t think I could use a midwife unless I just had no choice–I was very nervous! LOL Love you, and wish you the very best with your new story!
My grandmama had all but two of her seven babies at home with the help of the old country doctor, Doc Looney. Truly, that was his name and he was loved and respected by all. He lived to a ripe old age. But, alas, no midwives. However, I have been fascinated by them all of my life and always loved reading about them and I loved the show Call the Midwife!
I can’t think of anyone I know that had their baby at home with a midwife.
I loved you book, Fancy!
The midwives on horseback reminded me of the book lady. 🙂 I had a midwife for both births. But when my first baby was breech, they insisted I go to the hospital, but my second daughter was born at home with a midwife. I’m glad it’s becoming increasingly more common!
Jan, I had forgotten you had midwives with both your kids. I’m glad you got to the hospital with Deva. That could’ve been bad. I don’t think I would’ve had the courage to trust a midwife, even though some are really good at what they do. Some women just want that close experience. I wasn’t brave enough. Love you, Sister.
Glad I finally got access back for P&P. I saw a midwife for our second daughter, but when I went into labor at the hospital the doctor handled it. (At military hospitals, you don’t get a choice.). Our oldest daughter had planned on using a midwife, but had issues with the delivery and needed more help. I can honestly say that my deliveries could have been handled by a midwife and would likely have been better experiences.
YAY, Pat!! You’re back!! Yippee. Sometimes one is better than the other when it comes to midwives and doctors. You simply have to do what seems right for you. My oldest daughter had her baby in a military hospital and they were very rough and unsympathetic. They gave her nothing. Not even a Tylenol. They told her she’d have to tough it out. She was only 19 and those nurses seemed to judge her for not waiting until she was older. Welcome back!