Avisos de Viena

Death in Childbirth

Marie-France Morel — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Childbirth has long been likened to a battle, with women enduring pain and danger akin to soldiers in combat. This comparison, rooted in ancient times, persisted through the centuries, with women who died in childbirth honored like fallen warriors. Even prominent figures like Thomas Jefferson drew parallels between childbirth and soldiering. Throughout history, childbirth was fraught with peril, accepted as part of divine will or fate. Tragic stories, such as Jane Austen's family losses, underscore the high toll childbirth took, especially in an era with limited contraception and medical understanding. Despite advancements, maternal mortality remained a significant concern well into the 20th century. Demographic records from the 18th and 19th centuries shed light on the prevalence of maternal deaths, highlighting the enduring risks women faced in bringing new life into the world.

Bioculturales, desde el principio

Carlos Varea — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The study of human childbirth from the field of Biological Anthropology offers insights into the biocultural identity of our species. While reproduction is a biological process, its expression is shaped by cultural diversification across human groups, all aimed at ensuring maternal and offspring survival. Biological Anthropology, as a discipline, explores biological traits in human populations within a biocultural framework. The interplay between biology and culture defines our species, with cultural practices evolving alongside biological changes. The evolution of bipedalism and increased brain size in Homo species has influenced the complexity of human childbirth, necessitating adaptations in pelvic anatomy. Despite these adaptations, childbirth remains challenging, requiring assistance from others within the community, highlighting the universal role of midwives. The study of childbirth illuminates key evolutionary trends in our lineage, underscoring the intricate interplay between biological and cultural factors in shaping human reproductive experiences.

Madre e hijo, sombra y luz

Sabrina Grohsebner — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A child comes into the world as his mother takes her last breath. Benjamin's first cry coincides with his mother Raquel's final words. Early modern poets and hagiographers draw upon this 'dual event' from Judeo-Christian tradition. Alonso Villegas, for instance, recounts it in his Flos Sanctorum. The birthing mother senses death looming over her. As she expires, she names her son, initially 'son of her pain', but Jacob rejects this somber name in favor of 'son of his right hand', signifying happiness. Benjamin's birth and Raquel's death epitomize maternal mortality, reflecting on birth as a moment of separation. Raquel's motherhood journey, marked by infertility struggles and finally fulfilled prayers, ends tragically with her death after giving birth to her second son. This study delves into the interplay of sorrow and love, loss and memory, and condemnation and divinization in Raquel's maternal experience.

Milagros y partos peligrosos en las hagiografías de los siglos XVI y XVII

Jesús M. Usunáriz — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Addressing maternal mortality during childbirth necessitates an analysis of two overlooked aspects in early modern Spain and Europe: the causes of maternal death and societal attitudes towards endangered birthing mothers. While existing studies provide insights into mortality rates, broader questions remain: What was the social status of endangered parturient women? What roles did midwives and medical professionals play? How are women depicted in historical accounts? Examining contemporary statistics offers some insight, with hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, infections, and obstructed labor among the leading causes of maternal death worldwide. While precise data for early modern Spain are lacking, understanding contemporary trends sheds light on historical realities and underscores childbirth's perilous nature in the collective consciousness of society.

¿Lo que más temían las mujeres?

Wolfram Aichinger — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Our vision of maternal death in childbed is conditioned by sources which foreground vicissitudes in the lives of aristocrats.

Where testimonies deal with commoners, death seems to be much less frequent than could be expected. Possible reasons for this divergence between the spheres of the nobles and commoners will be discussed in this study. Moreover, it raises the question of the impact of epidemies and diseases on the course of pregnancy and birth.

«The women’s epidemic»

Dolores Ruiz Berdún — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Puerperal infection has long been one of the most dreaded consequences of childbirth, with a high likelihood of a fatal outcome. Even today, it's estimated that 10% of all maternal deaths globally result from puerperal infection. The infection, often caused by bacteria such as Streptococcus pyogenes, presents with symptoms including fever, chills, abdominal pain, uterine subinvolution, diarrhea, vomiting, foul-smelling lochia, altered mental state, and even shock. If untreated, it can progress rapidly, leading to septicemia and death. Notable historical figures like Mary Wollstonecraft and Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis fell victim to this perilous condition, which prompted investigations into its causes. Early observations by figures like Alexander Gordon in the 18th century suggested a contagious nature, leading to recommendations for hygiene practices among birth attendants. Despite ancient recognition, understanding and combating puerperal fever remained elusive until modern medical advancements.

