Midwifery in the Nineteenth Century: Men, Microbes and Misrepresentation (CfP, Newcastle University, 17 February 2016)

Research Summary: Midwifery in the Nineteenth Century

Topic: Historical analysis of nineteenth-century midwifery practice, maternal mortality, and professional transformation

Presenter: Dr. Tricia Cresswell, Public Health Doctor and Creative Writing MA student, Newcastle University

Event Date & Location: Wednesday, 17 February 2016, 6:00–7:30 pm, Lit and Phil Library, Newcastle upon Tyne

Key Themes: Maternal mortality understanding, male midwife/obstetrician impact on female midwifery practice, professionalization of childbirth, colonial myths from Canada, nineteenth-century literary representations

Sponsoring Organization: Pseudo/Sciences Research Group, Newcastle University

Participant Engagement: Discussion-led format; attendees invited to bring nineteenth-century novel excerpts on childbirth; refreshments provided

Access: All welcome; contact Pat Beesley for further information

Pseudo/Sciences Research Group Newcastle University

Wednesday, 17 February 2016, 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm, at the Lit and Phil Library, Newcastle upon Tyne

Dr. Tricia Cresswell, Public Health Doctor and Creative Writing MA student at Newcastle University will present a paper and lead a discussion on ‘Midwifery in the Nineteenth Century’.

A brief overview will be presented covering the emerging understanding (or not) of maternal mortality in the nineteenth century and approaches to reducing death in childbirth. The impact of the male midwife / surgical obstetrician / general practitioner on the traditional practice of female midwifery in England will be considered alongside the impact of the professionalisation of childbirth. Reference will be made to colonial myths about childbirth originating in Canada as an example of wider cultural influences on practice. The portrayal of childbirth in nineteenth-century novels will then be discussed.

Those attending may wish to bring along a short reading about childbirth from a novel set or written in the nineteenth century.

Refreshments provided. All are welcome.

For further information, contact Pat Beesley.