Isn’t it fascinating how a place can honor a woman who revolutionized her field? Place Angélique du Coudray does just that. This square in Paris commemorates Angélique du Coudray. She was a pioneering midwife.
Place Angélique du Coudray is located in the 10th arrondissement. It sits where Rue Boy-Zelenski meets Rue des Écluses-Saint-Martin. You can reach it easily via the Colonel Fabien metro station. The Conseil de Paris decided on the name. It was inaugurated on March 7 2024. This was just before International Women’s Rights Day.
Who was Angélique du Coudray? She was a sage-femme. This translates to midwife in English. More than that she was a trailblazer in obstetrics. She was the first French midwife to teach the art of childbirth publicly.
Angélique was born in 1712 in Clermont-Ferrand. Her family had a background in medicine. She trained for three years. She studied with Anne Bairsin at the Hôtel-Dieu in Paris. In 1740 she earned her diploma. She became a sworn midwife.
For sixteen years she practiced at the Châtelet in Paris. Then in 1754 she returned to Auvergne. There she began offering free courses. She taught rural women about childbirth.
To make her lessons more effective she invented something special. It was a life-size mannequin. It was made of wood cardboard fabric and cotton. This mannequin represented a woman’s birthing pelvis. This allowed for demonstrations and practice. The Academy of Surgery approved it in 1758.
King Louis XV recognized her work in 1759. He granted her a patent and a pension. For nearly twenty-five years she traveled France. She taught over 5000 women. She also trained surgeons. Angélique helped open maternity houses in major cities. People admired her simple clear and exact teaching methods.
Her niece Marguerite Guillomance joined her travels in 1768. In 1773 Marguerite married surgeon Jean-Pierre Coutanceau. After 1783 Marguerite replaced her aunt. She took over the demonstration sessions.
In 1789 Angélique lived with her niece in Bordeaux. The French Revolution caused her to lose her pension. Marguerite Coutanceau presented a plea to the National Assembly. She stressed the importance of midwife training. She mentioned that Madame du Coudray saved La Fayette’s life at birth.
During the Reign of Terror Marguerite and her husband supported Angélique. Angélique du Coudray died in poverty and alone. This happened while her niece and husband were away.
Angélique’s “machine” was a groundbreaking invention. This mannequin helped students practice. It featured a detailed representation of a woman’s pelvis. It included a model baby with flexible joints. She also published “Abridgment of the Art of Delivery” in 1759. This served as her teaching manual. It included illustrations. It was a first for the time.
Today Place Angélique du Coudray stands as a testament. It honors a woman who dedicated her life. She improved childbirth practices. She empowered women in rural communities. Her legacy continues to inspire. It reminds us of the importance of women’s contributions to medicine and society.