Hi Kay,
Kay I asked Mom about the midwives she know growing up down in Elliott County, and she said that they were kind, calm, women; that knives were used to "cut the pain"; and being a midwife or healer of any type ran in family lines.
I will see if I can find anything else on the midwives and share the info.
Kay you recieved many responses to your message 7th son; and you can read them in our archives:
http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/ky-folklore-ghost-stor...
Take Care,
Ramona
Researching the lore of
Bayes-Boggs-Fraley-Kidder-Sturgill