The newborns remained with their mother and her attendants during the
weeks following birth. If the newborn was a boy, he was separated from this
group of women for the first time on the day of his circumcision. On this oc-
casion, his father first formally recognized him as his son. After the circumci-
sion ceremony, the infant was returned to the sphere and care of the women.
Female infants remained with their mothers. There is no definitive evidence
concerning their naming, a topic that will be taken up later in the book. The
parturient rested in bed (known as the Kindbett) during the period following
birth. Sources from the fifteenth century mention a lying-in period of five to
six weeks, but we have no evidence from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
In any case, it is clear that the first weeks after birth were spent with women
who took care of the new mother and supervised the infant’s welfare.
This brings us back to some of the issues raised at the beginning of the chap-
ter. The process of birth did, in fact, take place in a female environment.
Women were actively involved in all stages of birth. We do not know where the
men were and what roles they played. On the other hand, when we turn to
sources describing the ideological and religious understandings of birth, only
men are present, while women are conspicuously absent. These two glimpses
into medieval life seem somewhat disconnected. However, as this chapter has
demonstrated, although men were not present at birth, they were part of birth
and their interest in what went on within the birthing chamber was intense.^170
Although their involvement was of a very different nature, they too played a
part in the dramas of pregnancy and birth. Men prayed for their wives through-
out pregnancy. First they prayed that their wives would conceive, then for the
conception of a boy and for a healthy pregnancy, and finally, for a safe deliv-
ery. The wish for male offspring was also central in men’s involvement.
Sources also point to several male authorities who provided advice con-
cerning pregnancy and birth. We read of R. Judah the Pious instructing women
on which women should accompany them to the mikve. It is possible that some
men had a say in their wives’ choices of attendants. Rashi tells us that it was ac-
cepted practice for the husband to pay the midwife’s fee.^171 Men were charged
with summoning the midwife when the moment of birth arrived, and some of
the chants and formulas used to protect women during birth were taught to the
midwives by men.^172 In addition, patriarchal society expected women to give
birth to male offspring. We have no idea how women felt about this, although
it is likely that, given the educational ideals of their period and society, they too
wished for male offspring.^173
We can conclude that although the father remained outside the birthing
chamber, his presence was felt within. The midwife was a mediator between
the waiting men and the mother, both during and after labor. She took care
of the expectant woman and conducted business with the father. She super-
vised the birth and related its proceedings to the men waiting outside the door,
bearing the good news when the right time came. If the baby was born dead
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(Rick Simeone)
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