Childbirth – Page 5

Hanging out with the skeleton in the doctor's office, circa 1900, at the Dittrick. — Hanging out with the skeleton in the early 1900’s doctor’s office at the Dittrick.

In December, I embarked on a two and a half hour road trip from Pittsburgh to Cleveland with my friend Marilyn. Our destination was the Dittrick Medical History Center at Case Western University. We were met there by co-curators Catherine Osborn and Brandy Schillace. Catherine was kind enough to give us a private tour of the museum.

The two major collections we viewed were the childbirth collection, Re-conceiving Birth: Our Shared Entrance to the World Stage and the contraception collection, Percy Skuy Collection on the History of Contraception.

1950's Diaphragm fitting rings. The box is Bakelite, the rings are rubber. Top photo is part of the collection at The Dittrick. Bottom photo is in my personal collection. — 1950’s Diaphragm fitting rings. The box is Bakelite, the rings are rubber. Top photo is part of the collection at The Dittrick. Bottom photo is in my personal collection.

I could have spent days there. The depth and breadth of the collection is inspiring. I will make a return trip once the weather is a bit warmer.

Do you want the rest of the details? I wrote a piece for Science & Sensibility, Lamaze’s professional blog, regarding my trip to The Dittrick. Read on!

Visiting The Dittrick Museum: A Fascinating Peek into the History of Childbirth & Contraception

Ivory pregnant anatomical model, Dittrick Museum

Portable birthing chair used by midwives, Dittrick museum

Medicines for pregnancy and labor, Dittrick Museum

Complete obstetrical kit, in its case, Dittrick Museum.

1930’s obstetrician’s office, Dittrick Museum.

Papier Mache, life-sized anatomical model, Dittrick Museum.

Woodward’s combination syringe c. 1875, Dittrick Museum.

Mid-century birth control manual. Dittrick Museum

Mid-century douching for birth control, Dittrick Museum.

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My mission is to illuminate all that is hidden or unspoken about pregnancy and childbirth. The gross and yucky aspects are often ignored, minimized or made to appear more palatable than reality.

Dear Reader, I offer you now, Birth is Beautiful. This is the first installment of my new video series, a joint project with Shining Light Prenatal Education. In this series, I promise to be honest and direct with you.

Here’s why:

Last week, I was waiting for my daughter to finish her ballet class with a number of other mothers. One of the other mothers is a doula. She and I were discussing my new video series, Birth is Beautiful. As birth professionals are wont to do, we were very graphic in our conversation, forgetting that were were in a public forum.

One of the other mothers, overhearing our conversation, interjected. She said that she’d wished someone had told her exactly what the mucus plug was going to look like and what to expect. When she lost her plug, she was grossed out and unsure of whether or not her discharge was normal. What she had been taught and what she read was insufficient and vaguely misleading. She, like me, thought her mucus plug was a plug, rather than mucus. Right.

She then thanked me for making the video and for being forthcoming with my students during my childbirth classes about what they can realistically expect.

Dear Reader, this video is for you and all of the pregnant women in your life.

Oh, and yes, this is really how I teach my Confident Birthing classes. Really!

Please support The Silent Mother by becoming a patron through Patreon.

Your generous donation allows me to keep writing.

Do share this article with your friends.

A Private Tour of The Dittrick Museum

An Accurate and Honest Depiction of the Mucus Plug (video)