Introduction to Midwifery

History of Midwifery

• The history of midwifery is a long and interesting one.
• Women of all countries have done noble work as midwives throughout the countries.
• Socrates mother was a midwife and he considered it “a most respected profession”.
• According to Aristotle, a midwife is a most necessary and honourable office, being a helper of nature.
• Midwife carries a huge responsibility in helping women during childbirth.
• Biblical references to midwives have always been to their honour. There are instances in the Old Testament to show that midwives play vital role.
• Until the end of the sixteenth century, midwifery was practiced entirely by women. Men could be severely punished for attending women in childbirth.
• In the seventeenth century male midwives began to take up midwifery.
• By the middle of the eighteenth century the number of male midwives had increased, though there was great opposition and competition from the midwives and from the general public.
• In English the word midwife means “With woman” (the person with the woman who is in labour).
• Midwives hold an important key to positive care at the time of childbirth that will contribute to a good start for the baby and parents. The midwife is able to do so only by virtue of her expert knowledge. The education of the midwife is designed to enable her to fulfill her wide and varied role.
• During the last 25 years of the nineteenth century, several hospitals began to train midwives and to issue certificates.
• In 1902 Midwives Act in United Kingdom entitled an act to secure better training and supervision of midwives.

Terminology

• Midwifery is the knowledge necessary to perform the duties of midwife.
• Obstetrics is that branch of medicine, which deals with the management of pregnancy, labour and puerperium.
• Gynaecology is that branch of medical science, which treats diseases of the female genital organs.
• Reproduction means process by which a fully developed offspring of its kind is produced.
• Pregnancy is a state of carrying fetus inside the uterus by a woman from conception to birth.
• Gestation means pregnancy.
• Gravidae is state of pregnancy irrespective of its duration.
• Multipara refers to woman who has given birth more than once
• Nullipara is the woman who has not given birth before.
• Primigravidae is a woman carrying first pregnancy.
• Multigravidae is a woman carrying pregnancy more than once.

Maternal and Child Health Indicators

• Birth rate: The number of births per 1,000 population.
• Fertility rate: The number of pregnancies per 1,000 women of childbearing age.
• Fetal death rate: The number of fetal deaths (over 500 g) per 1,000 live births.
• Neonatal death rate: The number of deaths per 1,000 live births occurring at birth or in the first 28 days of life.
• Perinatal death rate: The number of deaths of fetuses more than 500 g and in the first 28 days of life per 1,000 live births.
• Maternal Mortality Rate: The number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births that occur as a direct result of the reproductive process.
• Infant Mortality Rate: The number of deaths per 1,000 live births occurring at birth or in the first 12 months of life.
• Childhood Mortality Rate: The number of deaths per 1,000 population in children, 1 to 14 years of age.