Important Advances in Obstetrics Revealed on Western Washington Medical Group's Blog
Seattle, WA (PRWEB) October 03, 2013 -- Medical progress in the field of maternity care holds particular value for all families. Many fail to realize just how far maternity care has progressed over the years, especially with 20th-century technological advances. Inventions and simple discoveries have contributed to saving many lives. This week, Western Washington Medical Group published a blog post discussing these issues. Using a topical format, the blog provides information for any interested healthcare consumer.
The blog begins by showing how puerperal fever, one of the major causes of pregnancy-related death, was reduced by 90 percent when obstetricians began washing their hands after handling babies. It was a simple discovery, yet it led to a massive breakthrough in infection control. The blog continues by explaining how the use of male midwives helped accelerate research in the maternity care field. The term obstetrics, however, was still not recognized in the medical community. During the 1600s, a family of self-taught obstetricians invented shaped forceps for safely grasping a baby’s head during a difficult birth. Obstetric forceps largely reduced maternity-related deaths, especially for births by cesarean section (C-section). This helped lead to the increased use of C-sections, resulting in a substantial increase of live births over the centuries.
By the early 1980s, family doctors were being trained as obstetricians to help meet the rising demand for maternity care. According to the blog, this was perhaps the biggest innovation of maternity care of the 20th century. Today, maternity care is available to nearly everyone in the United States. The majority of pregnant women today receive primary care from a family doctor at one point during their pregnancy, providing additional benefits for a healthy and successful pregnancy. To learn more about Western Washington Medical Group and read the full article, visit: http://www.wwmedgroup.com/blog/archives/2013/09/24/the_evolution_of_maternity_care.
About Western Washington Medical Group
Western Washington Medical Group (WWMG) is a multi-specialty medical practice of more than 80 providers. Founded in 1993 in the Everett, Washington area, WWMG is fully physician-managed, giving them a reputation for providing the highest quality of patient care available. From personalized family care to obstetrics and gynecology, Western Washington Medical Group serves the healthcare needs of every member of the family.
Western Washington Medical Group, Western Washington Medical Group, http://www.wwmedgroup.com/, +1 360-631-9441, [email protected]
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