The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attention (Spain)
1930. Posing with the wet-nurse. Santa Colomba de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Birth at home with medical attendance (France)
1950. Giving birth at home with a rural doctor (France)  © Photo J.Ph Charbonier.

Transition from home delivery to the maternity ward (Spain)
1998. Women born at home with a traditional midwife. Quintanilla de Somoza, León (Spain)  © AEEH

Persistence of traditional midwifery (Spain)
1943 c. Irene (1921-2016) a traditional midwife, first on the left. Andiñuela de Somoza (Spain) © AEEH

Contemporary delivery chair (Ecuador)
2016. Delivery chair. Maternity room in the AMUPAKIN health centre, Archidona (Ecuador)  © AEEH

Transition from vertical to horizontal delivery (Spain) 
1870 . Elegant delivery, Triana, Sevilla (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position, place and handling of delivery (Spain)
Delivery urinal (local name), Mota del Cuervo, Cuenca (Spain). © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwife and healer showing the traditional delivery position. Archidona (Ecuador) © AEEH

Position, place and handling of delivery (Mexico)
1.200-400 [BC.]. Female figure with cranial deformity. Pre-classical period, central Mexico (Mexico) © Museo de América    

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1890. Traditional hat, locally called cap. Near Piedrahita (Ávila) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM

Position and handling of delivery (Spain)
1870 h. Wooden delivery chair, Villafranca de los Barrios, Badajoz (Spain) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares-UAM

Transition from traditional to professional midwifery (West Africa)
Woman with scarifications and tall headdress, symbols of prestige, Lobi culture, (West Africa) © Museo Nacional de Antropología

Eight thousand generations of traditional midwives
Birth of the Virgin. Oil painting, Luis de Morales © Museo del Prado.

The first professional matrons in Spain 
1924. House of healing and special school for Matrons © Wilkipedia

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Colombia)
1783. The lady with her black slave. Oil, Vicente Albán. © Museo de América. 

Reclaiming traditional midwifery (Ecuador)
2016. Quichua midwives collecting medicinal plants. Napo (Ecuador) © AEEH

Investment in midwifery is an optimum option (India) 
c. 2014. Woman in a brickworks, Allahabad (India) © SanjayKanojia/AFP.  Guetty Images

 Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
2012. Young Hamar, born with the help of traditional midwives. Lower Omo valley (Ethiopia) © Survival International

Birth in hospital, unnecessary interventions (Ecuador)
2016. Newborn Quichua girl in the maternity ward. Napo (Ecuador)  © AEEH