200 years ago would you have died during pregnancy/childbirth?

[LynetteScavo]

I had a kidney infection when pregnant with DC1, then a long and difficult birth, with a happy ending after a ventouse delivery. I've sometimes wondered if I would have lived through the kidney infection if I hadn't had IV antibiotics. I have no idea how the birth would have panned out.

I suspect an awful lot of us wouldn't be here now if we had babies 200 years ago.

For DD 5, - I had an easy lovely 4 1/2 hour labour -just gas and air - I had placental retention (which had to be removed manually - nice) but all in all a nice labour.

With the labour of my twins (born 2012 who were stillborn - due to ttts) I had a 6 hour labour - which was technically fine i had to be induced (started at 3pm abd both of the boys were out by 8:40pm the same day - i labour quick) and i had to go round to theatre for placental retention (couldn't be done manually as they were coming at me with forceps and I freaked out - felt like id been through enough to be fair as well) With them I had to have a surgery to try and save them - called laser ablation but it caused my waters to break 3 days later...and because of that i developed the WORST infection of my life...iv antibiotics- fever dreams, fever labour... my waters broke on the 25th and the boys were born on the 31st...yeah...fun - so yeah almost certainly I would have died.
Thank you science, the nhs and the medical professionals!!!

Currently 34 weeks with bubble boy - praying that it goes as smoothly if not smoother than the birth of my dd x

My daughter would have been ok, but I needed an episiotomy, and as they didn't used to do them, would probably have torn, and maybe got an infection.

Was reading biography of Jane Austen recently, terrifying how many of her female relations ended up dying from childbirth causes. Even one who had 10 children previously was killed by 11th (not sure of cause). The pressure to keep having more babies/lack of contraception probably means that that even those who today are ok after one or two births might not have been after many more

Such an interesting, and sobering, read through this thread. Really touches my heart when thinking about those who still do not have access to the treatment we receive

Both of my labours were relatively easy, yet I still think there would have problems or possible loss. DS1 had a long pushing stage and was pale when born, they used his cord blood to help him, I don't know if the same process would have taken place 200 years ago. I had a minor PPH and a post partum infection, not life threatening I don't think but would have been so much worse. DS2 was born in distress and needed help to breathe at first, and labour had to be induced, so I don't know if I'd have had him, and if I didn't go into labour I'm not sure what they would have done back then or what would happen to both of us. Quite scary

Would have died of PPH after DS2 was born. Emergency surgery and transfusion undoubtedly saved my life.

Thankfully, my pregnancy and DD's birth were pretty textbook so we would have been fine, but my mum nearly did die having my older sister (they didn't noticed she's retained a small amount of placenta and mum lost a vast amount of blood) and if that'd happened I wouldn't be here in the first place!

I think it's possible that my son wouldn't have been here. His heartrate dropped and maybe if I'd been left to birth by myself, he would have ended up in a bad way. He was a small baby so he would have eventually got out, though maybe not breathing. Then I would have most likely died from the blood loss or infection.
My pregnancy was fine, no problems. But the birth turned into an emergency at the end. I thought everything was going smoothly until the midwife ran out the room and a doctor rushed in. Had no idea why!

I suspect things would have turned out just the same.
DD 37/40 straightforward vaginal delivery
DS 36/40 vaginal breech but stillborn - I had an epis which might have been avoided 200 years ago but was deemed necessary this year.

DS1 was born by forceps, but 200 years ago I wouldn't have had an epidural so may not have needed the forceps anyway.

I was born by c-section 30 years ago though, so 200 years ago probably wouldn't have survived my own birth. And I'd have died of meningitis in childhood.

Fascinating thread.

DD and I probably wouldn't have made it. EmCS as she just wouldn't move down.

I inherited my mum's narrow pelvis and tendency towards big babies- I was born by CS too so wouldn't have been here myself 200 years ago in all likelihood. Though maybe if we weren't so well nourished then a smaller baby may have fit.

I'd have run into trouble on number 2 though quite possibly as I'm Rh negative.

an ectopic would have wiped me out.
2 of my babies were born not breathing and needing NICU care so I doubt they would have survived

I am forever grateful to the staff who looked after me when delivering both my babies, never forget it....I was close to needing a blood transfusion after DS1 was born, had to get rushed to theatre to repair a 3rd degree tear. No as major as some of the stories on here, but still serious.

With DS2's delivery I think I would have survived fine, as it was straightforward in comparison to DS1's delivery.

Wondering what's in store for me with DC3 this week....!

I'd have been fine for DC1 but DC2 and I would have both been killed as it was a placenta previa.

It's a scary thought.

200 years ago I would have survived the birth of my first child, but I would have almost certainely killed both my child and myself as I had puerperal psychosis.
I ended up on a mother and baby until under 24 hour constant observation as I would have tried to kill my baby otherwise- I believed that my baby wasnt mine, someone had switched babies at birth, and that I had to kill this imposter baby to get mine back.

As for the next dc, we would have died in labour as dc got stuck. If some miracle had occured and dc got out alive, then they would have died anyway as they were born with an apgar of 1 and not breathing. They needed full on rescuscitation.

Unsurprisingly I wont be having any more children.

Yes, I think I probably would have died, baby too. My DS was back to back and totally stuck with his head pressing against my pubic bone with every contraction. I had an episiotomy then a ventouse which failed when they pulled him so hard the cap came off his head. I then had to have a forceps delivery.

He was so traumatised and bruised bless him he was in special care for 5 days.

When i remember that labour and delivery, the thought that years ago you and your baby would just die in those circumstances is truly terrifying.

Possibly, 8:14 breech at 38 weeks. First baby so could have gone to 42 weeks and beyond and ended up with an 11lb breech!