According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a maternal death is defined as the death of a woman during pregnancy or up to six weeks postpartum (including for reasons not connected with the pregnancy). The reference value is generally the number of live births. Early modern Europe had significant maternal mortality and exorbitant infant mortality (Mortality). Until well into the 20th century, women saw pregnancy and childbirth as risks to their own health, knowing from personal experience and reports from others that they often brought illness and the danger of death…
Maternal mortality(705 words)
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Vögele, Jörg, “Maternal mortality”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 22 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_SIM_024458>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20190801
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