Jane Sharp

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Jane Sharp was a 17th century English midwife. In 1671 she published The Midwives Book: or the Whole Art of Midwifery Discovered, becoming the first English woman to publish a book on midwifery. In her book, she combines the medical knowledge of the time with personal anecdote and states her belief that the profession of midwifery should be reserved for women. The book is still in print as a primary source of information about women, childbirth and sexuality in the Middle Ages.

The children's book The Midwife's Apprentice features a character based on Jane Sharp.