The history of obstetrics

      - Easing childbirth: a tried and tested method 

From time immemorial, the birth of a child has been a momentous event in the life of a woman and in the experience of being a couple. The birth of a child marks the beginning of a new cycle of life, both for the child and also for a family. Not much is known about obstetrics in early times, but there are many examples of simple obstetric actions to be found among the rock paintings and statues of primitive tribes.

The first written mention of a midwife was in the Talmud around 5700 BC. In Ancient Rome too, midwives enjoyed high status. They had knowledge of pharmacy and surgery and worked side by side with the doctors.

A prominent character in Ancient Rome was the gynaecologist and obstetrician Soranus of Ephesus (98 to 138 AC), who wrote the first scientific work about gynaecology and obstetrics. In his work “Gynaecology” Soranus described the process of childbirth in accordance with the standard of the day and instructed midwives in obstetric methods. In particular Soranus introduced the method of easing childbirth by the use of olive oil, which significantly eased childbirth and made it safer for mother and child. Not only was Soranus teaching modern obstetrics in his time, but he also introduced other methods into obstetrics which are still in use today.

With the fall of the Roman Empire, most of the knowledge about how to ease childbirth was lost. Obstetric care was subsequently passed on in the Middle Ages into the hands of so-called "wise women", who assisted women in childbirth.

The first German obstetric work aimed at women who could read appeared in 1513 and established the status of midwives. Around 1800 actual maternity establishments were set up, where mainly poor and single mothers gave birth. At that time, Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis introduced the first hygienic measures – in the face of opposition from his colleagues - such as washing the hands, boiling instruments, and disinfection. These measures were successful in reducing the very high maternal mortality rate of the time caused by puerperal fever. The maternity establishments were consequently regarded as safe, and their status grew. Now childbirth in hospital began to seem an attractive option to rich women as well.

The midwife’s workplace also rapidly shifted to the hospital. The heyday of clinical hospital childbirth was in the 1960s and 1970s. Childbirth had become a medical matter, it was mechanized and took place under sterile conditions. This made childbirth significantly safer for mother and child and in particular dramatically reduced mortality. However, in the cool and sterile environment the need for a feeling of security and warmth was neglected; as a result of this, home births became more popular again in the following decades. Nowadays the midwife’s job has grown to include the provision of support to women before, during and after childbirth.