TECHNOLOGY OR CHILDBIRTH ACCOMPANIMENT? THE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL-GESTANT RELATIONSHIP IN SPAIN DURING THE 20TH CENTURY

Abstract

In Spain, like in other countries, during the 20th century, hospital care for childbirth progressively displaced homebirth. In the clinical settings, the relationship between health professionals and pregnant women underwent major transformations, mainly due to the loss of choice for women in labour during the obstetric process. At the same time, protocols and scientific advances, such as cardiotocographic monitoring, led to the technification and medicalisation of childbirth, which in turn had implications for the relationship between pregnant women and healthcare professionals, who were not always aware of how all these transformations affected women during the labour.