When we imagine royalty, we often picture them
living a life of luxury, enjoying the many privileges and influences
that come with divine power.
But in the past, before monarchies became largely symbolic,
the birth of a new royal heir carried significant political consequences.
In those days, royal births were shrouded in ancient superstitions,
steeped in endless tradition, and tinged with fear.
And the queen’s privacy was often sacrificed
for the sake of the public interest.
Being a king was great, but being a queen was sometimes challenging.
So join me now as I explore some eye-opening details
about what it was like for royal mothers to give birth.
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Throughout history, the birth of a royal heir was a matter of great importance,
surrounded by complex rituals and traditions.
It wasn’t just about welcoming a new life into the world - it was also about
securing the monarchy’s future and ensuring a smooth transition of power.
The situation was intense as there was a lot at risk and considerable pressure.
For royal mothers, giving
birth was not just a private event but a public spectacle.
People from all walks of life would gather to witness
the birth of the next monarch,
and every detail of the process was meticulously documented.
Nothing was left to chance, from the queen’s
diet to the colour of the linens.
Despite the best efforts of the royal physicians,
childbirth was a dangerous and unpredictable event.
Royal mothers faced the same risks as any other woman,
but with the added pressure of carrying the monarchy’s future.
It was a time of great joy, but also great anxiety.
So, the next time you find yourself daydreaming about the glamorous life
of a royal, remember the incredible sacrifices and risks
that came with the role - especially when it came time to welcome
a new heir into the world.
A royal birth was much more than just a personal milestone
for the family; it was a significant political event
that had far-reaching implications for the nation’s future.
The sex and health of the newborn could signal the success
or failure of the monarchy, and the event was of great public interest.
Due to this public interest, the birth was not a private affair,
and the queen often gave birth in front of a large audience.
The spectators included doctors, midwives, and various other court officials.
It was done to confirm the sex and health of the baby and to prevent
any foul play. Marie Antoinette, the French princess, had around
200 people gathered in her bedchamber to witness the birth of her child.
The moment of royal birth was considered so crucial that the obstetrician would
shout, “The queen is going to give birth!”
At this point, hundreds of people would rush into the darkened room.
This rush was so extreme that onlookers would scramble up on furniture
to get a better view, causing the room to become unbearably hot.
It is said that Marie Antoinette fainted from the heat during one of her births.
Despite the risks, royal mothers faced the event with grace and courage,
and their stories continue to captivate us to this day.
Today, the birth of a child is usually seen
as a joyous occasion, but this wasn’t always the case.
Throughout history, the Christian faith held that childbirth was inevitable,
as the Bible states that God told women that they would experience pain
during childbirth due to the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.
In some devout Christian cultures, the pain of labour
and delivery was seen as a natural part of a woman’s experience
and was even associated with original sin.
Because of this, religious belief prevented painkillers,
even for royal women, were not encouraged.
Instead, queens often clutched holy relics and amulets during labour
and sometimes tucked prayer rolls into their nightclothes.
The church approved these practices,
as they were seen as relying on God’s protection.
However, it’s interesting to note that painkillers were not unknown
in this period.
Nonetheless, the church’s disapproval of painkillers
meant that these remedies were not widely available or
commonly used.
However, things started to change in the early 1800s
when Queen Victoria of England advocated for pain relief during childbirth.
Victoria gave birth to nine children, and for the delivery of her eighth child,
she arranged to have a doctor administer chloroform to deaden the pain.
Queen Victoria was so happy with the results that she exclaimed, “Oh,
that blessed chloroform, soothing and delightful beyond measure!”
Soon, many royal women began politely
requesting a type of anaesthesia, during labour.
This shift in thinking allowed royal women to avoid a lot of unnecessary pain
and paved the way for new medical approaches.
The use of pain relief during childbirth became more widely accepted,
and the medical profession began to explore new and more advanced methods
It’s hard to imagine a time when women were expected to endure
the excruciating pain without any relief.
But thanks to Queen Victoria’s campaign, royal women could access the pain relief
they needed, and the door was opened for further advances
in obstetrics and gynaecology.
In the past, royal births
were shrouded in secrecy, with only women allowed to attend.
The midwives, nurses, and ladies in-waiting who assisted the royal
mother were highly trusted and were known as God’s siblings.
They were responsible for everything related to the birth, and their experience
was relied upon to evaluate the health and progress
of the mother and baby.
Doctors were rarely involved
and only called in if the situation became dire.
The midwives were the experts and had to be knowledgeable and trustworthy.
They had to take an oath not to keep anything from birth, such as
the placenta or the umbilical cord, to avoid their use in witchcraft.
The matriarchal dominance of royal births continued until Prince Albert,
the husband of Queen Victoria, insisted on attending the birth of their child.
It was a significant departure from tradition
and was highly controversial at the time.
However, Victoria was grateful for the support
and wrote that there could be no kinder, wiser, or more reasonable nurse.
