Colonial term for "pregnancy"?

[gratefulmother]

Does anyone know a word or phrase commonly used for "pregnancy" during colonial times in America? I would assume "with child" or "expecting" but I can't find a good source to back me up.

We are doing a colonial apothecary for a colonial day at our tutorial tomorrow, so I am quickly trying to do some research.

Thanks!

[SproutMamaK]

I'm thinking "in the family way", but I'm not sure if that's quite the right time period.

[MaMa2005]

Why don't you try to call the Education Center at Williamsburg. They may be able to help.

 

Here is the number - 800-761-8331

[JeneralMom]

I have heard "increasing" and also "enceinte" (pregnant in French) but am not sure if that is more Regency than colonial.

[Wendi]

In Jane Austen's books (Regency), women are referred to as "in their confinement" or "lying in" later in pregnancy when they are not expected to venture out anymore. Would one of these be appropriate for colonial America?

 

Wendi

[Carol in Cal.]

...but I think that that was a term that came into use later, maybe in the mid 1800's or so.

 

Colonial people were very King James Version Bible-literate, and the classic Nativity term in the KJV is 'great with child'. (As in, "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the City of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child.")

[lionfamily1999]

In Jane Austen's books (Regency), women are referred to as "in their confinement" or "lying in" later in pregnancy when they are not expected to venture out anymore. Would one of these be appropriate for colonial America?

 

Wendi

Those are the only terms I have ever seen used. That is an interesting question, but I don't think it was really ever referred to, except as lying in or time of confinement. IOW, I'm not sure that "pregnancy" was actually spoken of. "With child" or "in the family way" could have been used too...

 

What a great question!

[MariannNOVA]

What a great question!

On most 'ob' forms, the abbreviation used is: EDC....for expected date of confinement. But I don't know if that is the time period to which you are referring.

And, I have also heard 'lying in.'

A pregnant female is sometimes referred to as a gravida....(latin "graviditas").

[Guest Virginia Dawn]

My colonial expert dh says it is definitely "with child" or "in an increasing way."

 

HTH

[Heather in WI]

I think the term is "with child", too.

 

I thought this was such an interesting question, I had to do a little research. :)

 

For Sharpe & Dificult Trauel in Women with Child

 

Take a Lock of Vergins haire on any Part of ye head, of half the Age of ye Woman in trauill. Cut it very smale to fine Pouder then take 12 Ants Eggs dried in an ouen after ye bread is drawne or other wise make them dry & make them to pouder with the haire, giue this with a quarter of a pint of Red Cows milk or for want of it giue it in strong ale wort.

 

Anyone want to try this cure? :lol:

[Goodallmomma]

I'm not sure of the "correct" answer to this question..although it has raised an interest in me. I found these terms for pregnant and pregnancy: abundant, anticipating, carrying a child, enceinte, expectant, expecting, fecund, fertile, fraught, fruitful, gestating, gravid, heavy, hopeful, in family way, parous, parturient, preggers, productive, prolific, replete, teeming, with child, fertilization, germination, gravidity, gravidness, impregnation, parturiency, propagation birthing, childbirth, lying-in, motherhood, parturition, travail

[gratefulmother]

I called the Education Center at Colonial Williamsburg and lady who answered is going to do some asking around and call me back. I'll let you know what I find out. Thanks for that suggestion and all the others!

[Guest Virginia Dawn]

My dh has worked at Colonial Williamsburg for 11 years. I called him for the answer to your question. See my previous post.

[Leanna Tomlinson]

I have a book entitled Good Wives by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. She says that pregnancy was referred to as "travail of nine months", "nine months sickness", or indirectly referred to as "such a time", "time had come", "close to her time", "brought to bed".

 

This book is fascinating!

 

Leanna

[OnTheBrink]

I just asked a friend, who's working on his Ph.D in American history, and he said "in the family way."

 

He also said that "breeding" was another term used.

Edited January 21, 2010 by OnTheBrink

[Laura Corin]

Gravid? My dictionary gives that as used from 16th Century onwards, so might be useable.

 

Laura

[FairProspects]

One doesn't speak of such things in polite society, of course. That's why there are so many indirect references in colonial writings to "so and so" was sick yesterday and now there is a new baby girl. "With child" is probably the most accurate if you must be direct, but it is even better if you can refer to being sick or give an impression of pregnancy without saying anything about the condition at all.

[Guest Virginia Dawn]

One doesn't speak of such things in polite society, of course. .

 

 

I'm not so sure that assumption is correct. That is really a Victorian sentiment. There is some evidence that colonialists were probably a little more "earthy."

 

Here is an excerpt from a Virginian newspaper in 1777: DESERTED from the 2d Virginia Regiment in New Jersey, the following ...Serjeant, 30 Years of Age...his Wife, who was heavy with Child, went off with him...the Serjeant...enlisted into Captain Alexander's Company, and may be taken in Frederick County, Virginia. ALEXANDER SPOTSWOOD, Col. 2d Virg. Reg.

 

Here is a link that gives some interesting info: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/historyonline/childbirth.cfm

Edited January 21, 2010 by Virginia Dawn

[gratefulmother]

The answer I received from Colonial Williamsburg was that "pregnancy" was used uncommonly as a medical term, but the more common ways of saying the same thing would have been "with child" or "in an increasing way" which I thought was very descriptive both of the woman and her family.

 

I feel like I should give a prize for those who guessed correctly!

 

Thanks anyway!

[gratefulmother]

Virginina Dawn, How interesting that your husband works at Colonial Williamsburg. The lady I talked with was very kind and helpful. She asked the writers that were available and then called me back. Such a refreshing experience!

[FairProspects]

I'm not so sure that assumption is correct. That is really a Victorian sentiment. There is some evidence that colonialists were probably a little more "earthy."

 

Here is an excerpt from a Virginian newspaper in 1777: DESERTED from the 2d Virginia Regiment in New Jersey, the following ...Serjeant, 30 Years of Age...his Wife, who was heavy with Child, went off with him...the Serjeant...enlisted into Captain Alexander's Company, and may be taken in Frederick County, Virginia. ALEXANDER SPOTSWOOD, Col. 2d Virg. Reg.

 

Here is a link that gives some interesting info: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/historyonline/childbirth.cfm

 

Ok. I work for a mid-19th century museum, so that makes sense. While I'm well immersed in Victorian literature, it has been a few years since I reviewed the colonial documents during college work.