Childbirth In Montana

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Childbirth has proven to be a great struggle for women, but even more-so for the women who resided in Montana in its earliest of years. From the threat of an unwanted pregnancy, to the delivery of perfect baby, many obstacles awaited for the mothers making carrying and laboring a child a job in itself. Women of these eras proved to be reliant on each other during these trying times and were able to provide each other help despite all difficulties. It is with reading the history about their struggle, that our eyes are opened to the real hardships women had, and where we could still be if it were not for the few who stepped up to support women's rights. Although childbirth has always been a natural part of life, it has not always had the …show more content…

It was because of the inadequate care administered to these women that most would resort to midwives and neighbors, who would not only provide care to the mother but also the infant staying as long as it took to leave them healthy and recovered. Most women in the west felt a strong desire and obligation to help others in the birthing process, leaving their families for days, weeks and even months to assist others in their delivery, often working for little or no pay. I feel that it is because of this compassion that we started to see a movement in women's rights and care during conception and …show more content…

This was a great turning point in the health of women during and after pregnancy. As a result, hospital births became increasingly attractive to the the women of the west and by 1950 88% of American births took place in hospitals (). With new times prevailing, the need for proper maternal care was finally being recognized by the medical community, “However, as the process of birth was professionalized and doctors replaced midwives, women lost a degree of control over the birthing process ()”. In years to come, women would once again find their way back into labor and delivery professions opening up their own midwife profession and once again bringing back the “all natural” way to give birth. It is with this new found strength that women would finally fight for their right to choose and what brings us to where we are as women

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