In 1920, Joseph Bolivar DeLee published the article, “The Prophylactic Forceps Operation,” in which he describes how physicians can manually remove a neonate from a laboring woman’s vagina with the use of sedating drugs and forceps. The procedure, according to DeLee, resulted in decreased rates of complications and mortality for both the woman and neonate. DeLee claimed the procedure could reduce damage to the woman such as prolapse, or when internal pelvic organs push down and sometimes protrude from the vagina, and fatal infant brain bleeding. He also suggested that physicians make an incision from the woman’s anus to vagina to accommodate the use of forceps, a procedure later known as an episiotomy. In “The Prophylactic Forceps Operation,” DeLee proposed the technique and use of his procedure, adding to the growing debate in the early twentieth century on the best way to medically assist women during delivery.
Details
- “The Prophylactic Forceps Operation” (1920), by Joseph Bolivar DeLee
- Darby, Alexis (Author)
- Jones, Sierra Hope (Author)
- Schnebly, Risa Aria (Editor)
- Arizona State University. School of Life Sciences. Center for Biology and Society. Embryo Project Encyclopedia. (Publisher)
- Arizona Board of Regents (Publisher)
- literature
- Medicine--United States--History
- Medicine--History--20th century
- Childbirth
- Childbirth at home
- Natural childbirth
- Childbirth--Popular works
- Pregnancy--Complications
- Obstetrical Forceps
- Surgical Instruments
- Obstetric Forceps
- Early Medical Intervention
- Obstetric Labor Complications
- Delivery, Obstetric
- Extraction, Obstetrical
- Publications
- prophylaxis
- Processes
- medicalization of birth
- fetal extraction