Mary Breckenridge's Impact on American Nurse Midwifery

Mary Breckenridge is known as the founder of American nurse midwifery and made significant contributions to healthcare. She established the Frontier Nursing Service (FNS) in Lesley County, Kentucky, which focused on prenatal and early childhood care. The FNS provided crucial medical care, nutrition support, and education to underserved communities. Breckenridge's work led to a substantial drop in neonatal and maternal death rates in the region. She also founded the Frontier Graduate School of Midwifery, which eventually became Frontier Nursing University. Despite her achievements, Breckenridge held problematic views, including supporting eugenics and advocating for selective breeding to improve the population. Her legacy includes promoting midwifery as a vital field and inspiring the formation of the American Association of Nurse Midwives.