Development of midwifery in Estonia

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Development of midwifery in Estonia
Maret Voites, RM West Tallinn Central
Hospital Womens Clinic (Pelgulinna Sünnitusmaja)
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First written notes
First notes about midwifery in Estonia are from
1330 by Baltic historian Fr. G. Bunge Midwife
named Jossyne appears repeatedly in Tallinn City
Halls accounting books at 1545
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Midwifes duties at 1630
She had to... ... be Lutheran ... participate in
a specific study program and after that give an
oath to the church ... be on-call for 24-hours
and obey to the town doctor
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Midwifes duties at 1695
She was... ... not allowed to cure internal
diseases ... not allowed to use strong drugs ...
to report about complicated birth ... to call the
doctor for a difficult birth ... to consult the
doctor about a sick newborn
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Midwife's values from 1812 to
1. Fair mind, good reputation 2. Will to learn 3.
Youth and health 4. Working also as a
volunteer 5. Soberness and ability to draw the
line 6. Following the midwifery studies also
in her own life 7. Clean and tidy 8. Merciful,
compassionate, patient 9. Attentionate 10.
Tolerance about colleagues 11. Ability to read
and write
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Education
1. 1797 first info about education where the
Governor's letter orders all certified midwives
to help other colleagues with knowledge 2. In
Tallinn different schools 1809-1811. Midwifery
Institute was reopened in Tallinn at 19.08.1901
together with a birth clinic.In Tartu - School
for Midwives from 1811-1930, after that merged
with Nurses Scool. From 1944 worked as Tartu
Medical High-school which was later changed to
Tartu Medical School. In Paide -1862-1867 3.
Consistent educational program started in Tallinn
at 1940 School for Nurses. Medical School in
Kohtla-Järve from 1940
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Handbooks
1. Lühhikene õppetus Eestimaa tallorahwa
ämmadele Dr.J.Walther, 1812. 2. Ämmamoori
raamat Dr.J.T (Mats Tõnisson), 1896 Prof. B.G.
Schulze, 1904. 3. Sünnitusabi A.L. Kaplan, 1957.
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Home to Hospital
1. Most babies were worn at home until
1930-40-s 2. Estonian obstetrics was reorganized
in the Soviet-time - every woman had to come and
register in the antenatal clinic and then give
birth in the hospital. In 1950 many small
hospitals where built and there was a small
maternity ward. 3. Big maternity hospitals were
were built in 1960s 4. All bigger centers had a
maternity hospital in 1970-1980 5. By that time
giving birth in a hospital was the only chance
and homebirths were almost extinct 6. During
Socialism the order in the Maternity Hospitals
was very strict, dicipline and attitude was
inhumane and impersonal. The bigger the hospital
the less was thought of the woman in labor and
the midwife. 7. During last decade our obstetrics
and antenatal care has gone through a big change
and is still changing (for the best?)
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What has changed?