‘Gyrde thys mesure a bowte hyr wombe’: Magical Midwives & Birth Protection

I went to the Wellcome Collection in London last week to visit a very important exhibition they have on at the moment.

‘Expecting: Birth, Belief and Protection’ is currently on display and will be there for you to see until 19 April 2026.

This new exhibition explores the protective practices and beliefs around pregnancy, childbirth, and infertility that existed in mediaeval times and continue through to today. However, my interest in going was to see the star of the show—an actual surviving mediaeval pregnancy protection scroll.