How pregnancy and birth worked was long unclear. In engravings, the foetus swims around as a small adult in the 'bodily mother', Old Dutch for womb. When giving birth to her child, a woman was assisted by a midwife.
Gradually, midwives demanded more space in the maternity ward. Until the 19th century, midwives characterised female colleagues as 'rough' and 'ignorant'. Of course, the midwives had a competitive interest in discrediting the midwives. Mutual competition makes people small.