Comparison Of The Granny Midwives And The Anglo-American Midwifery

Not all women are cut out to be a midwife. However, those who became midwives were often led to their path either answering a "call ", followed a family tradition or took up an interest in serving women during pregnancy and childbirth. For some people being called to midwifery came in a dream, others a vision and for some through prayer. For these women, it is a common belief that they were chosen by God to do this work, therefore it means something not only special but spiritual as well. Other midwives followed the tradition in there family, especially in cultures where midwifery and birthing at home was (and still is) the norm. It was not uncommon for a young woman to apprentice and follow her Grandmother, Mother, or Aunty, to assist in a

Strategies were in place to eliminate the "Granny Midwife problem." Although this historical account took place in Georgia, this story is told throughout all of the southern states. And this is what bridges the similarity of the Anglo-American midwife and the African-American midwife 's history. When the first granny midwives volunteered their names in for a license, little did they know there was a plan in store for the discontinuation of their midwifery practice? Like the white midwives in the north, she thought that becoming licensed would legalize and legitimize her lifelong work. She was told that taking classes in midwifery would give her more prestige and status. Whereby, encouraging midwives to enlist their names was a deceiving method of the State Department of Health to track who was practicing and where so they could be closely monitored and eventually retired. This encouraged more (young) women to apply for licenses (between the ages of 25-45). Some were not given a license either because of age, lack of practice, or failure to submit recommendations from two doctors. However, midwives in the most rural areas where there was no threat of competition were allowed to continue their practice without licensure. Of course, these areas were populated by predominantly blacks. Courses were being taught in the county clinic for midwives with the intentions of

The Grand Midwives, a term we now wish to honor them with, are still among us. Some are with us in spirit, and a few are still with us today. Two midwives who told their stories before passing on were, Onnie Lee Logan in her book, Motherwit, An Alabama Midwife 's Story, and Why Not Me ? The story of Gladys Milton, Midwife by Wendy Bovard and Gladys Milton. One midwife of a few still living is Margaret Charles Smith from Alabama. You can read her story in her book titled Listen To Me Good: The Story of an Alabama Midwife. These three midwives have shared their story with us so that we can understand our history in Midwifery. Midwives can be found throughout the United States and across the sea. In many states Midwifery is still unlawful. Some states have managed to pass laws that have made midwifery a free state to practice in. Those who practice laid midwifery in restricted states do so because they believe that families ought to have the right to birth where they want and to be attended by whom they choose. They believe in freedom and exercise this belief as Harriet Tubman once did. Many midwives today believe they were called to serve the pregnant mother as the midwives of yesterday. They serve with pride and dignity, something that no man will ever take away. As long as there are mothers upon the stool, there will always be