Granny Midwives during Slavery

"There are documentations written that the slave midwife became a highly important member of the slave community within the Southern Plantation, the French and English Caribbean and South America. She was elevated in the slave hierarchy occupying positions just below that of the top slaves, the head overseer and housekeeper. Their skills in Midwifery and herbology were similar throughout the Diaspora. Not only did she deliver the babies of slaves, she also delivered the plantation owners wife and other local white women. The Midwife was the keeper of women's business, knowing which herbs to enhance fertility, to sustain pregnancy, and to abort. She was the root doctor among the slave quarters; maintaining the health of other slaves on the plantation. Pregnancy and childbirth folklore, beliefs and rituals that originated in Africa, were practiced and passed on from generation to generation. Many midwives regardless whether they lived in the U.S.South, West Indies, South America or the Gullah Sea Islands, shared similar beliefs regarding the protection of pregnancy and childbirth. Common beliefs are documented and still practiced among midwives today regarding the Caul or "veil", umbilical cords, the burying or burning of the placenta, easing the pain of labor, and what the pregnant woman is exposed to during pregnancy that could jinx her pregnancy. Although many people today may call these beliefs superstitions, if thoroughly researched one will find that there are origins to these sayings. For instance, the burying of the placenta or the umbilical cord is to remind the child where he was born. Usually a fruit tree was planted over the placenta to assure the child that he will never go hungry. It was believed that a baby born with the caul "veil" over its head will have super natural abilities, have the ability to see spirits and talk to them, or will become a healer. These two beliefs are commonly heard from other traditional cultures. Another practice is the placing of an axe under the bed of a laboring woman to cut the pain and length of the labor. Many granny midwives carried axes to births with them if the mother did not have one herself. The origin of this practice has not been documented, however the Ibo Midwives of Nigeria would sometimes place a metal object used for cutting close by the laboring mothers hut. The axe (which is one of the symbols of the Orisha Ogun) represents the warrior aspect of the deity, thus the axe representing cutting a potentially lengthy or dangerous labor or keeping evil spirits from the birthing process."

Source: http://www.afrigeneas.com/forumdarchive/index.cgi/md/read/id/4438/sbj/midwives-during-slavery/