Historic Publications

Prologue & Index ~ 8-part series on famous obstetrician & his 1914 book outlining his plan to monopolize and monetize childbirth services by inventing “elective hospitalization” for healthy maternity patients as ‘paying customer’ & to re-define normal birth as a surgical procedure

by faithgibson February 14, 2018

Note from the author: I first posted these essays in 2010, just two years after first reading Dr. J. Whitridge Williams’ 1914 book “Twilight Sleep: Simple Discoveries in Painless Childbirth“.  When his small, 128-page book was published in 1914, Dr. Williams was highly accomplished as an obstetrician and well-known as the author of “Williams’ Obstetrics” […]

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Day 9: Historical & contemporary comments by physicians about midwives ~ 1820 to 2014

by faithgibson April 9, 2016

Day 9 ~ 1931 to 1934 1931 ~ A report published by the White House Conference on Child Health and Protection by the Committee on Prenatal and Maternal Care, noting the wide disparity between safe care provided by midwives and highly risky care of many physicians. The report’s physician-authors concluded that the care of midwives was safer […]

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The story I hate to tell, and no one should have to hear: Overview continued (Part 1-B)

by faithgibson March 4, 2016

1-B ~ Second half of Overview The Bad Old Days — it’s nobody’s fault but our job — all of us — to fix it Since 1840, there have been three well-defined, decades-long episodes in which many individuals and groups within the obstetrical profession systematically used, taught and propagated the continuation of poor obstetrical practices that […]

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XXX Quotes #3 ~ Dr JWW’s book “TS: Simple Discoveries in Painless Childbirth” (1914)

by faithgibson September 4, 2015

Aside by Dr Williams’ about obstetrical fees p. 81 “The laity should also be taught that a well-conducted hospital is the ideal place for delivery, especially in the case of those with limited incomes. “Moreover, they should learn that the average compensation for obstetric cases is usually quite inadequate; and should realize, … that doctors who are […]

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XXX Four topics – Quoted Dr J. Whitridge Williams’ book “TS: Simple Discoveries in Painless Childbirth (1914)

by faithgibson September 3, 2015

Physiological normalcy as an impediment to medicalization That word “physiological” has all along stood as a barrier in the way of progress. The truth is that in assuming an upright posture and in developing an enormous brain, the human race has so modified the conditions incident to child-bearing as to put upon the mother a […]

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