--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even for healthy, low-risk women, the…" description: "\"“Even for healthy, low-risk women, the routine use of stirrups, restraining straps, shaving, episiotomies and forceps made the majority of births abusi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/gabrielle-palmer-891_abusive_even-for-healthy-low-risk-women-the-rout_238769.jpg" --- # Even for healthy, low-risk women, the routine use of… ![“Even for healthy, low-risk women, the routine use of stirrups, restraining straps, shaving, episiotomies and forceps made the majority of births abusive experiences.” quote by Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/gabrielle-palmer-891_abusive_even-for-healthy-low-risk-women-the-rout_238769.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/gabrielle-palmer-891_abusive_even-for-healthy-low-risk-women-the-rout_238769.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/gabrielle-palmer-891_abusive_even-for-healthy-low-risk-women-the-rout_238769.jpg) > ““Even for healthy, low-risk women, the routine use of stirrups, restraining straps, shaving, episiotomies and forceps made the majority of births abusive experiences.”” [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that routine obstetric interventions, even for low‑risk women, often turn childbirth into a painful, abusive experience. **In simple terms:** Routine interventions can make births abusive. Key Takeaway Reevaluate standard birth practices. Themes women's health medical ethics birth trauma Mood concerned hopeful Type advocacy critical When to use this quote - hospital births - midwifery - policy reform Key Concepts obstetrics patient autonomy Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives exist for low‑risk births? - How can patients advocate for less invasive care? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched medical habits is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abusive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abusive/) [Abusive Experiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abusive-experiences-2399485/) [Births Abusive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/births-abusive-2399484/) [Episiotomies Forceps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/episiotomies-forceps-2399487/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Risk Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk-women-2399486/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes I feel like my life is at risk. It doesn't matter if I'm famous or not. My life is as much at risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/sometimes-i-feel-like-my-life-is-at-risk-it-doesn-t-matter-if-i-m/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > [This new world was a vicious, sleek world made of street lights and tight jeans, sharp smiles and fast cars. 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If one of you had an affair or got addicted to drugs or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-good-is-talking-if-neither-of-you-are-really-committed-if-one-of/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“God, I was a mess when it came to Derrek. One part relief that I wasn’t still with him. One part embarrassment that I’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-higginson/god-i-was-a-mess-when-it-came-to-derrek-one-part-relief-that-i-wasn-t/) [Rachel Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-higginson/) ## More by Gabrielle Palmer > [“The BFHI was designed to protect and promote exclusive breastfeeding, but its provisions always included the acceptance of medically indicated replacement feeding. When this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/the-bfhi-was-designed-to-protect-and-promote-exclusive-breastfeeding/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Babies who do not sleep ‘through the night’ alone in a cot, as soon as possible after birth, are seen as a ‘problem’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/babies-who-do-not-sleep-through-the-night-alone-in-a-cot-as-soon-as/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“a midwife’s role was to work with nature, whereas a doctor was trained to seek out its defects and remedy them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/a-midwife-s-role-was-to-work-with-nature-whereas-a-doctor-was-trained/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“a product presented as ‘closest to mother’s milk’ might actually include potatoes, fungi and beans, depending on the price of course.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/a-product-presented-as-closest-to-mother-s-milk-might-actually/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“It is difficult to insist on breastfeeding because nurses and physicians are eager to have the infant show the greatest possible gain.”12”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/it-is-difficult-to-insist-on-breastfeeding-because-nurses-and/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“In some countries, pumping has become the default method of expression, and hand expression has become an afterthought. It would be safer if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/in-some-countries-pumping-has-become-the-default-method-of-expression/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“The parts of the brain which influence social and emotional relationships do not develop automatically but in response to the way a baby is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/the-parts-of-the-brain-which-influence-social-and-emotional/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Breastfeeding mothers, sleeping by their babies in three-sided cribs with the open side joined to the adult bed, respond quite differently from mothers whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/breastfeeding-mothers-sleeping-by-their-babies-in-three-sided-cribs/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“In the same way, breastfeeding is seen as a woman’s topic. Though women are often told whether or not they should do it, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/in-the-same-way-breastfeeding-is-seen-as-a-woman-s-topic-though-women/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“It seems likely that if you are told that your vagina is so ill-designed that it must be cut open to perform a normal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/it-seems-likely-that-if-you-are-told-that-your-vagina-is-so-ill/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Love facilitates a massive burst of connections in this part of the brain between six and 12 months. Neglect at this time can greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/love-facilitates-a-massive-burst-of-connections-in-this-part-of-the/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“It