Blood, Birth, and the Crown: Royal Childbirth in the Middle Ages

In this episode, I’m joined by the wonderful Michèle Schindler to explore one of the most dangerous - and politically charged - experiences in medieval life: royal childbirth.

For queens and noblewomen, pregnancy was never just personal. It was dynastic. The survival of kingdoms rested on their bodies. We dive into what childbirth actually looked like inside medieval chambers - the rituals, the midwives, the prayers, the relics, and the intense female networks that surrounded labor.

What happened when things went wrong? How did repeated pregnancies shape a queen’s health - and her political value? And how did the birth (or death) of an heir change the course of history?

From the expectations placed on royal women to the very real medical risks they faced, this conversation sheds light on the physical realities behind medieval monarchy - and the immense pressure carried by women whose primary duty was to secure the future of a realm.

It’s intimate. It’s personal. And it might change the way you think about crowns and succession forever.

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You can find Michele's books pretty much anywhere, but here is her page on Amazon - US.

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Host: Rebecca Larson

Guest: Michèle Schindler