Giving birth in Medieval times

1. Birth must have publicity.
Giving birth to a member of the royal family has been counted as a political day back in the days. People believed that the event could predict the monarchy's future, that's why many people have to attend. Is it a boy? The future King? People in the room were observing the baby's gender and checking it's health state. When Marie Antoinette gives birth in 1778 there's at least 200 witnesses.

2. The room was specially tailored for the event.
Roughly a month before the birth, the Queen had to accommodate to a new special room where she would stay before the big day. Despite the luxury of the palace, the procedure of giving a birth were very strict. The room had to be without any light, with closed windows and hanged images of religious scenes around all the place, all that to calm the future mother. It was believed that nothing should bother her because that would cause deformations in the child. The idea was to create a room like the mother's womb itself (darkened, warm and safe) so the Queen could give life to the future King in perfect comfort. Despite the weather outside, a fire was always burning inside. Only women were entering and they were whispering. Every day maids were putting herbs on the ground so that the woman would breath fresh and clean air.

3. It was believed that the painful birth is a punishment for the original sin.
The suffering and pain of the Queen during birth were considered as punishment for her original sins. Her agony was associated with Eve's fall in the Garden of Eden. They were often holding amulets during the toughest hours.

4. The Queens were often using strong painkillers.
The Queens were used to a high life standard and pain of the birth wasn't associated with comfort. Queen Victoria (who gave birth to 9 children) began a campaign to relieve pain of mothers. During the birth of her eighth child, Prince Leopold, Queen Victoria found a doctor who gave her chloroform to reduce pain which turned to do wonders! But finding a painkiller wasn't a simple task back in the time because it was believed that women should just go through the process without any helpon their own and experience the pain. Thankfully after Queen Victoria's campaign women started taking painkillers more often.

5. Assistants at birth had to make promise...
Until mid-17th century the whole birth process was in the hands of courtier ladies, close to the Queen women and already experienced ones. Even doctors weren't allowed (only if something serious happens). All the women had to be trustworthy and promise that they will not steal the placenta and umbilical cord because they could be used for black magic. This tradition ended when Prince Albert insisted to attend his wife's birth during mid-19th century.

6. Rituals performed during birth were determining the child's gender.
In the past people believed that female genital organs were just male organs turned inward. No wonder that the impact of rituals was real for people then. Mother was often told to eat specific food or lay more if the baby is to be a boy.

7. The Queen wasn't allowed to attend the baptism of her baby.
After the birth it was expected from the Queen not to show in public in the next 6 weeks. She simply wasn't allowed to attend the baptism of her baby because of her "filthy" condition. After the birth the Queen had to be blessed and cleansed by a priest before she can go back to her royal duties.

8. Pregnant women often didn't know they were with baby until 5th-6th month.
Giving birth in the Medieval was quite a risky process. Over 1/3 of the women were dying due to the less developed medicine which was based on superstitions and rituals. Many women back in the time weren't even aware they were expecting a child before the baby's first moves in the belly during 5th-6th month. Doctors were checking for pregnancy by making urine tests. In most cases the Queens were writing their will as soon as they were aware of their pregnancy because of the looming death threat.

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