Prince Albert’s involvement
in the birth of his child marked a shift in royal birth practices.
Soon, men were allowed to attend and provide support during labour
and delivery, and medical professionals became
more involved.
It’s fascinating to learn about the beliefs and understanding
of the female reproductive system during the medieval period.
One interesting and quite bizarre concept was that a woman’s
genitalia was essentially a male reproductive system turned inside out.
This idea originated from the Roman physician Galen,
who believed that the uterus and ovaries were inversions of the male organs.
Furthermore, medieval beliefs about what determined
a baby’s gender were entirely misguided.
For instance, people believed that the mother was solely responsible
for the child’s gender, even though we now know that this is clearly not the case.
Additionally, there was a range of potions and diets that people thought
could influence the gender of the unborn child, as you can imagine
these ideas were not based on scientific evidence.
In the days following the birth of a royal baby,
both the mother and child were subject to several customs and traditions.
The mother was confined to her bed-chamber for around a month and
was only allowed to leave after she had been purified
and blessed by a priest in a ceremony known as “churching.”
During this period of confinement, the mother was aided in her recovery
by a special girdle designed to offer her extra support and alleviate the pain.
This garment was often hemmed in silver thread and could also be imbued
with God’s blessing, making it known as a holy girdle
or a virgin’s girdle.
Royal mothers believed that wearing such a garment
would help ensure their child’s safe and healthy birth.
This belief dated back to the early 16th century
and was mentioned in various historical texts.
For example, when Henry III’s pregnant queen
Eleanor was about to give birth to her fourth child,
she wore a holy girdle to ensure her son’s successful delivery.
While the mother was in confinement, the baby was celebrated
and instantly received by the public with a christening.
However, the mother was not allowed to attend this event.
Instead, the new mother had to remain secluded in her bed-chamber
until she was churched, allowing her to return to her royal duties.
In 1365, the fresco “The Birth of the Virgin”
depicted a new mother attended by her ladies, who were washing her new baby
while the special girdle was handed to another woman for cleaning.
These traditions and customs have since evolved,
but they offer a fascinating glimpse into the historical and cultural practices
surrounding childbirth among royalty.
Yet apart from the misguided prophecies pregnancy and childbirth in medieval
times were fraught
with uncertainty and danger, with high risks for both mother and child.
In the Middle Ages, giving birth was risky,
and women of all classes faced the risk of complications or even death.
Although we don’t have accurate medical records,
it’s estimated that a medieval woman who had children
met a one in 20 chance of dying in childbirth over her lifetime.
It is still a significant risk compared to today,
where a woman in the European Union with comparable deliveries
has a lifetime risk of less than 1 in 4,000.
In the absence of modern technology, women in medieval times
relied on doctors to determine whether they were pregnant.
One method was to examine their urine, which, if pale yellow to white
with a cloudy surface, was believed to indicate pregnancy.
Other methods included examining a needle left in the urine to see if it rusted.
Pregnancy was often not confirmed until the woman felt
the first flutters of movement at around five months.
It marked the halfway point,
but the mother could still not be
entirely sure of her condition or when the child would be born.
In short, the process of pregnancy and childbirth
in medieval times was a mystery and a risky endeavour,
but one that was essential for the continuation of the royal line.
The risk of losing both mother
and baby was the most significant concern surrounding royal births.
Many queens, like Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn,
faced the heartbreak of losing pregnancies and infants.
Despite the dangers, giving birth was essential for the monarchy’s survival.
In fact, in 1533, when Queen Elizabeth I was born,
all royal women were encouraged to write their wills
During the Renaissance,
pregnant royal women were typically given a unique item known as a birth tray.
These decorative pieces were adorned with scenes of biblical births
and were presented to women around the time they were due to give birth.
They were filled with jars of nourishing foods.
Once the food was consumed, the tray would be hung on the wall
as decoration, becoming a keepsake for the royal family.
Pregnant royals often received communion regularly to increase their chances
of a successful birth and ask for God’s guidance regarding their condition.
Despite these precautions, the risks associated with childbirth
were still very high.
It’s hard to
imagine the experience of giving birth in the Middle Ages, where mothers’
risk of complications or even death was high, regardless of social status.
Giving birth in front of an audience might be uncomfortable
for many modern women, as it is a very personal and intimate experience.
However, it was the norm for royalty at the time, as it was seen as a way
to confirm the child’s legitimacy and ensure the monarchy’s survival.
Modern medical facilities have greatly improved maternal and infant
mortality rates, making childbirth a much safer experience.
Most modern women can give birth privately with a medical team to support them.
It is also possible to use pain relief options
and have access to medical interventions if necessary.
While we may appreciate the advances in medical care and technology,
it is essential to remember the historical significance of childbirth,
particularly for royal women.
The birth of a royal child was an important event
that could determine the future of a kingdom or dynasty.
It’s interesting to learn about the traditions
and customs surrounding childbirth in different periods and cultures,
even if they seem foreign or uncomfortable
to us today.
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