When Marie Antoinette of France gave birth in 1778, 200 people came into her room to witness the event.
What was pregnancy and childbirth like for European women before the modern era?
(Article by Matthew P. Vanderburgh)
Perhaps the most surprising moment is that most people have witnessed the birth of a royal baby.
But before I go there, maybe I'll explain that the process of giving birth and giving birth to noble women is no less risky than that of ordinary women.
In the Middle Ages, knowledge of hygiene lagged far behind today. Even the wealthiest queen had to give birth in such unsanitary conditions that it posed serious health risks to mother and child. Alcohol may be given to the mother (which she sometimes refuses, discussed below) to relieve the pain of frequent infections of the reproductive organs that lead to the death of the mother and sometimes the child.
Birth is considered a dangerous event, mothers are expected to write their will. The greatest fear at the birth of a royal is the death of the Queen or (even worse) her child. Catherine of Aragon
(Empress Henry VIII) Only one child survived to adulthood. Anne Boleyn
(and Empress Henry VIII) had two miscarriages. Princess Charlotte of Wales
(King George IV's only child) Died aged 21 after birth.
Children of Catherine of Aragon.
The next point is that the pains of childbirth were considered a punishment for sin, especially in Christian royalty (whether Catholic or Protestant). Women's suffering was considered natural (Genesis 3:16), and could not be denied. Eve's fall into sin and suffering in the Garden of Eden are closely related. This is the main reason why painkillers are disliked even by the nobles. As a result, queens often clutched Bibles during childbirth, even small prayer scrolls tucked into the folds of their dresses. The Church approves such practices because they seek God's protection and are likely to help a mother through the most difficult times.
In 1853, Queen Victoria felt she had had enough of the labor pains she had experienced so far. He asked his doctor for pain relief. Naturally, it was her 8th delivery. And she used it in her 9th (last) delivery too.
A nobleman's birth is no ordinary day. It was a major political event in the nation and people talked about it, considering that the birth of a future king could see the success or failure of a monarchy from its inception.
.
If the baby is a boy, the baby "belongs" to the humans rather than the queen/mother. There will be many in the palace who focus on her gender, or whether there is a flaw in her body.
When Marie Antoinette of France gave birth in 1778, there were 200 people in her room to witness the event.
The moment of birth is so important that the obstetrician says, "The queen is about to give birth!" - Then people go to the delivery room. The king ordered a large screen to be fixed with strong ropes so that the queen's bed could not be pulled down by the crowd. Marie Antoinette fainted from the heat as the audience scrambled to get a closer look at the birth of a king.
#blurt #blurtstory #geekpranee #spectators #king #srilanka #closer #birth
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