Ancient relief of woman giving birth attended by midwife, ivory
Pompeii, 1st c. CE

This ivory relief of a woman giving birth shows a beautiful birth scene in which the mother is supported by three midwives. The woman rests on a birth stool or chair as one midwife catches her newborn baby.

In addition to the representations of birth that they provide, ancient images of birth also remind all pregnant and birthing women that many before them have given birth over the course of human history. This historical lineage of birth can help those who feel isolated or alone in their pregnancies, reminding them that they are in a sense accompanied by the many before them who have given birth.

Limited information on this image exists, though from what I can find, the image comes from Pompeii.