March is Women’s History Month, as if we need a reason to celebrate all of the contributions made by women throughout history. Women have always been an integral part of healthcare, and their involvement in the field of pregnancy-related health care has been no exception.
In ancient times, midwifery was a job largely held by women or older female relatives. In many cultures, midwives were viewed as important members of the community, and their role in helping to deliver babies was highly respected. In addition to delivering babies, midwives were also responsible for caring for women during pregnancy and providing postpartum care. The practice of obstetrics developed in the 1700s, and it was largely male-dominated. However, in the 1800s, women began to enter the field of obstetrics. Women such as Elizabeth Blackwell and Elizabeth Garrett Anderson pioneered the field, and their work helped to improve the quality of care for pregnant women.
One of the earliest contributions to gynecology came from Dr. Marie Stopes, a British paleobotanist, who wrote the groundbreaking book Married Love in 1918. This book contained invaluable information about contraception and family planning, and was one of the first resources to openly discuss women’s reproductive rights. In the U.S., Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi was a pioneering researcher in gynecology. She wrote the first comprehensive textbook on gynecology in 1876 and was one of the first women to receive a medical degree in the U.S. Dr. Jacobi also worked to end the practice of “irregular” or untrained practitioners performing gynecological procedures, and she was a strong advocate for women’s medical education. In the 20th century, many women worked to improve access to gynecological care, especially for minority women. Dr. Dorothy Height, a civil rights leader and president of the National Council of Negro Women, pushed for greater access to gynecological care for African-American women. Dr. Helen Rodríguez Trías, an American pediatrician and Latinx rights activist, worked to improve access to reproductive health care and contraception for Latinx women. Today, researchers are developing new treatments and technologies to improve women’s reproductive health, while physicians and other healthcare providers are advocating for better access to care.
Women continue to play a significant role in the fields of obstetrics, midwifery, and other pregnancy-related professions. The role of doulas has become increasingly important, as their services provide additional support and guidance to pregnant women. They often provide comfort, guidance, and advice to women throughout their pregnancy and delivery, and this role is invaluable. In addition to doulas, women are also taking on more leadership roles in the fields of obstetrics and midwifery. Women are becoming more involved in research and policy-making, and they are taking on more administrative roles. This is helping to improve the quality of care for pregnant women, and it is also helping to reduce the gender disparity in healthcare.
Overall, women have played a vital role in the fields of obstetrics, midwifery, and other pregnancy-related professions throughout history. Their involvement in the field continues to be incredibly important, and they are helping to ensure that pregnant women receive the best possible care.