Studying the materials of antiquity concerning childbirth, one can wonder what measures were taken to facilitate the process of giving birth to a child. They seem quite wild and strange, but sometimes the recommendations of midwives were the best solution to reduce the risks to mother and child.
For their time, when there was no advanced medicine, the advice of midwives became a salvation for many. During the period when childbirth was associated with the likelihood of dying or not giving birth at all, a variety of techniques were developed to help women in labor during childbirth.
Childbirth in the dark or bath. In the history of many peoples, it is mentioned that during childbirth, a woman had to be in complete darkness. This made it possible to protect her and the child from evil spirits. Where there were baths, it was often recommended to give birth in such a room. In Russia, the birth of a child in a bathhouse was due to the fact that the woman in labor was considered unclean, so she had to give birth in an unclean place. This approach was also used by the Aztecs.
As for the darkness, many today do not understand why it was in the dark that a woman had to give birth to a child? It would be much easier and more convenient for the midwife to help her in normal lighting, when the person is in bed. But according to the opinions of modern doctors, the supine position is not the most successful for a woman at the time of the birth of a child.
Simplifies the process of a half-sitting position when there are pillows under the back. At the same time, the legs should be tightened and bent. It is also believed that it is easier to give birth squatting in the frog position, which is much easier for the birth of a child. For a midwife, such a position of a woman in labor also did not allow much control over the exit of the child. Therefore, the lighting did not really play a role, since these positions do not require comfort, then the place for birth did not necessarily have to provide for soft featherbeds. In this case, a bathhouse and any other room may be suitable.
The advantage of giving birth in a bath is the ability to maintain the temperature, which makes it possible to provide softness and elasticity to the tissues of the woman in labor. In addition, in such a room, you can immediately wash the child and woman from blood and other contaminants. At high temperatures, bacteria die, so childbirth here was safer.
In ancient times, it was quite difficult to provide more comfortable and optimal conditions for the birth of children. In addition, in the bath, a woman could rest after heavy exertion, since the room was as warm as possible. Where there was no bath, women often gave birth in a dark room, this is attributed to various factors and aspects. Some argue that a dark place was considered more secluded for a woman in labor. That is, childbirth did not involve the gathering of people around it. In small small communities, this was quite relevant.
In addition, childbirth is quite stressful for a woman. Bright light can get in the way, prevent you from focusing on the recommendations of the midwives. There were also beliefs in spirits, which provided for the need to protect the newborn and the woman from their influences. Therefore, often, childbirth took place in a secluded place in the dark.
Prayers during childbirth In the homes of some Egyptians in ancient times there were special rooms where a woman could give birth to children. Those who did not have such a room went to give birth to the building at the church, where they were helped by midwives. During childbirth, they not only provided comfort for the women in labor, gave advice, but also prayed, performed choral singing, and lit incense.
Of course, you might think that such activities could distract the woman during childbirth. Not everyone is comfortable reading prayers at this moment, but sacred songs were sung even where it was not possible to light incense. This was the most important aspect accompanying the process of childbirth.
But at the same time, incense was needed not only as a ritual attribute, they scared away insects, which, in the conditions of hot countries, annoyed the inhabitants quite strongly. They also allowed the woman in labor to be drugged, which worked as a pain reliever. The semblance of a trance was also envisaged during collective prayers and chants. All this helped to relieve the childbirth process a little.
Incense such as incense made women feel dizzy, and reading prayers and singing ritual songs distracted them from pain. Some peoples used herbal decoctions for pain relief, which made the childbirth process less stressful for a person. But in Europe, this practice stopped when there was a struggle between doctors and midwives. Then many midwives were ranked among witches, accused of witchcraft, so decoctions of herbs were not prepared, since they could be counted as potions. So it was quite difficult for European women to give birth, since the events took place without anesthesia.
Rest period for a woman in labor. In the Middle Ages, women from the nobility relied on already existing recommendations, according to which a month before and a month after a woman in labor should lie in a dark, unventilated room, where other women were to read psalms and the Bible.
This approach has been used almost everywhere, allowing women in labor to prepare for childbirth and rest after the events. Singing psalms was needed not only to drive away evil spirits, but also to pray for a woman and a child. As for the stuffy room, where it was necessary to stay for two months, the halls were often quite spacious, but there was still a draft on the floor. In addition, finding other women with a woman in childbirth provided protection from the encroachments of men, the privacy of a woman in labor with a child.
Unfortunately, even women from the nobility were often attacked by men who did not think about their safety, comfort and lack of desire for amorous pleasures. Violence took place in the face of husbands over their wives. At that time, women did not have special rights, therefore, few people thought about their interests. In addition, in palaces, wine was often the main drink, which men drank throughout the day. Surrounded by other women, the woman in labor was relatively safe from male attacks.
Of course, the conditions in a closed room for two months were not the best. But I must say that in the medieval cities of that time there was a fairly polluted air, and in general, unsanitary conditions. Insects and flies flew into the premises from the streets, which sat on food, so the presence of the woman in labor in a closed room made it possible to protect her and the child from bacteria.
Doctors of the time worked on the principle of lesser evil, using tools that could make the process of childbirth safer at least to some extent. Of course, in a closed room, a woman in labor could not, for example, embroider. She needed to rest all the time, but singing the Psalter, reading the Bible was quite an interesting pastime that could be offered to a woman in the process of childbirth.
The rest period after childbirth was no less significant. By the time the baby is born, the tissues are sufficiently softened, which ensures the process of the baby's exit. In the palaces of that time, it was customary to wear tight corsets, which, immediately after childbirth, could deform bones, displace organs. Therefore, the most important requirement for a woman who recently gave birth was a month's rest in order to restore tissues.
Childbirth at different times was taken quite seriously. Often the process was accompanied by specially trained midwives. But, and sometimes women in labor were left alone or surrounded by doctors. The ancient measures during childbirth were not only ritual related to beliefs, they were also methods to ensure the most comfortable, safe conditions for the birth of a child, which made it possible to save the life of a woman in labor and a newborn.
At different times, various methods were used, recommendations for childbirth, which were formed through culture, religion, medical achievements. All this contributed to the provision of assistance to a woman at the birth of children, minimization of risks during childbirth. With the development of medicine, more modern tools and advice were formed for the preparation and conduct of childbirth activities. Painkillers appeared, comfortable rooms for the birth of children were equipped, professional obstetricians and doctors were trained to help women in labor.
