How Childbirth Choices Have Changed

Women know more now, but does that make it any easier?

Original art created by Laura Gilbert, the author’s daughter-in-law. With permission. Photo taken by author

I’ve been reading a book. Fiction, but one that uses reality as its base. Beginning with the women of a family in the early 1900’s, it follows several mothers in the generations that follow. One element that is striking but not surprising is the lack of knowledge they have about the process of creating a baby, and of the sex act itself. Some of them have no idea what is about to happen on their wedding night, or nine months later.

He hikes up her nightgown and away he goes. Eventually, some of them figure out ways to avoid the task at hand. Others have multiple children one after another. The husbands sometimes go elsewhere for a good time. The women not so much.

Moving forward, we have come a long way. I’m thinking in particular about childbirth, saving the other aspects of the sex they experienced for another day.

Most women in developed countries now know what to expect when they get pregnant. Assuming for a moment that the baby is planned and wanted, some of these moms set about to consider the type of childbirth they would like. In some places, there are options. And while certain variables are out of a mother’s control, others are not.

Eventually, some of them figure out…