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17 Famous Women Who Died In Childbirth

17 Famous Women Who Died In Childbirth

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Today, the birth of a child is almost always cause for celebration. But before modern medicine, childbirth was dangerous for women. During 17th- and 18th-century Colonial America, between 1 percent and 1.5 percent of all births ended in the mother’s death as a result of exhaustion, dehydration, infection, hemorrhage, or convulsions, according to digitalhistory.uh.edu. Since the typical mother bore five and eight children, chances of dying in childbirth during her lifetime could be 1 in 8. By World War II, statistics for women dying in childbirth were about what they are today. But there are exceptions. Here are 10 famous women who died in childbirth.

United States Library of Congress
United States Library of Congress

Alice Hathaway Lee Roosevelt

Alice Hathaway Lee Roosevelt, (1861 to 1884) was Theodore Roosevelt’s first wife. The Roosevelts had just one daughter together — Alice Lee Roosevelt. Alice Hathaway Lee died while still in the hospital, of what’s thought to be kidney failure, just days after giving birth to their daughter.

Source: Wikipedia.org

MichaelSanders EN-Wiki
MichaelSanders EN-Wiki

 

Anna Von Schweidnitz

Anna Von Schweidnitz was the Empress of the Holy Roman Empire in the 1300s and married to Emperor Charles IV. Schweidnitz successfully had two children; a son meant to be the successor to the throne and a daughter named after Elizabeth of Bohemia. Schweidnitz died at the age of 23 during childbirth. Their third child did not survive.

Source: Wikipedia.org

Cha gia Jose
Cha gia Jose

 

Carin du Rietz

Du Rietz was a Swedish woman who famously dressed up as a man to earn a post in the Swedish Royal Guard, making her the first woman to do so. Rietz married a librarian in the royal court named Erik Johan Paulin, but she died during childbirth. The child died soon after.

Source: Wikipedia.org

Beyond My Ken
Beyond My Ken

 

Cecilia Mettler

Mettler (1909 to 1943) was the first female professor of the history of medicine in the U.S. She became an associate in neurology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1941 and just two years later, died from complications in childbirth.

Source: Wikipedia.org

charvex.com
charvex.com

Emilia Uggla

Uggla was a Swedish noble classical concert pianist who, at age 11, debuted in a public concert in Stockholm, Sweden. In her early 20s she played for the Czar of Russia. She married nobleman Theodor Wilhelm Christian Uggla and died giving birth to his child.

Source: Wikipedia.org

dowsmallgroups.wordpress.com
dowsmallgroups.wordpress.com

Saint Gianna Beretta Molla

Molla was an Italian pediatrician (1922 to 1962) who was canonized as a saint of the Catholic Church as recently as 2004. Molla is famous for having refused an abortion when she was pregnant with her fourth child, aware of the fact that carrying on the pregnancy could result in her death. The child was successfully delivered by Caesarean section.

Source: Wikipedia.org

Guillaume Rouille
Guillaume Rouille

Julia Caesaris

Caesaris was the daughter of Julius Caesar and Caesar’s only legitimate child conceived in marriage. Caesaris married Pompey the Great and, historians believe that due to the stress of believing her husband had died in a riot, Caesaris’ body became too weak for childbirth. She died one year later giving birth for a second time. The child died as well. Caesar was alive and well in Britain when he heard of his wife’s death.

Source: Wikipedia.org

Colin Smith, geograph.org.uk
Colin Smith, geograph.org.uk

 

Margaret of Scotland, Queen of Norway

Margaret of Scotland (1261 to 1283) was the Queen consort of Norway. She married King Eric II of Norway in 1281 when he was 13 and she was 20. A treaty signed by the couple specified that their children would succeed to the throne of Scotland. Margaret died giving birth to her only child, a daughter who would become queen of Scotland.

Source: Wikipedia.org

W. C. Minor
W. C. Minor

Marietta Robusti

Robusti is one of the only well-known female Venetian painters during the Renaissance period. In an arranged marriage to a jeweler named Mario Augusti, Robusti died at the age of 30 during childbirth. Historians believe Robusti’s father, famous painter Jacopo Robusti, died due to depression over his daughter’s death.

Source: Theflorentine.net

John Opie National Portrait Gallery, London
John Opie National Portrait Gallery, London

 

Mary Wollstonecraft

Wollstonecraft (1759 to 1797) was an 18th-century English writer and women’s rights advocate who wrote “A Vindication of the Rights of Women.” In it she argued that women are not inferior to men, but their lack of access to education makes them appear to be so. Wollstonecraft had two children, one of whom was Mary Shelley, author of “Frankenstein.” Wollstonecraft died due to complications giving birth to Shelley.

Source: Wikipedia.org

Wikipedia.org
Wikipedia.org

Grand Duchess Alexandra Georgievna

The Grand Duchess came from a long line of royalty. She was the daughter of King George I and Queen Olga of Greece, and the granddaughter of Denmark’s King Christian IX. Georgievna was married to Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia and when she was pregnant with their second child, she jumped into a boat, but fell on her way. This brought on labor pains the next day–only 7 months into pregnancy–and she gave birth, but fell into a fatal coma.

Source: Theroyalforums.com

Wikipedia.org
Wikipedia.org

Alix Duchess of Brittany

The Duchess of Brittany’s own mother died giving birth to her. The Duchess had an arranged marriage with her cousin Peter of Dreux. The two had two children together, but the Duchess died during childbirth.

Source: Geni.com

Wikimedia.org
Wikimedia.org

Princess Charlotte of Wales

Charlotte of Wales was the only daughter of George Prince of Wales and Caroline of Brunswick. The Princess married who would become the King of Belgian, but the Princess died during childbirth with their first child, who came out as a stillborn.

Source: Innominatesociety.com

Alincolnenthusiast.tumblr.com
Alincolnenthusiast.tumblr.com

Sarah Lincoln Grigsby

Grigsby was the sister of Abraham Lincoln and took care of her brother after their mother passed away. Grigsby died while giving birth to her stillborn son, who she conceived with her husband Aaron Grigsby. Her brother blamed Aaron Grigsby for her death.

Source: Rogernorton.com

Wikimedia.org
Wikimedia.org

Stateira I

Stateira I was the Queen of Persia and wife of Darius III. Alexander the Great captured Stateira I, at which point her husband abandoned her. Stateira died in captivity giving birth to her son. Many speculate the son was not her husband’s.

Source: Ancientworlds.net

Wikipedia.org
Wikipedia.org

Smita Patil

Patil was one of the greatest Indian actresses of the 1980’s, having won two National Film Awards and a Filmfare Award. Patil was married to fellow actor Raj Babbar and died at the age of 31 due to childbirth complications. Pictured is her husband.

Source: Bollywoodjournalist.com

wikipedia.org
wikipedia.org

Nadine Shamir

Shamir was a singer and songwriter who released her first album at just 16 years old. Her hit single “Say You’ll Stay” earned her fame in Los Angeles and Miami. Shamir married fellow writer Jon Shamir, and gave birth to their son, but died the day after due to complications.

Source: Findagrave.com