BOOK part I

Birth: the surprising history of how we are born

By Tina Cassidy

1. Cassidy begins by addressing the evolution of the female body. She then begins writing about the history of mid-wifely, along with the changing and adapting perceptive of society.

2. How has the process of birth evolved? Evolution has not made it any easier for humans to give birth. We have come from a time where our ancestors were able to give birth alone, with hassle, a simply step in the way of life. Today we choice to surround our self’s with mentors/viewers and get overwhelmed by the endless decisions that need to be made; hospitals, home, medicine, birthing in water, etc. What is the best way of giving birth? Different cultures all have their own traditions and theories on the best way to have a baby. Our ways are crazy to them, while theirs might seem crazy to us, but there is no one right way.

3. Doctors create a fast system most functional for them. They move the birthing process along medicating patients, often times performing C-sections or rupturing the amniotic sac, and overall disrupting the natural form of birth. "Such systems made maternity hospitals seems more like a factory." (61) However "Delivering at home, at least in many developed countries, had become impractical.” The fact was that “fewer midwifes were practicing, and doctors were mostly seeing women in Hospitals, which-after they instituted hand washing- portrayed themselves as the sterile alternative to a women's home.” Furthermore, “ new fangled pain relief options could receive them only in a maternity ward. For a fee." Which could classify as another “pro” point of birthing in a hospital.

4.

• From growing peculation of the safety of midwifes; the number of women giving birth in hospitals grew rapidly. In 1955, 99%women of women in the United States were giving birth in hospitals.
• Some cultures find indignity in the process of birth. Maori and Japanese banned labor from the house to avoid the mess and to keep out evil spirits.
• Birth is a personal, private event. But the after math of the process is a celebrated one: a social event.
• “We’re the only mammal species that needs assistance hen giving birth” while other mammals have a much easier experience because they are equipped with wider canals, making it so the whole process can last roughly 2 minutes.