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Problems in the History of Childbirth
While childbirth is a natural part of life, problems have existed since the beginning of time. Without trained medical professionals on hand and instruments to use, death was a part of the natural order. It was commonplace for women to die during childbirth and even those that survived faced serious complications. Parents were excited when a child was born healthy, but they also understood that the child might not survive the harsh labor.
Midwives were often used to deliver babies. This practice still exists today, but in earlier times the midwives didn't have as much experience or education. They could do little more than administer emotional support and help prevent excessive bleeding. In situations where the woman suffered a condition such as obstructed labor or shrunken pelvis, the midwife couldn't do much.
The first hospitals began appearing in the 1700s, but even then childbirth still had problems. Women were often treated badly by those on staff, particularly in the public hospitals where those without a lot of money were sent. Towards the end of the century midwives were regulated, but this led to less people practicing because they couldn't afford the training or they couldn't read the manuals.
In 1848 doctors began using ether as a pain reliever during childbirth. This resulted in even more problems as children were born sick and mothers occasionally overdosed during childbirth. Doctors introduced twilight sleep in 1914, which involved using morphine and other drugs to render the woman basically unconscious during the birthing process.
The first Caesarean section occurred around 1500. A woman in Switzerland had the surgery done by her husband after days spent in labor. It was done throughout the rest of the century, but a large number of women died. Doctors only did the process when they felt there was no other option to remove the child and in some cases it was done after the mother was already dead from the birth. The first book on childbirth wasn't even published until Thomas Raynalde created The Birth of Mankynde in 1544.
Forceps appeared in the 1600s, which helped aid in childbirth. Doctors could now go inside the body and help the child out, helping in cases of an obstructed birth. The forceps weren't common in births though until the middle of the 18th century when doctors perfected the crude tools for regular use.
Comprehensive resources on the history of problems in childbirth include:
- The History of Childbirth: Examines the complications and problems associated with early childbirth.
- The History of Childbirth and Midwifery in America: Lists a timeline of early childbirth and midwifery in the United States.
- Pregnancy and Childbirth: Examines the problems found in childbirth from a historical perspective.
- A History of Birthing: Details the problems found in childbirth during the early years.
- History of the Cesarean Section: Offers an in depth look at the C-section and how it started.
- Childbirth: Describes child birth and includes information on the history of the topic.
- The History of Childbearing Choices in the United States: Looks at the choices given to women throughout history.
- Midwives and Childbirth in European History: Offers information on the problems found in childbirth during the Middle Ages.
- Professional Nursing Training: List of courses to learn how to become a professional nurse.
- Taking Great Pains: Shows the way women were treated in hospitals during the early part of the 20th century.
The early days of childbirth were extremely difficult for both the mother and the child. Fathers and other men were banned from the birthing room, leaving the woman with support only from the midwife and possibly her mother. She didn't have access to drugs or comfort of any kind because they didn't exist at the time. She entered the room knowing that she or her child could die at any moment.