Mortalidad materna en la Casa de maternidad de Madrid entre 1860 y 1899

Sabine Köck — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Maternity House of Madrid, founded in 1837, provided a place for pregnant women to give birth anonymously. Many of them left their newborns in the care of the institution, which provided baptism, a wet nurse's milk, and shrouds for infants whose time on earth was often short. This spared mothers from parish gossip, employer retaliation if they served in households, and the burdens and consequences associated with illegitimate children or offspring from adulterous affairs in 19th-century Catholic Spain. We analyzed data from 5,959 births recorded between 1860 and 1899 to examine the proportion of mothers who died during their stay at the Maternity House. The results showed mortality rates of 0.75%, 1.78%, 0.80%, and 1.07% across four periods, totaling 69 maternal deaths, or 1.16% of all cases analyzed. Additionally, data from 1898-1899 provided insights into the interval between childbirth and maternal death, shedding further light on this poignant historical phenomenon.

Gemelos en la Casa de Maternidad de Madrid (1860-1899)

Katharina Webinger — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Testimonies from the Maternity House provide a wealth of information about the experiences of mothers and infants in this public institution. Mothers could conceal their pregnancies and illegitimate births in this facility, where they were housed and cared for. One study focused on twins born in the Maternity House, analyzing records from 1860 to 1899. Data from three books, covering different periods, were transferred to Microsoft Excel for analysis. A total of 37 twin births were recorded, accounting for 2.12% of all registered births. Despite the lack of distinction between identical and fraternal twins in the available data, this study sheds light on the prevalence of twin births during the 19th century in Madrid's Maternity House.

Tirón de orejas al héroe de su amante (Hércules y Ónfale en Rubens)

Rafael Beltrán — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract: In Rubens' Hercules and Omphale (1602-1605), the queen of Lydia, Omphale, is depicted pulling the ear of Hercules, son of Jupiter and Alcmena, in an unusual and vulgar gesture. This act symbolizes her dominance over the legendary hero. Omphale is portrayed as graceful and commanding, while Hercules, nearly naked, sits submissively beside her. This inversion of roles, with Omphale wielding Hercules' lion skin cloak and him holding her spinning wheel, serves to ridicule and feminize him. The painting raises questions about power dynamics and gender roles in classical mythology. Omphale's casual demeanor contrasts with Hercules' stoic acceptance, hinting at a complex interplay of dominance and submission.

Mueve la burra, mueve la princesa

Fernando Sanz-Lázaro — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The text explores the semantic evolution and connotations of the terms abortar, malparir, and mover in Spanish. Initially used in medical contexts, aborto and malparto describe specific stages or outcomes of pregnancy. Over time, malparido acquired pejorative connotations, denoting a person of low moral character or social status. The progression from medical to figurative usage reflects societal attitudes toward childbirth, morality, and language. The analysis considers historical texts, dictionaries, and literary examples to trace these shifts in meaning. The study highlights how language reflects and shapes cultural perceptions, illustrating the complex interplay between semantics, social norms, and linguistic evolution.

La mirada de una abuela

César Esponda de la Campa — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

María Luisa de Parma, queen of Spain, has been one of the most controversial figures in the history of the Hispanic Monarchy. Much negativity has been written about her, including her interference in politics, alleged promiscuity, her relationship with Prime Minister Manuel Godoy, and her relationship with her children. Despite this, evidence suggests she had a strong affection for her third daughter, the Infanta María Luisa, who married her cousin, Prince Louis of Bourbon. María Luisa played a significant role in advising her daughter on the upbringing of her grandchildren, showing a conservative approach to education with a focus on religion. However, she also supported innovative ideas like vaccination. Her correspondence reveals a caring grandmother, deeply concerned about the well-being and upbringing of her grandchildren, despite the physical distance separating them.

Ein Fenster in die Vergangenheit

Walburga Plunger — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Research aiming to decode the past relies on those valuing present preservation. Early paintings and writings, sheltered from weather, endured millennia, offering insights into ancient lives. Church, a driver of documentation, valued precise records linked to religious rites. European church records noted sacraments, baptisms, and familial lineages, crucial for research. In-depth analysis of baptism, death, and marriage records from Spanish towns unveils insights into family dynamics. Despite challenges like missing pages or faded ink, church registers offer valuable historical insights. Baptismal records from Pedro Bernardo reveal societal norms, while those from Sotillo de la Adrada showcase changing traditions. Church registers serve as a timeline of societal changes, invaluable for researchers. Bridging baptismal, death, and marriage records with civil registers enriches historical understanding. Church registers are vital for reconstructing family histories and understanding societal shifts over time.

Front matter

Editorial Team — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

ISSN 2710-2629

CC BY 4.0

Avisos de Viena. Viennese Cultural Studies, 6(2024)

Funded by FWF Austrian Science Fund

The Interpretation of Childbirth in Early Modern Spain (P32263-G30)

Cover: Andrea di Leone: Auszug Jakobs nach Kanaan, um 1633. INV. NR. Gemäldegalerie, 6786 © KHM-Museumsverband