Midwives
Chris Bohjalian
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Midwives is Chris Bohjalian's novel about Sibyl Danforth, a lay midwife in Vermont in the 1980s who delivers a baby but is accused of being responsible for the mother's death. The novel explores the tension between traditional midwifery and modern medicine, and examines questions of maternal mortality, medical accountability and the politics of childbirth. It is told through multiple perspectives and gradually reveals the complexity of what really happened.
- 1Sibyl Danforth is a lay midwife (not a nurse-midwife or doctor) who delivers babies at home using traditional methods.
- 2During a delivery, a woman named Charlotte Bedford dies, and Sibyl is accused of causing her death through negligence.
- 3Sibyl is prosecuted, and her trial becomes a battle between traditional midwifery and modern obstetric medicine.
- 4The novel is told from multiple perspectives, including Sibyl's, her daughter's, and others present at the fateful delivery.
- 5Gradually, the novel reveals the complexity of what happened and the question of whether Sibyl was truly responsible.
- 6The novel explores broader questions about trust in medical professionals, the role of women in childbirth and the politics of pregnancy and delivery.
Key ideas
The politics of childbirth
Bohjalian explores how childbirth has been medicalised and how traditional midwifery has been marginalised by the medical establishment.
Medical responsibility and accountability
The novel raises questions about who is responsible when something goes wrong in childbirth and who should be held accountable.
Trust and expertise
Sibyl's years of experience are questioned and undermined by the medical establishment, suggesting that expertise is defined by credentials rather than competence.
Women and agency
The novel explores women's agency in the context of childbirth and how women can be empowered or disempowered in this crucial life event.
The complexity of truth
The novel shows that the truth of what happened at Charlotte's delivery is complex, and different perspectives reveal different truths.
The cost of conviction
Even if Sibyl is not guilty, the trial and prosecution damage her life and her career, suggesting that the justice system can harm the innocent.
Who is it for?
Readers interested in the politics of medicine and women's health will find this thought-provoking. It suits anyone interested in historical fiction about childbirth or in exploring the tension between traditional and modern approaches. Bohjalian's multiple perspectives create richness and complexity.
Full summary
Sibyl Danforth is a lay midwife in rural Vermont, delivering babies at home using natural methods and drawing on decades of experience.
Charlotte Bedford is pregnant and chooses to give birth with Sibyl rather than in a hospital. During the delivery, complications arise.
Charlotte dies during or shortly after delivery, and her family blames Sibyl for the death.
Sibyl is prosecuted for causing Charlotte's death, accused of practising medicine without a license and of negligence.
The trial becomes a flashpoint for larger debates about childbirth, medical authority and the role of traditional midwifery.
Bohjalian tells the story from multiple perspectives, including Sibyl's, her daughter Connie's, and others present at the delivery.
Each perspective reveals different understanding of what happened and different interpretations of Sibyl's actions.
The novel gradually builds toward revelation of the complexity of Charlotte's death and of Sibyl's culpability or innocence.
