Midwives

Midwives have played an important role in every town and city across the US and Havre de Grace is no exception. Before the opening of Harford Memorial Hospital, most children were born at home, most often with a midwife supervising the birth and a physician only arriving later, unless there was an emergency. Even after the hospital was available, many women preferred to “lie in” in familiar surroundings rather than go to deliver elsewhere. Most often, midwifes would attend these births.

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Historically, midwives were trained by those who came before them, working with the more experienced women to learn all that they could to bring a baby into the world safely. Later, more formal training became available to enhance their skills. Today, the tradition of midwifery continues.