1900s: Natural childbirth—without the use of drugs, anesthesia, or other devices—is the norm for most women. Home birth is common, particularly in rural areas.

1930s: Grantly Dick-Read publishes Natural Childbirth, proposing childbirth techniques that would later be adapted by natural childbirth advocates such as Ferdinand Lamaze. Nonetheless, the trend toward increasing medical intervention continues as labor and delivery is treated like an operation.

Turn of the Millennium: The rate of Caesarian— or surgical—birth is at an all-time high of 25 to 30 percent in some hospitals, particularly those serving well-insured white women. At the same time, the increasing popularity of birthing centers and nurse-midwives offers women the opportunity to deliver naturally, with medical assistance standing by in case of emergency.

1900s: In 1902, Elizabeth Cady Stanton dies, never having achieved her lifelong goal of winning the right to vote. In...