As the time for childbirth approached in the early 1900's of Pensacola it was customary for mid-wives to live with the intended family so they could be on hand in case the baby came early. With little hard money available, the midwives were usually paid in chickens, hogs, eggs, or whatever the family could afford. The art of midwifery was handed down from mother to daughter with the eldest child the most likely choice for the honor. Their continuing education usually occurred when the midwives came together occasionally and discussed their various problems and possible solutions. In these meetings, current medical knowledge was passed along from generation to generation as well as old superstitions concerning the mystery of childbirth. The following are just some of Pensacola's home remedies practiced during the early art of midwifery:
For the swelling of feet and ankles during pregnancy the expectant mother should rub a poultice made out of “mullein leaves” on her legs.
To stop excessive bleeding following childbirth give the expectant mother a teaspoon of “writing paper tea” every hour until the bleeding diminishes. The tea is made from bits of writing paper, preferably linen, placed in a pot on the back of the stove and pour warm water over them and let them steep.
To ensure an easy delivery, the midwife should place the expectant mothers “old man’s hat in her bed.” If that doesn’t work then put “bluing” under her arms and if all else fails give her plenty of “Mason’s Nest Tea,” made from steeping a dirt daubers nest in warm water.
Some women that were trapped back in the woods of northern Escambia County still felt that the best position to deliver their baby was in “their old man’s lap,” which is ironic because that may have been the position that got them in the motherly way to begin with.
For excessive nausea, the midwife may secure a black chicken without a single light colored feather and steep the carcass on the back of the stove, undrawn and unplucked.
If the young mother decides she doesn’t want any more children after going through her original ordeal, then the midwife had one remedy she might wish to try. The midwife would take the first three drops of blood after cutting the umbilical cord and mix it with a “pinch” of sugar and give it to the mother in a teaspoon. Then she would dress the umbilical cord after it was cut with a mixture of axle grease, soot, and cobwebs.
To cure the mother’s “after pains” the midwife would put a plowshare blade, a knife, or a pair of scissors under the woman’s bed in order to “cut the pain.”
About this time childbirth mortality rates were running around 700 deaths per 100,000 citizens compared to today's current rate of 19 per 100,000. After looking at the above practices you can understand why!
Elizabeth "Aunt Bettie" Majors Ward, early
midwife of Escambia County, FL 1900's
