Episode 3. Chainsaws

Now It's Ruined

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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