MPIWG

midwifery manual

The first printed midwifery guide in English was published in 1540; like others that followed, it was addressed both to midwives and to married women. These works provided basic information on conception, pregnancy, labor and delivery, and care of the newborn. With the exception of Jane Sharp’s book (1671), they were all written by men.

From 1540 onwards, printed midwifery manuals were popular in England. A typical format includes the signs of pregnancy; a description of bodily changes associated with it; remedies for common ailments; descriptions of labor and delivery; and care of the newborn. Some also include a guide to selecting a midwife and or a wet nurse.


There are 82 books tagged with this term.
 
Last Name First Name Title Sort descending Date
Chamberlayne Thomas The compleat midvvife’s practice enlarged 1659
Chamberlayne Thomas The compleat midvvife’s practice enlarged, in the most weighty and high concernments of the birth… 1663
Chamberlayne Thomas The compleat midwifes practice, in the most weighty and high concernments of the birth of… 1656
[author not specified] The compleat midwifes practice... 1656
Chamberlayne Thomas The compleat midwife’s practice enlarged 1697
Chamberlayne Thomas The compleat midwife’s practice enlarged 1699
Chamberlayne Thomas The compleat midwife’s practice enlarged, in the most weighty and high concernments of the birth… 1698
Chamberlayne Thomas The compleat midwife’s practice enlarged, second edition corrected by R.C. I.D. M.S. T.B… 1659
Chamberlayne Thomas The complete midvvife’s practice enlarged 1680
Chamberlayne Thomas The complete midvvife’s practice enlarged 1680
Mauriceau Francois The diseases of vvomen with child, and in child-bed: as also the best means… 1683
Mauriceau Francois The diseases of vvomen with child, and in child-bed: as also, the best directions… 1672
Mauriceau Francois The diseases of women with child, and in child-bed: as also the best means… 1697
Mauriceau Francois The diseases of women with child, and in child-bed; as also the best means… 1696
Bunworth Richard The doctresse: a plain and easie method, of curing those diseases which are peculiar to women 1656
[author not specified] The English midwife enlarged 1682
[author not specified] The English midwife enlarged, containing directions to midwives; wherein is laid down whatever is most… 1682
MacMath James The expert mid-wife: a treatise of the diseases of women with child, and in… 1694
Rueff Jakob The expert midwife, or An excellent and most necessary treatise of the generation and birth… 1637
Sermon William The ladies companion, or, The English midwife. Wherein is demonstrated, the manner and order how… 1671
Sharp Jane The midwives book. Or the whole art of midwifry discovered. Directing childbearing women how to… 1671
Massaria Alessandro The womans counsellour: or, The feminine physitian. Modestly treating of such occult accidents, and secret… 1664