Why are birthing chairs no longer used?

Why Are Birthing Chairs No Longer Used Widely Today?

A Quick Throwback: What Even Is a Birthing Chair?

Okay, so let’s rewind a bit. A birthing chair — also called a parturition chair — was historically used to help women give birth in an upright position. Imagine a low wooden seat (sometimes with handles), open in the center, and designed to use gravity to assist with delivery. Sounds pretty smart, right?

But wait — if it was so clever, why the heck did it fade out of fashion?

The Shift to Hospital Births and Medicalization

From Homes to Hospitals

In the early 20th century, birth started shifting from being a home-centered event to a hospital-based one. And with that move came a ton of changes. Doctors took over from midwives, sterile environments became the norm, and standardized procedures started dominating.

The Supine Position Takes Over

Doctors found it easier (for them, not necessarily for the birthing person) to manage labor and delivery when the patient was lying flat on a bed — the “lithotomy position.” Yup, that awkward legs-in-stirrups setup. It gave physicians better visual and physical access, but made labor harder for the person giving birth. Go figure.

Modern Comfort and Technology Took the Wheel

Beds Became More “High-Tech”

Over time, birthing beds evolved. They now come with adjustable heights, movable backs, side rails, you name it. Some even have stirrups and built-in features for emergencies. Compared to a static birthing chair? Well, the chair just couldn’t keep up.

Pain Management Changed the Game

The rise of epidurals also played a role. When you get an epidural, you're typically confined to bed because of numbness in the lower body. So upright birthing positions, like those supported by chairs, became less practical. Another nail in the chair’s, um, wooden frame.

But Wait — Are Birthing Chairs Totally Gone?

Actually… They're Still Around (Sorta)

In some midwife-led birthing centers or in home births, birthing chairs are making a mini comeback. Not always in the traditional wooden form — sometimes they’re inflatable or look more like stools. The idea is the same though: upright position = better gravity = possibly shorter labor.

I remember my cousin in São Paulo (a total birth geek) telling me how she gave birth on a modern version of a birthing stool. She swore it was quicker and way less traumatic than her first hospital birth. Whoa.

Cultural and Regional Variations

Also, in many parts of the world — like parts of Africa and South America — more natural and upright birthing methods, including chairs, are still practiced and respected. So yeah, it really depends where you are.

So, Why Aren’t They Mainstream Again?

Honestly? It’s complicated.

There's inertia in the medical system. Hospitals are designed around efficiency, not necessarily what's most “natural.” Plus, not every OB-GYN is trained or comfortable with non-supine positions — especially in unpredictable deliveries. Oh, and insurance and legal protocols also push standardization.

That said, more people today are advocating for birthing freedom — choosing positions, midwives, and even, yup, bringing back the birthing chair in modern form.

Final Thoughts: Outdated or Underappreciated?

So, are birthing chairs “outdated”? Nah. More like… misunderstood. They were pushed aside during a wave of medical modernization but might just be due for a comeback, especially with renewed focus on empowering birth experiences.

Who knows — maybe you’ll see one in your local birthing center next time you're watching a baby come into the world. Or maybe not. Either way, at least now you know why they sorta vanished.

Wild, right?

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