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“We Feel Your Pain” …..actually…..no we don’t

Weird Fact #10

Those wonderful, caring MEN on the OB/GYN governing boards decided that since Eve took a bite of that apple, ALL women should have to suffer during childbirth, even after anesthetics for labour were discovered during the 1900’s.  Wasn’t that considerate of them!

We are blessed to live in a country with modern medicine

Flicker: Liz Castro

Weird Fact #8  Women made out will when they found out they were pregnant.

A sad fact that when women throughout history found out they were expecting a child they knew the cost could be their own lives and would make out their wills immediately

WASH YOUR HANDS…..mom said so

Flicker: Mathew Wilson

Although hard to imagine up until the 20th century doctors wouldn’t wash their hands between patients or procedures – welcoming baby right along with all the other patients of the day.

Let them eat cake

Flicker: Mark Rabo

Weird Fact #6  They Baked Cakes During Labour

According to author Amy McKay in The Birth House, rural women practiced the ancient tradition of baking a cake during labour aptly called a “groaning cake”.  Hopefully someone served her the cake with a nice cup of tea after baby was born.

Relax your breathing and say “I do.”

 

Flicker: Paul Stewart

Weird Fact #5  They got married while giving birth

Better late than never – in one South African tribe women are only married while giving birth.

Hail, hail, the gangs all here!!!

Flicker: Carol

 

Weird Fact # 4  They Gave Birth Publicly

In past history, royal births had to be done publicly….no not on the lawn of Buckingham Palace, but with enough witnesses to make sure no one, inadvertently or otherwise,  switched the baby.  How is that for keeping your royal dignity!

“In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is freedom. In water there is bacteria.” Benjamin Franklin

Weird Fact # 3: They drank alcohol during labour.

Although to us this sounds a little crazy (except my one friend who took a small bottle into the hospital with her), we have to remember that alcohol was consumed much more than water years ago.

(Make sure to seek advise on drinking during pregnancy from your midwife or OB)

Why is this considered a weird fact?

Flicker: Rahook2000

 

Number 2:  They Birthed on a Stool

Why this is considered a weird thing is beyond me.  I think its great to see that birthing stools were used so many years ago by the Egyptians and are still used today.  Having been at a number of births where moms gave birth on a stool I can see why they are still around!

                                                                       

WELL THAT SOUNDS RELAXING !?!

Flicker:Jhopgood

 

10 Amazing (and Weird) Facts about Childbirth Through History

Flicker:TonyFoster

 Number 1…….They gave birth on bricks

During Bible times women in labour stood on 2 bricks (oddly enough named “Birthing Bricks”) in order to give the midwife or assistant a little bit of extra room to catch the newborn….doesn’t that sound like a great way to give birth after perhaps hours of labour—balancing on 2 bricks!