Justine Siegemund was a 17^th century German midwife. Her book, The Court Midwife, was the first medical book in Germany written from a woman’s perspective, revolutionizing obstetrics and midwifery in her era.

When Siegemund was 20 years old, she had a prolapsed uterus, which was not properly diagnosed. The pain of that experience fueled her interest in women’s health. She pursued her education and learned childbirth techniques. For more than a decade, she provided free midwifery services to poor women in her area. As she gained recognition, she became the midwife to noble and royal families

The Court Midwife is born

She faced sexist attacks and was accused of unsafe birthing practices by male physicians. Ultimately, the medical establishment sided with her, and her prestige continued to grow.

Some believe that Mary II of Orange, impressed by Siegemund’s knowledge and skills, requested she write a guide for other midwives. At the time, midwifery was primarily an oral tradition, and there was no standardized method to approach childbirth among German midwives. Medical texts were written by men. Siegemund published The Court Midwife in 1690, which included detailed anatomical drawings and several of Siegemund’s techniques that addressed certain birth complications.

Siegemund was married for 42 years and did not have any children. She delivered over 6,000 babies. She died in 1705, but her legacy lived on in the many republications of The Court Midwife in the decades following.