How did people understand pregnancy BEFORE modern medicine?

Video Description

Even with advancements in modern medicine, pregnancy can be an anxious and uncertain time. Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/subhistoryextrayoutube So what did people in the past do to not only diagnose pregnancy, but to ensure the health of mothers and babies in the nine months before birth? To find out, HistoryExtra’s Ellie Cawthorne took a brief look back at the wonderfully strange, surprisingly clever and occasionally downright bizarre history of pregnancy – it's a far from comprehensive but fascinating snapshot into this subject. With the help of Wellcome Collection’s Dr Elma Brenner and fashion historian Dr Serena Dyer, we uncover how people tried to understand what was going on in the womb, how they protected mothers, and prepared for birth – long before modern scans, supplements and maternity wear existed. So strap in, because we’ve got magic spells, maternity corsets and toad-based pregnancy tests in store – all, hopefully, before Ellie goes into labour. #HistoryExtra #Pregnancy #MedicineFromHistory 00:00 Intro 01:00 Pregnancy tests before pregnancy tests 02:55 Magic spells and other practices from the past 09:00 Strange cravings and dietary advice 11:24 A brief history of maternity wear 17:44 Protective talismans and birthing girdles You can see some of these amazing objects for yourself in the Wellcome Collection’s new London exhibition, Expecting: Birth, Belief and Protection, open until April 2026. Find out more here: https://wellcomecollection.org/exhibitions/expecting-birth-belief-and-protection ▷ Find out more at https://www.historyextra.com/ ▷ Follow the podcast on iTunes: https://apple.co/3Y6n8Bt ▷ Like our page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryExtra ▷ Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/HistoryExtra ▷ Follow us Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyextra ▷ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UCy4hMtkf5aFZrlTcHPWRc_g Subscribe to our Substack for Life Lessons from History with Dr David Musgrove: https://historyextra.substack.com/ BBC History Extra Love History? Download the HistoryExtra app for ad-free episodes, exclusive long-read features like the History’s Greatest series, and interactive courses led by experts in the HistoryExtra Academy. Download now! https://historyextra.onelink.me/MJpt/2u7xxzlc