Medieval Lives

For a medieval woman approaching the moment of labor and birth there were no antiseptics to ward off infection or anesthetics to deal with pain but there was God The medieval world understood that the pains of labor were the penalty for the original sin of humankind so to get through them she needed the help of the saints and the blessing of God himself As historian Helen Castor reveals in this

Unlike birth and death which are inescapable facts of life marriage is rite of passage made by choice In the Middle Ages it wasnt just a choice made by bride and groom as they were often the last pieces in a puzzle Betrothals were put together by the parents with help from their family and friends according to rules laid down by the Church

For a medieval woman approaching the moment of labor and birth there were no antiseptics to ward off infection or anesthetics to deal with pain but there was God The medieval world understood that the pains of labor were the penalty for the original sin of humankind so to get through them she needed the help of the saints and the blessing of God himself As historian Helen Castor reveals in this