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The effect of epidural analgesia on labour progress and mode of delivery

Part of: Bespoke shallow archive Weizmann

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 January 2010

James A Thorp  and
Peter E Nielsen
James A Thorp*
Affiliation:
St. Luke's Perinatal Center and University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
Peter E Nielsen
Affiliation:
University of Texas, Houston, Texas, United States of America
*
James A Thorp MD, St. Luke's Perinatal Center, St. Luke's Hospital, 4400 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Missouri, 64111, United States of America
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Extract

The use and method of intrapartum obstetric analgesia has remained controversial since the late 16th Century. In 1591, during the reign of James, VI, Eufame MacCalzean (a Scottish midwife) was the first to attempt pain relief during labour and childbirth. At that time, the provision of pain relief during labour was an unacceptable medical practice due mainly to religious and social objections. Because of these objections, and historical accounts that claimed the midwife had consulted with a witch during the delivery, both MacCalzean and the midwife were found guilty of witchcraft and subsequently executed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Fetal and Maternal Medicine Review , Volume 8 , Issue 1 , February 1996 , pp. 29 - 55
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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