Childbirth in the Olden Times: As Horrible As People Say?

The modern era of technology has brought on more sophisticated medical facilities to

address different and complicated medical conditions and concerns. It’s not surprising

then that, when people hear about childbirth in the Middle Ages, Renaissance, or they

think of horrific and life-threatening experiences. The truth, however, is far from that

grim description.

Midwives and Physicians

During the first few years of Renaissance, many women had died in childbirth. Most of

these mothers died of puerperal fever, also known as “the doctor’s plague”. These

doctors had also worked in the morgue and did not wash their hands when they went

from patient to patient in the maternity ward. It wasn’t until Florence Nightingale’s

adamant campaign for cleaner medical wards that the doctors were forced to start

observing hygienic methods like washing their hands.

Around this time, midwives were often suspected of witchcraft; therefore, they were

banned from delivering babies. In the outer villages, however, some women who still

gave birth through the help of trained midwives were spared from the puerperal fever.

Midwives had a very huge impact on the birthing process. Midwives came from different

socio-economic backgrounds, but they were all entrusted with helping pregnant women

give birth safely. Their experience and presence made expecting mothers more

comfortable and confident in giving birth.

Childbirth without Fear

While many women were content to give birth in their own homes, without medical

intervention, the use of anesthesia spread around Europe and expecting mothers

jumped on the wagon of pain-less childbirth, which, in this case, meant not experiencing

the pain and the labour entirely.

Around the 1920s, a doctor who specialized in childbirth published a book on natural

birthing. His work was ridiculed and he was fired from the clinic he was working in. He

built his own facility and published his second book, Revelation of Childbirth, which was

later re-titled Childbirth without Fear. It became a bestseller and its author, Dr. Grantly

Dick-Read, became the forerunner for natural birth.

A woman in labour had declined the chloroform Dick-Read had offered her, saying that

her labour was not hurting her, simply because she wasn’t expecting it to be painful.

This inspired Dick-Read to study how fear of pain produced real pain, and how birth

through natural means can empower women and their family to feel more in-control of

their birthing process.

No one can downplay the potential danger of childbirth, but media and other depictions

have made birthing seem like a horrid experience instead of a process that can actually

be mindfully and pleasantly experienced. Just like their medieval counterparts, today’s

trained midwife can make your childbirth safe and natural. They give support and

knowledge, but also allow you control over your birth.

Stay tuned to our blog for more information about how you can have a great and natural

birth!