Feminism, midwifery and the medicalisation of birth

Historically, childbirth was the domain of women only, for it was regarded as a female mystery, of which women alone had special knowledge and understanding. From the 1700s, with the rise of science and what was considered the more ‘modern’ and rational approach to midwifery theory, the old midwifery ‘ways of knowing’ were dismissed as superstitions and old wives' tales. The medical profession mostly consisted of men and they accused midwives of using ancient, dangerous and outdated practices.

In the 18th century in the Western world, the men in the medical profession, such as Fielding Ould in Ireland and William Smellie in Scotland, were gaining respect and developing new birthing theories that were based on the science, anatomy and technical knowledge (Murphy-Lawless, 1998). One of the most significant aspects of the new medical ‘science’, was the belief that the body operated like a machine. Within this discourse, childbirth was understood as a mechanical process.