The Midwives Book, by Jane Sharp, published in 1671, is discussed in this episode of Secrets of the Archives from the University of Minnesota Libraries.

Host Tim Johnson interviews Lois Hendrickson, curator of the Wangensteen Historical Library of Biology and Medicine at the University of Minnesota. Hendrickson said that The Midwives Book is the first book written in English by a woman for other women. The book covers all stages of having giving birth, including pregnancy, labor, child birth, infant care, and more. She also talks about her 30 years of experience as a midwife.

About Tim Johnson and Secrets of the Archives

Tim Johnson is host of Secrets of the Archives and curator of Rare Books and the Sherlock Holmes Collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries. Secrets of the Archives is a monthly video podcast produced by the University of Minnesota Libraries.