[MR] Childbearing in Period (Was What DID viking ladies really wear?)

[David Chessler]

At 09:01 AM 3/3/2008, Kelly Keck wrote:


>Very interesting.  I wonder, though, if 18 is the age at which the average
>woman of the time was able to *become* pregnant or just the age at which she
>was likely to carry to term.  That is, if a large number of those
>14-year-old brides had miscarriages at 15 or 16, that wouldn't be reflected
>in this study, but would indicate an earlier age of menarche.


Menarch was about 16 years in the US as recently as 40-50 years ago. 
And menarch at 18 was not unusual. And that is in a generally 
well-nourished society.

Women's fertility drops very substantially after age 30, even today. 
Up until 1850 or even later, infections due to childbirth were very 
common, and often led to infertility.

--

Davitt il Bigollo da Pisa
Goldsmith's Agent in Livorno
Factor in the lands of the Mughuls
Coral and Emeralds from Inde and Serendip

Checky argent and azure, two chess rooks or in chief, a chess knight 
or, a three-turret tower or in base