is now known that babies’ brains develop according to how much they are loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/it-is-now-known-that-babies-brains-develop-according-to-how-much-they/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Breastmilk is designed for rapid digestion and frequent feeding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/breastmilk-is-designed-for-rapid-digestion-and-frequent-feeding/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Breastmilk substitutes can be useful, life-saving products, just as artificial insulin can save the lives of diabetics, but no honest doctor could advocate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/breastmilk-substitutes-can-be-useful-life-saving-products-just-as/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“An exclusively breastfed child can die, just as an artificially fed child can survive, because of a range of risk factors, but this does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/an-exclusively-breastfed-child-can-die-just-as-an-artificially-fed/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) [Explore all 339 Gabrielle Palmer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) ## More Abusive quotes > [“God, I was a mess when it came to Derrek. 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It's institutions that keep us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/one-of-the-things-we-re-all-going-to-have-to-discover-establishment/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [“KINGDOM OF THE WOMB From her thighs, she gives you life And how you treat she who gives you life Shows how much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/kingdom-of-the-womb-from-her-thighs-she-gives-you-life-and-how-you/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [An abusive relationship? A cheating Ex Partner? Family who constantly disrespect you? Those are just a few examples of bridges that should rightly be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-abusive-relationship-a-cheating-ex-partner-family-who-constantly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have a temper, but I wouldn't call me abusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatum-o-neal/i-have-a-temper-but-i-wouldn-t-call-me-abusive/) [Tatum O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatum-o-neal/) > [I wouldn't mind being in an abusive relationship with you babes only if you would punch me with her tits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-wouldn-t-mind-being-in-an-abusive-relationship-with-you-babes-only/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“The woman knows from living with the abusive man that there are no simple answers. Friends say: “He’s mean.” But she knows many ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lundy-bancroft/the-woman-knows-from-living-with-the-abusive-man-that-there-are-no/) [Lundy Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lundy-bancroft/) > [I am asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of federal prosecutors and leading state attorneys general to expand our investigations into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-am-asking-my-attorney-general-to-create-a-special-unit-of-federal/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Intolerance has always been one of the cornerstones of Christianity - the glorious heritage of the Inquisition. It's no coincidence that most of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/intolerance-has-always-been-one-of-the-cornerstones-of-christianity/) [Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/) > [“Dr. Lois Jolyon West was cleared at Top Secret for his work on MKULTRA. West's numerous connections to the mind control network illustrate how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-a-ross/dr-lois-jolyon-west-was-cleared-at-top-secret-for-his-work-on-mkultra/) [Colin A. Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-a-ross/) > [My father was actually controlling and abusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vidya-vox/my-father-was-actually-controlling-and-abusive/) [Vidya Vox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vidya-vox/) > [With someone who is genuinely abusive or a bad person, you should just get out of town. But if they're being the best person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-hefner/with-someone-who-is-genuinely-abusive-or-a-bad-person-you-should-just/) [Christie Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-hefner/) > [This new world was a vicious, sleek world made of street lights and tight jeans, sharp smiles and fast cars. This was a city,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/this-new-world-was-a-vicious-sleek-world-made-of-street-lights-and/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Just start somewhere," Dr. Marshall had said to me as I ground a banana-pineapple one to bits between my teeth. "It doesn't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/just-start-somewhere-dr-marshall-had-said-to-me-as-i-ground-a-banana/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) [Browse all 311 Abusive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abusive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Even for healthy, low-risk women, the routine use of stirrups, restraining straps, shaving, episiotomies and forceps made the majority of births abusive experiences.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gabrielle Palmer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/even-for-healthy-low-risk-women-the-routine-use-of-stirrups/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abusive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/even-for-healthy-low-risk-women-the-routine-use-of-stirrups/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/gabrielle-palmer-891_abusive_even-for-healthy-low-risk-women-the-rout_238769.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/gabrielle-palmer-891_abusive_even-for-healthy-low-risk-women-the-rout_238769.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/gabrielle-palmer-891_abusive_even-for-healthy-low-risk-women-the-rout_238769.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Even for healthy, low-risk women, the routine use of stirrups, restraining straps, shaving, episiotomies and…” — Gabrielle Palmer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gabrielle Palmer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Even for healthy, low-risk women, the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/even-for-healthy-low-risk-women-the-routine-use-of-stirrups/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/even-for-healthy-low-risk-women-the-routine-use-of-stirrups/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```