<P> Many midwives of the time bitterly opposed the involvement of men in childbirth . Some male practitioners also opposed the involvement of medical men like themselves in midwifery and even went as far as to say that male - midwives only undertook midwifery solely for perverse erotic satisfaction . The accoucheurs argued that their involvement in midwifery was to improve the process of childbirth . These men also believed that obstetrics would forge ahead and continue to strengthen . </P> <P> 18th century physicians expected that obstetrics would continue to grow, but the opposite happened . Obstetrics entered a stage of stagnation in the 19th century, which lasted until about the 1880s . The central explanation for the lack of advancement during this time was the rejection of obstetrics by the medical community . The 19th century marked an era of medical reform in Europe and increased regulation over the profession . Major European institutions such as The College of Physicians and Surgeons considered delivering babies ungentlemanly work and refused to have anything to do with childbirth as a whole . Even when Medical Act 1858 was introduced, which stated that medical students could qualify as doctors, midwifery was entirely ignored . This made it nearly impossible to pursue an education in midwifery and also have the recognition of being a doctor or surgeon . Obstetrics was pushed to the side . </P> <P> By the late 19th century, the foundation of modern - day obstetrics and midwifery began developing . Delivery of babies by doctors became popular and readily accepted, but midwives continued to play a role in childbirth . Midwifery also changed during this era due to increased regulation and the eventual need for midwives to become certified . Many European countries by the late 19th century were monitoring the training of midwives and issued certification based on competency . Midwives were no longer uneducated in the formal sense . </P> <P> As midwifery began to develop, so did the profession of obstetrics near the end of the century . Childbirth was no longer unjustifiably despised by the medical community as it once had been at the beginning of the century . But obstetrics was underdeveloped compared to other medical specialites . Many male physicians would deliver children but very few would have referred to themselves as obstetricians . The end of the 19th century did mark a significant accomplishment in the profession with the advancements in asepsis and anaesthesia, which paved the way for the mainstream introduction and later success of the Caesarean Section . </P>

When did the field of obstetrics first emerge in the field of medicine