Modern German Midwifery, 1885–1960 by Lynne Fallwell (review)

Lynne Fallwell's 'Modern German Midwifery, 1885–1960' reveals the complex professionalization of midwifery in Germany, highlighting its resilience despite challenges from lay competition and political shifts. The study argues that midwifery's autonomy was both undermined by liberal trade laws in the late 19th century and later reinforced under Nazi rule, where eugenic policies paradoxically safeguarded home birth rights until 1985. Fallwell combines extensive German scholarship with primary research, particularly from Bavaria, to trace midwifery's evolution through education reforms, activism campaigns led by figures like Olga Gebauer and Nanna Conti, and its enduring influence on German birthing culture. The book underscores midwifery's unique position as a women-specific vocation navigating ideological pressures while maintaining professional strength.

(Ed.). (2015). Modern German Midwifery, 1885–1960 by Lynne Fallwell (review). Bulletin of the History of Medicine, 89(4), 823–825. https://doi.org/10.1353/bhm.2015.0112