Genealogy Chat

When I first married I lived in Germany with my husband who was in the army and based there. A young Irish girl I made friends with had 3 births very quickly, all c sections and the hospital said it was dangerous for her to have any more children. She begged the priest to let her use birth control and he said no it was against their religion. I said blow the religion who would look after the 3 children if anything happened to her. She would not go against the priest I often wonder what happened to her. I returned to England. Irene

In 1968 I knew a couple who had 22 live births!!! Very poor family even with financial help. Why did they have all these children, because the Priest said thats what they got married for!!! Ann

On the Records Board last night Alan posted a message about a woman giving birth to her 35th child in the 1700's - those poor children (and mother!) - I wonder how many survived? Debby

Merry, They DID have contraception at thw turn of the 19th Century - The Geronimo. This was a condom made of sheep gut, It came in it's own metal storage tin..........and you washed it after use!!!! Maybe I CAN understand why they had so many children..... Although, having said that, breastfeeding can act as a natural contraceptive and, depending on how often a baby was fed, breastfeeding usually meant at least a 2 year gap between children. maggie

My father was one of twelve, his mother married twice, by the time my father was born the elder children had left home and had married themselves, sadly he did'nt know half of his siblings! I believe his mother liked a brandy, I wonder why lol Lib

No wonder they put gin in the baby's bottles! (then you could take a swig yourself as well....) Merry

In general, until the later part of my family tree, when many people opted to have smaller families/no family at all, the babies arrived in intervals of 1 to 3 years. If there's any gap I assume the father must have been working away from home, or the mother had a miscarriage/stillbirth. Apart from the physical strain of carrying a foetus, then childbirth, then breastfeeding, the work involved was so much harder - no disposable nappies, washing machines, sterilising units, microwaves etc. nell

John and Mary Jonas of Chester didn't read the above tip, as they had 15 sets of twins!! (They are on the 1861 census) He was a chair maker, so that was useful when they sat down for dinner! Merry

Contraception did exist, but was only used to protect men from catching diseases from prostitutes! Tip - use contraception to prevent pregnancy!! Merry

no wonder they died young must have been worn out my nan had 15 too and I dont know how,she done it but she lived to 99 and she had the last baby when she was 48 which was old in 1926 wasnt it??

My daughter was 1 year old when my son was six months!! My eldest was 3 years! I know what you mean though. Pat

hi all, this isn't a tip----sorry! i have just been doing some transscribing for freecen, and i am beginning to feel sorry for those poor women, one baby after another!! one had a 1 year old and 6month old!! soon as they delivered one they were off with another one! seems they were just baby producing machines!!!! constant labour!!!! my great gran had 15, 12 lived, triplets died. if men had to give birth the population would be greatly reduced!!!!! chris.