La «qabila»: historia de la matrona olvidada de al-Andalus (siglos VIII-XV) / The "qabila": history of the forgotten Andalusian midwife (VIII-XV Centuries)

RESUMEN

La qabila fue la matrona hispano-árabe andalusí (s. VIII-XV). El objetivo de esta revisión histórica es dar a conocer parte del saber obstétrico ilustrado de la época en el que la matrona fundamentó su quehacer profesional. Por su condición de mujer no escribió libros, transmitiendo sus conocimientos oralmente. Asistió partos eutócicos y distócicos. Durante la dilatación aconsejaba la deambulación, no practicaba amniorrexis ni episiotomías y atendía el expulsivo en posición vertical. En el alumbramiento utilizaba maniobras suaves, y en las retenciones placentarias realizaba extracciones manuales. Hizo uso de la alimentación, las plantas medicinales y los fármacos. En los cuidados del recién nacido no incluía el contacto precoz ni la toma de calostro. Parte de su legado ha sobrevivido hasta nuestros días

ABSTRACT

The qabila was the Hispano-Arabic midwife in Andalusia from the 8th through to the 15th century. The aim of this review is to detail the enlightened obstetric knowledge existing in that era, upon which the duties and procedures undertaken by the midwife were based. Women then could not write books, so the midwife would pass on her knowledge in the spoken tradition. She took part in both eutocic and dystocic births. At the cervical dilation stage, the midwife would encourage walking, she did not practice amniorrhexis or episiotomy, and labour was undergone in the standing position. During delivery, gentle manoeuvres were recommended and placenta retention was extracted manually. Specialized diet, medicinal plants and pharmaceutical compounds all played their part in preparing the mother, while post-natally, the midwife allowed neither early contact nor the consumption of colostrum. Much of her legacy has survived to this day