Talk:Lithotomy position

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[edit] Louis XIV

From the article on the French king:

Louis XIV had a long-lasting impact on childbirth, instigating years of belief that women should give birth lying on a table with their legs in stirrups. This came about after he commanded the construction of a viewing table so that he could have a better view of the birth of one of his mistress's children. When word got around of the king's decision, "lesser mortals" quickly copied the practice, and saw it as the preferred position for many years.

From this article:

It became 'popular' as a position for labour, after the French King Louis XIV, insisted that his wife give birth in such a position so he could have a good view of the birth.

Using Google, I am unable to find anything approximating a reliable source for it. A footnote here prefaces it with "According to legend...". I'm inclined to remove it. (If someone would prefer to have it reinserted, but marked as a legend with appropriate references, I'd have no objections.)

jdb ❋ (talk) 3 July 2005 21:52 (UTC)

[edit] removed

"Few birth centres or labour wards in Western countries use the lithotomy postion for active labour." Should that be eastern or western european or maybe until recently???--Gbleem 06:46, 28 November 2005 (UTC)