I wasn't going to get into the childbed fever/puerpal fever implication for neonatal death until clean communal (read: hospital) birthing environments could be achieved, but I'm so glad you did, Bec!
And I do know of OB's who are prepared to sit and support without doing anything...they are far and few between and all that I've heard of have been elderly, trained in bedside manner. It's not a new school trait, I"m afraid.
Anyway, I love the way MR put it