Obstetric medicine

During this period, the medical field was still grappling with the idea of obstetrics and midwifery, which were activities thought to be practiced by uneducated females, as they were unable to form a connection between medicine and midwifery. These circumstances led to the mistreatment of pregnant women, who were often made to partake in experimental procedures and untested treatments, which led to harm on mothers and the fetus.

The purpose of the act was to improve training for midwives as well as regulating their practice.[6] This meant that women who wanted to identify as "midwives" had to do so under the certification and verification of the Act. Penalties would incur on women who fraudulently claimed certification, with imprisonment possibly going up to 12 months. The caveat to this act was that a woman could practically engage in midwife duties, however they could not give them self the title of midwife or imply that they were affiliated with the title. However, the basis of the act was the acknowledgement of the field, creating an environment for people to gain professional knowledge about the field. This act was significant in leading to the present practice of obstetric medicine as it created a pathway for women to begin practicing with pre/post natal care, leading to the discovery of numerous methods in obstetric medicine.

Maternal mortality is an ongoing issue that is rising among pregnant women. A challenge facing many pregnant women is the lack of access to specialized obstetric care, often resulting in untimely deaths and an increasing rate of maternal morbidity. This lack of access offered to women has resulted in an outreach programs attempted by clinicians to reach women who are currently suffering from the consequences of reduced accessibility. This increased awareness is emerging during a time of "obstetric transition",[7] where research is noticing a notable shift in patterns from instances of high maternal mortality to patterns of lower maternal mortality. These patterns depict instances of high maternal mortality associated with implicit obstetric cause, while instances of low maternal mortality are related to factors such as maternal age, non-communicable disease (NCD) and indirect causes of maternal death (not directly linked to obstetric care).

The total cost of having a child in a hospital is can total several thousand dollars, which can be an expensive hurdle depending on an individual's socioeconomic status. Many countries lack the funding required to provide women from low-income households with prenatal care needs. This poses a problem for many women who are uninsured, or do not have access to adequate insurance. For women who are completely uninsured, their only source of prenatal care can be from charities and programs run by public funds, which is not a reliable source of prenatal care that has to be done regularly.[8] When considering couples who have children in their early 20s, with an annual income of $19,800, having a child that on average costs $4,800,[8] is a financial burden. Numerous insurance companies do not cover maternity care, which indicates that possessing insurance does not immediately clear couples of debt.

During the 18th century, common methods of resolving obstructed labor often resulted in high mortality of the infant. These methods included pulling on the legs of the baby or using breeching hooks. William Smellie revolutionized child birth by writing works on how to use forceps in the assistance if childbirth.[9] The practice of using forceps proved to be much more effective and less damaging to the baby.

By the 20th century, medicinal drugs were used to treat pregnant women, or to provide them with prenatal care. By the 1950s, women were having given contraceptive pills to begin regulating their hormones and fertility,[3] which effectively allowed couples to have planned pregnancies. By the 21st century, women were being given medication for the induction and augmentation of labor. 

A common ailment of pregnant women is postpartum depression. Depression can cause pregnant women to have poor nutrition or inadequate strength to nurture herself and her baby. The result of this can be problems in development and health of the fetus. The use of medicine to treat postpartum depression is a subject for debate, since some research indicates that the use of antidepressants during pregnancy can lead to physical malformations and long-term health problems of the baby[10] Other forms of treatment include support groups and psychotherapy.

Gestational diabetes is observed by elevated glucose levels in pregnant women who have never had diabetes. This form of diabetes occurs when placental hormones interfere with insulin produced by the mother, resulting in an excess of glucose in the blood. The excess glucose will cross the placenta and cause the baby's pancreas to produce extra insulin and store the excess glucose as fat.[11] Gestational diabetes is treated by a diet and exercise regiment the goal of maintaining lower levels of glucose in the body.[12]

Gestational hypertension is characterized by high blood pressure during pregnancy. Chronic hypertension can lead to a severe condition called preeclampsia, which can result in damage to organs. Hypertension can cause the placenta to not receive enough blood and starving the fetus of oxygen. Hypertension is treated in pregnant mothers by adjusting their diet to contain less fat and salt, consuming enough water, and getting regular exercise.[13]

Maternal obesity is a rising epidemic among pregnant women, that is detrimental to both the health of the baby and the mother. Obesity leads pregnant women to develop gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, and increase the risk of stillbirth and numerous congenital anomalies. Beyond the immediate risks during pregnancy, the obesity of the mother tends to create a predisposition for the baby to have the inclination to develop conditions like heart disease and diabetes.[14] During pregnancy, the rate at which nutrition is absorbed and conveyed to the fetus affects its physiology and metabolic regularity. Nutrition available in either abundance, or scarcity, both affect the overall outcome of the fetus, thus creating a precursor for future health developments. Typical treatment includes monitored consumption of food, as well as moderate exercise.

Puerperal Sepsis is a bacterial infection that affects the genital tract, commonly occurring after the birth of a baby. The symptoms typically appear one day after pregnancy, however symptoms may appear earlier if the woman has had prolonged damage to the membranes in the vaginal tract. This was a leading factor in maternal mortality, as 80%-90% of women in some hospitals did not survive after receiving their diagnosis due to the rapidly spreading nature of the infection. Malnourished women, or with women with anaemia were susceptible to the infection. Some common symptoms included, but were not limited to: fever (temperature of 38 °C or more), chills and general malaise, lower abdominal pain, tender uterus, sub involution of the uterus purulent, and foul-smelling lochia.[15]

HIV positive women who become pregnant require special types of treatment in order to prevent transmission from mother to fetus. Antiretrovirals are medications that reduce the viral load of the HIV virus in the mother's fluids and blood. Reduction of the viral load reduces the chance of the baby to become infected.[16]