Abstract
Objective: To carry out a review of the impact of clinical and medicalized childbirth on women's lives, as well as the importance of adequate information during prepartum to avoid obstetric violence. Bibliographic review: Until the end of the 18th century, births were performed by midwives, however, with the implementation of medical schools, there was a change in this scenario, becoming highly medicalized and with routine procedures, which gave rise to obstetric violence. A series of violations of women's rights and loss of autonomy led the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Unified Health System (SUS) to create health policies and programs aimed at humanized practices, as well as laws that guarantee the desire of the parturient, aiming to reduce the procedures. Cesarean sections, episiotomy, Kristeller's maneuver and the use of oxytocin are some of them, which need to be discussed during pre, intra and postpartum, as they create fear and insecurity in the family, due to the history marked by violence and dehumanization. Final considerations: Therefore, the active participation of health professionals combined with humanized care are essential to reduce the alarming numbers of obstetric violence, and consequently, reduce the sequelae that are caused in the reproductive and sexual life of women.