Bringing life to Aberdeen: a history of maternity and neonatal services.

Pedersen, Sarah

Abstract

There is some fascinating detail in this new book detailing changes in maternity and neonatal care in Aberdeen over the centuries. Stories and characters range from Margaret Bane, an Aberdeenshire 'howdie' or midwife, put to death for witchcraft in 1597, to the reminiscences of a new mum in the 1990s whose midwife recommended breastfeeding on the grounds that it passed on immunities to the baby—'and, judging by the state of your kitchen floor, I'd guess you've built up quite a range of immunities'. Illustrated throughout with photographs, maps and newspaper clippings, the book literally breathes life into the story of the changing approaches to maternity care in the city over the centuries, and ends with looking to the future of maternity provision in the city with the plans for the new Baird Family Hospital.

Citation

PEDERSEN, S. 2024. Bringing life to Aberdeen: a history of maternity and neonatal services. Women's history review [online], 33(3), page 445. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/09612025.2024.2315376

• Journal Article Type: Book Review
• Acceptance Date: Feb 2, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Feb 11, 2024
• Publication Date: Jun 30, 2024
• Deposit Date: Feb 23, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 12, 2025
• Journal: Women's history review
• Print ISSN: 0961-2025
• Electronic ISSN: 1747-583X
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 33
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 445
• Item Discussed: DUNBAR, L.G., MCCALL, A.T., RENNIE, F.J. and YOUNGSON, G.G. (eds.). 2023. Bringing life to Aberdeen: a history of maternity and neonatal services. Edinburgh: Luath Press. ISBN: 9781804250259
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09612025.2024.2315376
• Keywords: History; Gender studies; Maternity care; Neonatal care; Aberdeen
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2243564