Motherhood: The Victorian British Aristocracy vs. Modern Day Britain

Contents

• Why Have a Baby?
• Prenatal Care
• Labor and Delivery
• Conclusion
• Works Cited

Introduction

Giving birth is an unavoidable life process that promotes population growth and secures the future perpetuation of individual societies. Whether human beings or tiny spiders, all life reproduces in one way or another to create future generations of that particular species. Although the concept of reproduction is universal, the process of motherhood is not. Even in homogenous societies consisting of human beings, a cultural discrepancy in child-bearing and child-rearing tactics is evident. When comparing child-bearing practices of the British Aristocracy in the Victorian era to those of modern day British families, it is clear that a more modern approach to pregnancy and delivery has been adapted over the decades.

Why Have a Baby?

Victorian Era

Before starting a family, an underlying question of reason generally influences a couple toward a decision of having a child or not. In 19th century Britain, embarking into motherhood was more of an assumption than a decision. Producing heirs was at the top of the list of reasons to have children, and society believed that producing a son was a service a wife owed a husband and his family (Lewis 135).

Later in the century, child-bearing grew into something more than a service a wife owed her husband. Although the ideal still lurked below the surface, giving birth also provided a way for women to rise above their previous label of woman and achieve a respected status of motherhood. Similarly, having a baby paved the road from childhood to adulthood for women, as well. This was unfortunate for women whom for one reason or another could not give birth, as they never truly entered into adulthood according to the eyes of society. Female bonding was also an important aspect of giving birth that was robbed from barren or infertile women.

Modern Day

In modern day British society, the reasons for having children are quite different than those of the 19th century. The cultural expectations to parenthood are strong and often send a message of disapproval to women who voluntarily abstain from reproducing. Cultural expectations can also be reflected in pressure from family and friends to start creating a family. Some women hope that becoming pregnant and having a baby will help a problematic or struggling marriage, assuming that a baby will bring the couple closer together. Other reasons for having a child in modern times include political, economic, and familial reasons such as extending a family name or carrying on a family business. Another factor influencing women then and now is an undeniable innate biological drive to reproduce.

In the 19th century, women generally married and started reproducing at a much younger age than today. The typical aristocrat woman married at the age of 21 and 50% of women gave birth to their first child within one year of marriage, while 80% within two years. It is evident that once women started having children, they generally didnt let up as the median childbearing span lasted 18 years with an average of eight children per woman. The average woman in this particular society had her last child at 39 years of age.

The difference in these two eras is particularly evident when comparing statistics. For example, while the average age of a woman at her last birth in the Victorian era was 39, the average age for marriage among women in modern British society is 31.8 years old. At that age in the 19th century, a woman would be expected to already have delivered at least 6 or 7 children. Today, a significantly lower 1.75 children per family is that national average, with an average age of 29 years for the mother at the time of her first birth.

Prenatal Care

Victorian Era

Prenatal care will always be a significant topic within motherhood considering the direct relationship between the health of the mother and that of the newborn baby. The accoucheurs (similar to doctors)of the Victorian era preferred a holistic approach of prenatal care and relied primarily on nature to take care of their patients. The diet prescribed to pregnant women recommended cooling foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables and prohibited heating foods such as meat, eggs, spices, coffee, tea, and alcohol.

Exercise was also prescribed to pregnant women, and for the upper-class, leisurely travel was the exercise of choice. Travel was ideal because it entailed some walking and other light activity while avoiding the risks associated with strenuous exercise. It is ironic that while exercise and activity were recommend, a miscarriage would automatically be blamed on the woman for being overly active, even when this was not the case. Bathing in sea water and drinking mineral water were also advised to increase strength and overall vitality.

Modern Day

Today, prenatal care consists of recommendations based on medical evidence to support the validity of the suggestions. Pregnant women today are encouraged to eat a well-balanced diet consisting of foods from each of the food groups. In addition, it is essential that extra folic acid is consumed as well as two fatty acids (linoleic acid and alphlinolenic acid). Iron supplements are important in the last few months of pregnancy and coffee/tea should be restricted to 3-4 cups per day. As in the 19th century, alcohol continues to be prohibited during all stages of pregnancy.

Exercise recommendations are similar to those of the past as they stress light to moderate physical activity such as walking. Other beneficial activities include swimming, stretching, golf, tennis, floor exercises, and yoga. Heavy exercise should be avoided and activity levels should be reduced as the pregnancy progresses.

Labor and Delivery

Conclusion

Works Cited