Birthing Chair or Beds

This week we have discussed a lot of social history concerning various aspects of life. Notably centering on pregnancy and giving birth. One of the things we mentioned in passing was the concept of a birthing chair. Searching around online, I found a few examples of birthing chairs. The image chosen is a basic one from the sixteenth century, but also seems to be similar to the kind that is referred to in Bell’s text. Both Savonarola and Mercurio prefer the birthing chair for pregnant women. Mercurio offers the choice for a woman to stand on the knees of another woman, because many families could not afford to purchase a birthing chair.

The description of a birthing chair that Savonarola prefers is rather extensive and detailed. He states that it should be made of strong wood, be approximately two feet wide, a seat of one and a half feet high, and closed with boards on the sides. It would also have sturdy arms for the mother to use as hand rests with a high back, so that if necessary one could place a pillow behind her back. Yet when hit with contractions the pillow would be removed so as to exert maximum pressure against the boards. One key thing to note in Bell’s text is that both Savonarola and Mercurio dislike the idea of pregnant women giving birth in bed. The reason this is so interesting is because in modern times that is the way many women give birth. Yet one can argue that this is a much more difficult way to give birth, interesting to think that 16^th century physicians may know better in this situation.

Source:

pages 110 - 111 of Bell

-Jenn Kervian