How to Give Birth

c. 1450

“I advise you to scream loudly, so that everyone will believe that you are in great pain, and your husband and the other members of the household will have compassion, and they will try to put out the great fire of your pain by serving you capons, candied almonds, and fine wines.”

Michele Savonarola, Ad mulieres ferrarienses

Don’t worry about labor. But do make sure you play your cards right, because there just might be some fine wines in it for you.

How to Care for a Newborn, 1256, here.