In our gnarliest episode yet, Kate teaches Larkin the unfortunate history of the chainsaw. You’ll learn about human evolution, the religious makeup of Ireland, and a fly-by-night surgical procedure performed by a professional cow castrator. Hold on to your people parts, because this one gets graphic. 

TW: Medical trauma, childbirth trauma, abortion trauma

Helpful links:

How to connect Patreon to other podcasting apps: https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005429546-Which-podcast-apps-will-my-custom-audio-RSS-link-work-with

Read the full account of the first recorded C-Section in the United States here.

References (Current as of 4/9/2025):

https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/fun-fact-unfortunately-chainsaws-were-invented-for-childbirth

https://www.iflscience.com/we-regret-to-inform-you-that-chainsaws-were-originally-invented-for-childbirth-58685

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/husband-stitch-is-not-just-myth

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23025-pubic-symphysis

https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(22)00733-5/fulltext

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39581635/

https://www.commonwealthfund.org/press-release/2018/us-women-more-likely-die-pregnancy-and-childbirth-and-skip-care-because-cost

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-cesarean/c-section-complication-risk-rises-with-mothers-age-idUSKCN1RN2SN/

https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2024/jun/insights-us-maternal-mortality-crisis-international-comparison

https://sph.tulane.edu/study-finds-higher-maternal-mortality-rates-states-more-abortion-restrictions

https://www.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/research/findings/nhqrdr/2023-NHQDR-appendixes-ACDE.pdf

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/women-and-pain-disparities-in-experience-and-treatment-2017100912562

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/cesarean/part1.html#:~:text=Perhaps%20the%20first%20written%20record,unable%20to%20deliver%20her%20baby. 

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1258/jmb.2009.009019

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epdf/10.1177/003693300404900218

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigli_saw (Tsk, tsk)

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/cesarean/part3.html

https://www.cnn.com/2015/01/30/europe/ireland-symphysiotomy/index.html

https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2023/06/01/irish-catholic-census-religion-decrease-245404

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2022/11/22/church-ethos-and-role-in-healthcare-or-education-can-no-longer-be-funded-by-state/#:~:text=Twelve%20of%20Ireland's%2018%20private,conglomerate%2C%20Bon%20Secours%20Mercy%20Health. 

https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/column-symphysiotomy-was-seen-as-a-gateway-to-childbearing-without-limits-401570-Apr2012/

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/dec/12/symphysiotomy-irelands-brutal-alternative-to-caesareans

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