Midwifes in the late 18th early 19th century had many different obligations to their communities. They had to administer medicine, heal wounds, help women through pregnancies, and help get those who passed, ready for burial. Their were few Midwifes that were successful and well known in a community. They were also great friends, and helped their neighbors through their toughest times of sickness, and death.
Finding out what was wrong and then helping to make it better, was a major midwife role. They were like female doctors, checking up, looking over and helping out, when someone was sick. Administering herbs and medicines when necessary, and sitting up with them until they were well, along with checking up on them after she has left them with family.
Pregnancies’ could be fatal back then, and it was the midwifes job, to make sure that the pregnancies would go as smooth as possible. They were there to make sure the mother was comfortable and the baby was delivered safe. If there was any problem, the midwife was there to make sure there was no casualties. She would record the birth, and make sure to check up on the mother and infant after a few weeks.
Midwifes were just like nurses or doctors, called on if someone fell out of a tree, or if someone had a rash or if someone was “unwell”. From daily visits, to house calls, to overnighters, a midwife was the main set of medical help in every community. They were friends, and neighbors, and well known.
If it came to the worst, midwifes would prepare a body for burial. They would lay out the clothes, cover any sores and wounds, and lay them out in the caskets. That was the hardest part of their job, was losing another person. Losing a kid was the worst, and not only would she have to deal with the emotional outcome of herself, she would have to consult the family of the lost loved on.
A midwife was very valuable in the 18th century. It didn’t matter if it was a little scrape, or a broken bone. It didn’t matter if it was scarlet fever, or the chicken pox, a midwife would make house calls in the middle of the night, to make sure a patient made it through. They wouldn’t just prescribe a pill, and say take these and you’ll be healed. It took skill and practice to become good at this profession.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Sunday, July 6, 2008
The life of Martha Ballard----authors intent
I think that Laurel Thatcher Ulrich wrote and explained Martha’s diary, because she wanted us, the readers, to see how unique and dedicated Martha was to her community and family. By reading this book, I was able to pick out a few good life rules, that everyone should live by. The major thing, that caught my attention, was that it seemed Ulrich was trying to get everyone to know that Martha’s life wasn’t an easy one, it was a struggle, but it was how she made her life. She made it so she had people to fall back on, and she had her life, the way it was meant to be.
I also think that Ulrich wanted people to understand, that women’s roles back in the 18th century, wasn’t as useless as we think. It was shown, that women were as valuable in a community as the men working were, by staying at home, and keeping the house. It was just another way, that Ulrich showed Martha’s perseverance towards her life.
Martha’s personality was very unique. She showed that determination and old age, shouldn’t make your life less valuable. Ulrich had a great understanding of Martha’s life, and she wanted us, the readers, to be able to understand her life too. Martha was unique, in so many ways, and being able to capture those ways in writings is amazing.
The way the diary was portrayed, and the explanations in each chapter show that Ulrich had a good understanding of Martha’s practice, her diary, and what she went through. I think her intent was to teach us what a midwife, with a strong community, goes through in her life. Even though, Martha struggled, she persevered through it all.
I think Laurel Thatcher Ulrich wanted to show us that Martha’s life was a natural thing for a women. I think her intent was to spread Martha’s work through out readers minds, so we know what dedication means. Ulrich did a good job, explaining her diary, and showing us, what it really meant to be a midwife in the late 18th early 19th century Maine.
I also think that Ulrich wanted people to understand, that women’s roles back in the 18th century, wasn’t as useless as we think. It was shown, that women were as valuable in a community as the men working were, by staying at home, and keeping the house. It was just another way, that Ulrich showed Martha’s perseverance towards her life.
Martha’s personality was very unique. She showed that determination and old age, shouldn’t make your life less valuable. Ulrich had a great understanding of Martha’s life, and she wanted us, the readers, to be able to understand her life too. Martha was unique, in so many ways, and being able to capture those ways in writings is amazing.
The way the diary was portrayed, and the explanations in each chapter show that Ulrich had a good understanding of Martha’s practice, her diary, and what she went through. I think her intent was to teach us what a midwife, with a strong community, goes through in her life. Even though, Martha struggled, she persevered through it all.
I think Laurel Thatcher Ulrich wanted to show us that Martha’s life was a natural thing for a women. I think her intent was to spread Martha’s work through out readers minds, so we know what dedication means. Ulrich did a good job, explaining her diary, and showing us, what it really meant to be a midwife in the late 18th early 19th century Maine.
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