The Death of Normal Birth

Medical Transformation of normal birth into a surgical procedure in the 20th Century “performed” by obstetrical surgeons mother under general anesthesia forceps used to “remove” the baby.

1900 ~ Spontaneous birth attended by a physician in the mother’s home The Death of Normal Birth

1900 ~ Birth moved into the hospital and conducted as surgical procedure

The Death of Normal Birth Types of Episiotomies Damage to Pelvic Floor from Episiotomy

The Death of Normal Birth Physician Manipulation of delivery

The Death of Normal Birth 1950s Johns Hopkins Hospital Delivery Room

The Death of Normal Birth General Anesthesia Machine Right & Wrong Sterile Attire

The Death of Normal Birth Doctor Proudly Shows off baby to its parents

The Death of Normal Birth Putting suction catheter in baby’s nose Antibiotic Eye Drops Delivery Room Rituals

The Death of Normal Birth 1960s version of “natural” birth in hospital (no general anesthesia)

The Death of Normal Birth Fashionable Early Childbirth Preparation

The Death of Normal Birth 1960s Tour of Delivery Room – father tries out “gas machine”

The Death of Normal Birth 1960s Mom-to-Be Tour Delivery Room

The Death of Normal Birth

“Jean tries out the mirror In which she may see her baby be born ”

The Death of Normal Birth “Coming to the hospital at the first sign of labor

The Death of Normal Birth “Jean cat-naps between mild contractions”

The Death of Normal Birth Faith listens to the heartbeat of his unborn baby

The Death of Normal Birth Father in waiting room, Reading old copies of ‘Field and Stream’

The Death of Normal Birth A shot of Demerol for pain

The Death of Normal Birth “Jean has been transferred to the delivery table, where her feet are placed in stirrups. Sterile sheets, green to cut glare, cover her legs and abdomen.

The Death of Normal Birth Moved to the Delivery Room for the “Surgical Procedure” of Birth

The Death of Normal Birth “….mothers must have their hands strapped down so they won’t touch sterile sheets. Any instrument the doctor might need is ready

The Death of Normal Birth

“At crowing the doctor says ‘I can just see this much of the baby’s head. Can you see it?”

The Death of Normal Birth If the mother has had a minimum of drugs and anesthesia, her baby need not be held up by the heels and slapped.

The Death of Normal Birth “One push brings the baby’s head into the world, and the body follows with only the doctor’s gentle help ”

The Death of Normal Birth Jean was o the delivery tale for 65 minutes. The doctor considered her an average labor and delivery under the natural childbirth program.

The Death of Normal Birth ~ Labor and Delivery Room staff and medical residents of big city hospital

The Death of Normal Birth Internal Electronic Fetal Monitoring

The Death of Normal Birth Delivery with Internal Electronic Fetal Monitoring in place

The Death of Normal Birth 1999 Vacuum Extraction 1999

The Death of Normal Birth Medically Unnecessary Elective Cesarean

The Death of Normal Birth Medically Unnecessary Elective Cesarean

The Death of Normal Birth Accomplished at Last! Cesarean Section ~ Standard of Care for the 21 st Century Obstetrics

The Death of Normal Birth Obstetrics 2006, B.C.E.