Queen Victoria - mother and doula?

Although Queen Victoria was known for having a large family her experience with childbearing was not confined to her own children. Childbirth was a family event back in the 19th century and while the monarch may have been expected to be above this Victoria apparently had other ideas.

Victoria’s eldest child, Princess Victoria, was born a scant 9 months after her wedding on 21st November 1840 in Buckingham Palace. Although not much is recorded said of her labour and births as she requested all documents be destroyed after her death, the Queen called her first two births ‘far from comfortable or convienent’ though a good portion of the blame is placed on her old governess who ‘meddled’ and squabbled with the midwives and doctors.

Despite her dislike for the animalistic side of her which emerged during labour, Victoria described herself as ‘being like a cow or a dog at such moments’ she gave birth to her eldest son, Albert Edward – later Edward VII, just under a year later on the 9th November 1841.

Not much information exists on the birth of her third child, Princess Alice, presumably it was easier than the first two births as no comment was made against it, Queen Victoria gave birth again on 25th April 1843 in Buckingham Palace wearing the same shift nightdress which she wore to bear all her children.

The births of Prince Alfred on 6th August 1844, Princess Helena on 25th May 1846 and Princess Louise on 18th March 1848 appear to have been uncomplicated, unmedicated births at home in Buckingham Palace. By the time her next confinement drew near on 1st May 1850 Queen Victoria expressed an interest in anaesthesia for childbirth however none was administered and she gave birth to Prince Arthur without medication.

By the time her next confinement drew near on 1st May 1850 Queen Victoria expressed an interest in anaesthesia for childbirth however none was administered and she gave birth to Prince Arthur without medication.

Her eighth birth, that of Prince Leopald on 7th April 1853, was revolutionary in terms of the public accepting pain relief. Dr Snow administered chloroform onto a handkerchief over the Queen’s mouth and nose to sedate her for the actual birth.

Victoria must have been pleased with the result for she used it again for her final birth when Princess Beatrice was born on 14th April 1857, this time however Dr Snow made sure that the Queen did not loose consciousness throughout the birth.


As well as her own births Victoria attended other family members, expressing disappointment that she could not attend her eldest child’s confinement in Prussia but advising her from her own experiences by letter and sending her her own midwife, Mrs Innocent, together with her own labour notes to guide her through the labour.

A few years later Victoria attended to her daughter Alice in labour, who gave birth to her son in the same bed she herself had been born in, wearing the same shift dress. Alice, no doubt on her mother’s advice as she refers to herself as directing events, had chloroform in the last hour and a half of her seven hour labour, her mother commenting that she would rather give birth herself than watch her daughter go through the same thing.

Victoria also was present for other family members, not only her daughters and writes of attending her niece, Marie Leiningen birth where she was rendered completely unconscious and forceps used to deliver the baby while the Queen stroked her niece’s face waking her when the baby cried. The Queen must have been exhausted for apart from a brief lay down on a sofa at 12 she was present for the entire 18 hour labour, providing emotional support to the mother and observing the birth and keeping medical and emotional notes of the confinements she attended.

wow that was a really interesting read thanks for posting iolaus! Xx

Wow that was a riveting read
Fantastic imagery and artwork too

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