First Hands — English short story at A1 (and A2, B1, B2)

Level A1 · Beginner

A midwife helps mothers and babies. She is often the first person to hold a new baby. Not a doctor. Not a parent. A midwife.

Before the baby comes, the midwife visits the mother. She checks the baby. She answers questions. She helps the mother feel less afraid.

On the night of the birth, the midwife stays calm. She knows when to help. She knows when to wait. The mother's body does the work.

After the birth, the midwife comes back. She helps with feeding. She checks the mother. She sees problems early.

In 2023, the United Nations said: midwifery is important. It is a treasure, like an old song. Families already knew this.

The same story, one level up

Every Journeva story exists at four levels — same plot, same characters, richer language each step. Here is how this one begins at each level.

A2 · Elementary

The first hands that hold most of the world's babies are not a doctor's and not a parent's. They belong to a midwife — a profession so old that no one remembers when it began. …

B1 · Intermediate

The first hands that hold most of the world's newborn babies belong neither to a doctor nor to a parent, but to a midwife — a profession so old that no one can say exactly when it began. …

B2 · Upper intermediate

The first hands to hold most of the world's newborn babies belong neither to a doctor nor to a parent, but to a midwife — a profession so ancient that no one can say with any certainty when it first began. …

Read the whole story at A2, B1 and B2

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This story in other languages

Read it in a language you already know to check your understanding — every Journeva story is written in all five.

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