Main description:

Between the late 18th and the early 20th century, the industrialized world experienced a transition in birth practices. While in many countries this led to a separation of midwifery from modern medicine, in Germany new standards of health care were embraced. Fallwell's study explores this transition and sets it in its wider historical context.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Introduction: Authority, Expertise and German Midwifery's Contribution to Debates of Nature Versus Science; Chapter 1a Expertise, Authority and the Written Record: An Overview of Midwives' Evolving Role in the Public Sphere; Chapter 2 From Storchtanten to Gebildete Frauen : The Roots of Modern Professionalization; Chapter 3 Birthing under the Swastika: Indoctrinating Midwives into the Nazi Pro-Natalist State; Chapter 4 Strong Hands and Steady Demeanour: Identifying the Characteristics of an Ideal Midwifery Student; Chapter 5 Babies, Bottles and Bureaucracy: Course Curriculum and Essential Knowledge for a Midwife; Chapter 6 The Art and Science of Childbirth: Constructing Midwifery and Obstetrical Textbooks; Chapter 8 Conclusion: Modern Professional Midwifery;