Although childbirth remains a difficult, often stressful experience for mothers, the advent of opioid medications for labor pain relief and the use of appropriate sanitation methods has made childbirth far safer for mothers than was possible during previous periods in history.
Many of them weren't designed with their patients comfort in mind, and haven't changed in many years. Its definitely improving but not nearly as fast as it should.
That wiki entry literally says that it was designed to help during childbirth…
“for symphysiotomy and excision of diseased bone, respectively.”
Follow the link for symphysiotomy and it says “Symphysiotomy is a surgical procedure in which the cartilage of the pubic symphysis is divided to widen the pelvis allowing childbirth when there is a mechanical problem (obstructed labour).”
Yeah, this a common misconception (no pun intended?). The average life expectance was 40 because so many children died during childhood. If you lived to 20, you likely lived til you were 70.