The Medical World v.s. Midwifery

Ehreneich and English discuss the supposed "midwife problem" of the 1900's and make midwifery sound so unnecessary, considering they were working so hard to get rid of it. However, I find it significant that today midwifery is still highly practiced and implemented in childbirth even with efforts to diminish it. The article goes as far as to call midwives "dirty" and "imcompetent". I feel that these authors are further perpetuating the stereotypes associated with midwifery and therefore the mindset related to the practice only focuses on that 19th century view of what a midwife was like. 

While this article is encouraging the move to medical doctors and births that take place at a hospital, I feel it is unfair of the authors to only discuss medical science in a positive light and midwifery in a negative one. If the article could give a view of both sides more evenly then I feel that the audience would be better informed about both practices and not have to feel forced to take one side or only have one opinion in the matter.

Personally, I feel strongly about the medicalization of birth and how hospital births can reduce the personal and emotional aspects of birthing (not necessarily in all cases). Birth is an individual experience and I feel it is important to realize what I think or what someone else thinks about childbirth is not the right or wrong answer. The different options are just something to consider when thinking about having a child and how you want that experience to play out for you and whoever else may be involved.