Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society Could You Survive Medieval Childbirth?
Jun 3, 2025
Eleanor Janega, co-host of the Gone Medieval podcast and expert in medieval history, dives deep into the daunting realities of childbirth in the Middle Ages. She reveals the crucial roles midwives played and the stark differences between the experiences of wealthy and peasant women. Janega also discusses the shifting societal views on pregnancy and abortion, as well as how traditional midwifery transitioned to a male-dominated medical system. Listen to her captivating insights on the communal nature of births and the resilience of mothers during this perilous time.
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Home Birth Benefits
- Give birth at home in a calm, familiar setting to reduce stress and labor duration.
- Expect mostly women to attend your birth, including midwives and family members, with physician involvement only in emergencies.
Eleanor's Family Birth Hardships
- Eleanor shares her family's difficult childbirths with serious complications.
- Without modern medicine, her mother likely would not have survived these births.
Brutal Reality of Birth
- Medieval people viewed childbirth as dangerous and horrific, unlike modern downplaying.
- They were blunt about symptoms and dangers, seeing birth as a visceral, physically raw process.