The role of the midwife once celebrated and deeply respected, declined as birth moved into the hospital in the early 20th century in the United States and other places. Doctors began to attend almost all of the births and the experience and wisdom of the midwife was belittled and disrespected, made illegal in many states, and offered up as an example of inferior care. Instituted regulations made it nearly impossible for Black and indigenous midwives to practice in their own communities and the number of midwives available to support birthing families declined drastically throughout most of the 1900s.