The midwife, called the ticitl in Nahuatl, was a religious specialist with special training in the care of women in childbirth. The midwife performed a wide range of functions, including the practical care of the mother and the newborn, the prayers and rituals of welcome, and the consultation of the calendar to determine the child’s name. The midwife was an important figure in the calpulli, and she was honored for her role in bringing new life into the community.
The Training of the Midwife
The midwife underwent a long period of training, and she was required to master a wide range of skills. The midwife was trained in the calmecac and in special schools attached to the major temples, and she was required to pass a series of tests before she was allowed to practice. The midwife was trained in the practical aspects of childbirth, including the management of labor, the delivery of the baby, and the care of the mother and the newborn.
The midwife was also trained in the religious aspects of childbirth, including the prayers, the rituals, and the consultation of the calendar. The midwife was required to know the Tonalpohualli and the Xiuhpohualli, and she was required to be able to determine the child’s day sign and personal name.
The Duties of the Midwife
The midwife performed a wide range of duties in the days and weeks surrounding the birth. The midwife was called to the home of the pregnant woman when labor began, and she was in charge of the practical aspects of the delivery. The midwife was also in charge of the religious aspects of the birth, and she performed the prayers and the rituals that were believed to protect the mother and the newborn from evil spirits.
The midwife was also responsible for the cutting of the umbilical cord, the washing of the child, and the binding of the cradle. The midwife was also responsible for the consultation of the calendar to determine the child’s day sign and personal name. The midwife was required to know the day signs and the personal tonalli of the child, and she was required to perform the rituals that were appropriate to the child’s sign.
The Importance of the Midwife
The midwife was an important figure in Mexica society, and she was honored for her role in bringing new life into the community. The midwife was a respected member of the calpulli, and she was often consulted on matters of health and of religion. The midwife was also a teacher, and she was responsible for the training of the younger women in the arts of childbirth and of childcare.
The midwife was also a religious specialist, and she performed a wide range of religious duties in addition to her work in childbirth. The midwife was often consulted on matters of medicine and of healing, and she was often the principal medical practitioner in the calpulli. The midwife was a central figure in the Mexica system of health care, and she shaped the health and well-being of the community.
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