This 1965 Invention Tried to Spin Babies Out of the Womb

In 1965, a man named George and Charlotte Blonsky received a patent for a strange invention. It was called the “Apparatus for Facilitating the Birth of a Child by Centrifugal Force.” The idea was simple but unusual: a pregnant woman would lie on a spinning table, and as the machine rotated, the force would help push the baby out. The baby would then land safely in a net.

This invention was meant to make childbirth easier for women. However, it never became popular, and no hospital ever used it. Even today, it remains one of the strangest ideas in medical history.

Why Was This Invention Created?

The inventors believed that childbirth was harder for modern women than for women in the past. According to their patent, women who lived in “primitive” societies had stronger muscles because they stayed active during pregnancy. In contrast, they claimed that women in modern, “civilized” societies did not have the same muscle strength.

The Blonskys thought that many modern women could not push effectively during labor. They believed that spinning on a table could replace the effort needed to push. They thought that the force from spinning would help babies be delivered faster and with less effort from the mother.

How Did the Spinning Birth Machine Work?

The design of the machine was quite unusual. Here’s how it worked:

1. The pregnant woman would be secured onto a large, round table.
2. The machine would start spinning, slowly at first, then faster.
3. As the table spun, centrifugal force (the same force that pushes you outward on a spinning amusement park ride) would help move the baby out of the birth canal.
4. A net was placed at the bottom to catch the baby safely.
5. Once the baby was delivered, the machine would automatically stop.

The inventors even thought about safety features. They included straps and supports to keep the mother in place and prevent her from flying off the machine. The net was also designed to be soft and elastic so that the baby wouldn’t get hurt.

Why Didn’t It Become Popular?

Although the idea was patented, it was never actually used in hospitals. There are several reasons why the spinning birth machine never became a real part of childbirth:

• It was not practical. Spinning a pregnant woman at high speed could cause dizziness, nausea, or even harm.
• Doctors already had safe childbirth methods. Medical science had advanced, and doctors used other techniques to assist with difficult births.
• Women didn’t want to use it. The idea of being strapped to a spinning table sounded uncomfortable and risky.
• No hospital wanted to try it. There was no medical proof that it was safe or more effective than natural childbirth.

What Do People Think About It Today?

Today, people mostly see this invention as a joke or a strange piece of history. Many find it funny that someone thought spinning women around would be a good way to deliver babies. However, the invention also shows how creative and unusual some medical ideas can be.

Even though the spinning birth machine never worked, it is still remembered as one of the weirdest medical patents ever filed. It reminds us that not all inventions, even those meant to help people, are practical or useful.

Final Thoughts

The Spinning Birth Machine was a strange idea that never became a reality. Although it was meant to help women give birth more easily, it was too unusual and impractical to be taken seriously. Today, it remains an interesting and bizarre part of medical history.

Would you ever try giving birth on a spinning table? Most people today would probably say no!