Midwives have been around since time immemorial. They appear in the Bible and in Shakespeare’s literature. They have been the main providers of maternity care throughout the history of mankind. In most cultures today, a laboring woman can still count on the presence of a skilled midwife.

Labor and childbirth in the U.S. weren’t any different. Though its history is tumultuous, “midwifery was seen as a respectable profession, even warranting priority on ferry boats to the Colony of Massachusetts,” says a website for the Parkland School of Nurse Midwives.

Unfortunately, that would change.

Between the years 1915 and 1940, midwife-assisted births plummeted from about 50% to 10-15%. The drop has been attributed to a number of historical developments; among them were World War I and advances in science and medicine.

But that wasn't all. From around 1910, the US government and the medical establishment began waging a vigorous public campaign against midwives in a nationwide offensive to medicalize the birth industry. Midwives were called filthy and ignorant, and blamed for the country's birth-related fatalities. Other tactics included public PR, where physicians touted the safety and ease of births handled by obstetricians.

“The strategy to abolish the profession of midwifery (as practiced by midwives) was multifaceted and included a legal, legislative and public education approach described as ‘elevating the public conscience,’” writes California midwife Faith Gibson.

On her website, Gibson shares excerpts from documents she uncovered after she was arrested and charged with the illegal practice of midwifery, among other things, even though she was a state-certified midwife. The charges were later dismissed.