“Absolute Necessity”: The Discovery of the Fetal Heartbeat with the Stethoscope, and Its Impact on Obstetric Practice in Dublin and Edinburgh, 1820–1840

Many people now take knowledge of the fetal heartbeat for granted. Despite this, it wasn’t until 1818, following the invention of the stethoscope and popularization of the technique of auscultation, that the fetal heartbeat was first discovered. Listening to the fetal heartbeat enabled practitioners to confirm the existence of pregnancy, gain information on the internal positions of the fetus and the placenta, and determine the life or death of the fetus in utero. Additionally, signs from the stethoscope provided guidance for practitioners when dealing with long or difficult labors. This article examines the work and writings of the early key players in this story, emphasizing the impact of enthusiastic stethoscope advocacy on Irish obstetric practitioners’ uptake of the instrument and how the changes in practice that stemmed from these changes went on to impact practitioners in Scotland.