Childbirth in the Age of Antiquity

Abstract

In the twenty-first century, women around the world give birth in a designated medical facility. Depending on the level of development among various nations, expectant mothers can either expect top quality maternal care or they must rely on local physicians and natural remedies for labor pains. In the ancient world, the services of alternative medical caregivers were the main providers for obstetrics. Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman women relied on trained midwives to deliver babies and provide medical attention. Not only were midwives trained in childbirth procedures, but they were also consulted on contraception, pregnancy testing and monitoring, and options for increasing reproductive abilities. For example, the custom of confining the expectant mother in a separate room with other women and the use of birthing bricks, will provide a point of analysis. This project takes a comparative stance in exploring the methods and remedies used for childbirth and other conditions relating to prenatal and postnatal care in ancient civilizations.