Naomi writes:
>Seems to me there's a fine line here between doulas
>and midwives. The term doula came after the Bible.
>At the beginning of Exodus there are two midwives
>Shifra and Puah who help Israelite women birth.
>Exodus 1:15-22. It is a fascinating story.

>According to my Bible concordance, these are the only
>references to midwives in the Hebrew Bible.



I used the Hebrew Bible (which Christians call the Old Testament) as Naomi
did, and also the New Testament. I found no other references, but thought
that  Exodus 1:20 and 21 were interesting, because midwives seem to have a
favored status.

Exodus 1:20: So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied
and grew very strong.

Exodus 1:21: And because the midwives feared God he gave them families.

--
Marie Biancuzzo, Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist
[log in to unmask]
Resources to simplify breastfeeding management are available at
http://www.wmc-worldwide.com

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