Less Painful Deliveries.

After World War II the process of giving birth changed. Increasingly, a woman went to the hospital for delivery instead of staying home. Through most of labor she inhaled pain-reducing anesthesia agents. Near the end of labor the woman was given general anesthesia to put her to sleep. Since she could not push the baby out, a physician used forceps, large steel spoons, around the baby's head to pull it out. This system served several purposes: pregnant women experienced less pain during labor; the hospital staff appreciated caring for less noisy patients; and physicians controlled the whole birthing process. At this time, it was thought that the baby was not greatly affected by drugs given to the mother.

Reaction against Anesthesia.

Changes began after it was learned that babies seemed to be exposed to drugs the mothers...