What a super-interesting topic! There are multiple sources which reference Salome, wife of Zebedee, as the midwife attending Mary. In Eastern Orthodoxy, midwives have been depicted in Nativity/birth icons. There is an ancient writing from AD 145 called The Protoevangelium of James, which refers to Salome and another woman who assisted with the birth.
Rebecca DeYoung-Daniels, MBA, RD, LD
***********************************************
Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome