older methods vs new ones

So my grandparents are in town visiting & one day we started talking about all her children she had 13 but unfortunately 4 died leaving 9. they were very poor so all births were at home & not to mention normal births my dad was the only tricky one where a doctor had to come because apparently his head was so big, bigger than his body lol no meds no nothing. my best friend just had a baby and a few weeks before she was due the doctor already said she was going to have a C section. my mother, her mother said she needs to push it out naturally and try her best. how is it that the older generation took it on with no problem? I know there were probably many babies who didn't make it but I feel like docs now a days take the easy way instead of having the mother really fight for it. what do you guys think