The Importance of Black Midwives

"Granny," "Granny mid-wife." These were some of the names bestowed on Black women who were health pillars in their community. The transatlantic slave trade brought African women to the Americas who were already trained in the practice of midwifery—and they continued this work while enslaved and passed on their practices. Beyond supporting mothers through the pain of labor, midwives were responsible for also preparing necessary tools, taking note of hygiene, administering medicine, and providing postnatal care.

Black midwives also supported poor white families and were forced to care for the families of slaveowners. The work of Black midwives remained heavily utilized up until the 20th century—which saw a systematic ousting of the practice as male physicians moved into the new practice of obstetrics and saw the Black midwife as competition. Laws limiting the scope or banning the practice of midwifery altogether rose exponentially—leading to most work of Black midwives being centralized to only the rural south. 

Today, as we see unprecedented mortality rates across both Black infants and parents, there is a growing push to revive the practice and push for community-centered care. 

Sources to Learn More: 

~ The Historical Significance of Doulas and Midwives | National Museum of African American History and Culture

~ A Look at the Past, Present, and Future of Black Midwifery in the United States | Urban Institute

~ Black History Month: The Importance of Black Midwives, Then, Now and Tomorrow (lamaze.org)