Midwifery and Medicine…Oh My!

When I’m not writing, one of my favorite things to do is watch British-set shows and miniseries. Around the same time Erica invited me to be a part of this collection, I happened to be watching past seasons of Call the Midwife. The historical details of the show fascinated me, and as I was pondering on what type of heroine I wanted to write next, I decided, “Why not make her a midwife?” After that, naturally, Travis became a doctor, and I embarked upon researching 19th century medicine.


Here are some interesting tidbits I came across during my research:

1 - Though Queen Victoria received a dose of chloroform during childbirth in the 1850s, a practice which soon became popular amongst the upper classes in both England and America, those living in rural areas, and those not wealthy enough to afford it, still endured delivery without any painkillers.

2- The popularity of doctors in attendance at childbirth was rapidly increasing, though in smaller towns, midwives were still the usual choice.

3- Midwives generally received little formal education, and usually apprenticed under an experienced midwife, before setting up their own practice. When the American West was being settled and people lived a great distance away from town, women often relied on a female friend or relative who had no training other than having had a baby themselves!

4- There were, however, textbooks available that midwives and doctors could learn from. I used one of them, A Manual of Midwifery, published in the late 19th century, during the research process for my novella. Midwives like Annie could purchase it for the price of three dollars

5- Nature’s remedies were widely utilized, including herbs and teas meant to calm and provide sustenance to the mother, or in extreme cases, aid in preventing hemorrhage.

6- In the absence of a doctor, midwives often attended the sick, dealt with injuries, and prepared bodies for burial. The story of one such midwife, Martha Ballard, taken from her personal diary which she meticulously kept for twenty-seven years, is told in the book, A Midwife’s Tale.

To read about my midwife heroine, Annie Lawrence, and all of the drama surrounding the cases she attends—not to mention the handsome Hart doctor who sometimes assists her, be sure to pick up a copy of Seven Brides for Seven Texans!

ECPA bestselling author Amanda Barratt, fell in love with writing in grade school when she wrote her first story – a spinoff of Jane Eyre. Now, Amanda writes inspirational historical romance, penning stories that transport readers to a variety of locales – from the sweeping coastline of Newport, Rhode Island, to the rugged landscape of Central Texas. She loves connecting with readers through her website and on Facebook.



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