Born: 26 December 1636, Poland
Died: 10 November 1705
Country most active: Poland
Also known as: Justine Siegemundin, Justine Diettrich
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Justine Siegemund, also known as Siegemundin, was a pioneering Silesian midwife. In 1690, she wrote “The Court Midwife,” the first German medical text authored by a woman.
At 20, Justine Siegemund faced a misdiagnosed prolapsed uterus, sparking her interest in obstetrics. Starting her practice in 1659, she offered free midwifery services to the less privileged until 1670. Named the City Midwife of Legnica in 1670, Siegemund gained recognition for successfully handling challenging cases, like removing a cervical tumor threatening Luise, Duchess of Legnica.
Accusations by her former supervisor in 1670 did not hinder Siegemund’s career. Recognized for her expertise, she became the court midwife in Berlin in 1683, serving royal families and assisting in notable births. Despite challenges in Leipzig, she maintained her professional reputation.
Siegemund, known for minimal pharmaceutical and surgical use, delivered around 6,200 infants before her death in 1705. In 1690, she published “The Court Midwife,” a groundbreaking obstetrical text. The book, certified by Alma Mater Viadrina, outlined evidence-based solutions to childbirth complications. Siegemund’s innovative methods, like addressing shoulder presentations and managing placenta previa, earned her lasting recognition, with subsequent republications incorporating male gynecological references.