If it were you

An imaginative history of childbirth in the United States.

What would it have been like to give birth in the past? How did it change over time? This exhibit imagines what it might have been like to give birth in the past. You will have the opportunity to explore the possibilities for each generation. You will be able choose whether you want to start with a woman born in North America, England, or of an ancestor from Africa.

These imagined experiences are not based on any individual. They are historical fictions based on the currently available literature about the history of childbirth in the United States.

To learn more, please visit the Further Reading section and make sure to explore other sections of the website. All images are public domain unless otherwise noted.