Despite the fact that modern women know almost everything about conception, the development of a child in the womb and childbirth, this remains something akin to a sacrament, something incomprehensible and sacred.
The purpose of a woman at the beginning of the last century was to create comfort in the house, have children and take care of them and her husband. And if modern women in labor are under the constant supervision of qualified specialists, gynecologists and obstetricians, then their great-grandmothers had no idea that pregnancy and childbirth needed control or the presence of a doctor. The family, as a rule, was large, especially among peasants and workers, childbirth was a natural process and took place, at best, in the presence of a so-called midwife. Most often, midwives were widowed women who were forced to somehow feed their children, and being unable to do anything else, they helped the women in labor. All the rules related to the course of pregnancy and childbirth related more to superstitions, but not to medicine, and the conditions in which they gave birth before the revolution had practically nothing to do with modern ones.
Rules of conduct for a pregnant woman at the beginning of the 20th century
Pregnancy was considered a blessing given from above, and a woman had to behave accordingly, that is, not commit unseemly acts, so as not to cause God's wrath against the child and herself. According to signs, sin, work on holidays, or handicrafts could lead to the child getting entangled in the umbilical cord in the womb or during childbirth, or to be covered with ugly birthmarks. It was strictly forbidden to cut one's hair, visit the house where they are preparing for the funeral, and hang up the washed clothes. However, it was also impossible to be lazy, and the expectant mother did simple work in the house and even in the field. In addition, the pregnant woman should tirelessly pray to be relieved of the burden easily and without harm to herself, the child.
How was the birth
Women of that time were not afraid of childbirth, since from childhood many of them involuntarily had to observe this process. In poor families, they gave birth right in the house, which consisted of one or two rooms, and younger children, especially girls, often had to help the woman in labor. If there was an opportunity, a midwife was invited, who provided all possible support - relieved the pain with the help of herbal tinctures or compresses, told the woman the order of actions and took the baby, made sure that he did not fall, cut the umbilical cord. For some time after the birth of the child, the midwife came to the house of the woman in labor, monitored her condition and the health of the baby. But in most cases, women coped with their own strength and with the help of relatives, sometimes even in a field or barn, where they were caught by the moment of the onset of childbirth.
