Childbirth In The Renaissance

“It’s a boy,” an ordinary saying and often welcomed during the fifteen hundreds. Throughout the sixteenth century, many women tried to conceive children. Having a healthy, newborn child was often encouraged by other males, midwives, and maids. Many people possessed their own reasons of having children. The same people would take into consideration the risks of conceiving a child too. Having a child was of high importance, but not safe. Throughout the Renaissance unsanitary and unprofessional childbirth became extremely common. Though, often midwives have been by the women’s side delivering the newborn. Throughout the Middle Ages, Europe was known as a “birth-positive” continent. Meaning people valued having children more than the, soon to …show more content…
Men typically, were not wanted or allowed in the room the birth was held in. Midwives and maids were counted on and expected to have a great deal of knowledge on delivering a child. Often, they had a great deal of experience in delivering newborns and being by the mother side. Women, generally, did not write down their experience of childbirth because of how painful the process became. The woman’s limbs would be so weak after giving birth that she would not be allowed to go outside if it was windy or cold. She would have to wait until her arms and legs were back to full strength. After giving birth, the mother would have a resting period. This time would last up days, to the point where the mother wouldn't attend their child’s …show more content…
When tearing did occur, midwives would stitch up using non-sterol tools. Other frequent complications, such as, prolapsed uterus, hemorrhaging, and breached babies occurred. Midwives would have to think on there feet and try to find a remedy for these problems. Herbs were go to remedies during this time period and if they did not work, the child or mother could pass. Throughout the Renaissance, women were having child after child. Many women died because of the difficulties of childbirth. To reassure pregnant woman facing these risks, family and friends would come to celebrate before and bring gifts to the soon-to-be mother. Many people around this time period, were in a rush to have a large children, they wouldn't consider or care about the dangers. The delivery itself was handled to the best of the midwifes abilities, given the circumstances, but still extremely unsanitary and life