1. History of Delivery

2. Early
1647
Forceps were developed
Many babies died in the early years of their use
Before 19th century was uneventful – delivery and life went on as normal with no pain relief
Mid-19th century
Women feared childbirth - painful or even fatal
Higher social status, less children you had
1800
Chloroform was used to relieve women of any pain
Harmful, even fatal, to mother and baby

3. Mid 1882 1900 First successful Cesarean delivery
Death rate remained high until 20th century
1900
Middle class women were confined to bed rest until well after the baby was born
Introduction of maternity clothes (Lane Bryant)

4. 1920 “Twilight labor”
“Twilight labor” = is an amnesic condition characterized by insensibility to pain without loss of consciousness, induced by an injection of morphine and scopolamine, especially to relieve the pain of childbirth.
1920-Morphine and scopolamine
General anesthesia
Proved harmful to baby and mother
Use of stirrups to prevent any
tearing or ripping

5. 1950 and Beyond 1950-Use of drugs in “assisted”
childbirth became popular
1970-“Natural” childbirth and midwives (a person qualified to deliver babies and to care for women before, during, and after childbirth) became popular
1980-Back toward hospital births
1990 and beyond-Both mother and father take a more active role in childbirth