Michał Savonarola on a difficult childbirth in Ad mulieres Ferrarienses de regimine pregnantium et noviter natorum usque ad septennium

Michaele Savonarola’s treatise Ad mulieres Ferrarienses de regimine pregnantium et noviter natorum usque ad septennium is one of the most important treatises on gynecology, obstetrics and pediatrics written in Italy of 15th century. Its author combined the high mortality of women and children with the low qualifi cations of the midwives of that time and to rise the level of their knowledge he wrote a treatise which was a kind of the guide through pregnancy, difficulties during birth and care of children from birth until he was seven. Numerous references to the earlier authors testify the Savonarola’s great theoretical knowledge and accurate observation about the medical practice. Even though many of the perinatal complication described by him had already been mentioned by Arnald de Villanova, the language used by Savonarola, the way of explanation of the undertaken problems and numerous advices made the treatise available to midwives who had no medical education but on whose knowledge and skills depended the lives of women and children.

Michaele Savonarola’s treatise Ad mulieres Ferrarienses de regimine pregnantium et noviter natorum usque ad septennium is one of the most important treatises on gynecology, obstetrics and pediatrics written in Italy of 15th century. Its author combined the high mortality of women and children with the low qualifi cations of the midwives of that time and to rise the level of their knowledge he wrote a treatise which was a kind of the guide through pregnancy, difficulties during birth and care of children from birth until he was seven. Numerous references to the earlier authors testify the Savonarola’s great theoretical knowledge and accurate observation about the medical practice. Even though many of the perinatal complication described by him had already been mentioned by Arnald de Villanova, the language used by Savonarola, the way of explanation of the undertaken problems and numerous advices made the treatise available to midwives who had no medical education but on whose knowledge and skills depended the lives of women and children.