Ann S. Epstein writes novels, short stories, memoir, essays, and poems. Please use the links or site menu to go to the HOME PAGE; learn about her NOVELS, SHORT STORIES, MEMOIR, ESSAYS, and POEMS; find interesting facts in BEHIND THE STORY; read REFLECTIONS on writing; check NEWS for updates on publications and related events; see REVIEWS; learn about her END-OF-LIFE DOULA credentials and services; and CONTACT US to send webmail.
As medicine became professionalized, physicians pushed to abolish midwifery and home birth in favor of obstetrics in hospitals. Doctors falsely portrayed midwives as dirty, illiterate, and ignorant women. Midwives went from assisting at 50% of all births in 1900 to 12.5% in 1935. Current U.S. estimates range from 5% to 10%. Read more about pregnancy and childbirth 100 years ago in Tazia and Gemma (see NOVELS).
