Midwives played an essential role in the birth process in colonial America. The community held colonial midwives in high esteem.

The midwife was a highly esteemed member of the community who not only assisted at the childbirth but also offered advice on a number of gynecological problems. Midwives of this era, were apprentice-trained, older, married women who had several of their own children and combined running a household with her midwifery practice. In addition, she treated the sick and knew how to make her own medicines.

Few rules and regulations regarding the practices on midwives existed in colonial times. Birth was viewed as a natural process in which a minimal amount of specialized knowledge was required. Generally, neither male physicians nor husbands were welcomed in the lying-in chamber, and midwives held a virtual monopoly in this field.

Midwives who were present at the birth of deformed or stillborn infants were suspected of practicing witchcraft.

The most famous midwife of the colonial period was Anne Hutchinson who is most remembered for her leading role in the Antinomian controversy of the 1630s.

At this time there was little knowledge of either antisepsis or asepsis nor special precautions concerning cleanliness. In most instances the colonial midwife provided moral support and encouragement to the pregnant woman and let nature take its course.

Probably the single most important event that brought about the displacement of midwives was the development of the obstetric forceps. Midwives could not afford to by the forceps nor could they find physicians who would instruct them in their proper use. Consequently, midwives did not use forceps nor did they have the instruments necessary to perform embryulcia. Doctors were summoned on those rare occasions when cesarean operations were performed.

By the last half of the 18^th century the status of midwives began to decline because it was generally believed that women were incapable of understanding and performing the obstetric techniques that were being developed.