The Corsets And Pregnacy

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Corsets and Pregnancy
The 1800s were full of corsets. They were meant to give any woman that slim, hourglass shape. Corsets constricted the torso and were reinforced with stiffeners. These stiffeners fit the body so tightly that the body was then molded to the shape of the corset (Caelleigh). The definition given in an article titled, "A Short History of the Corset", states, “A corset is a close-fitting piece of clothing that has been stiffened by various means in order to shape a woman 's (also a man 's, but rarely) torso to conform to the fashionable silhouette of the time” ("A Short History of the Corset.") This was a very popular item to wear in throughout the 1800s, but what happened when the women became pregnant?
There were many different …show more content…

Many women of all economic classes tried to hide their maternal condition from society. The use of corsetry helped them to keep their pregnancy a secret (Bach.)Women of the middle and upper class used corsets to accomplish a small waist and smooth silhouette. These women enjoyed attending social events, wearing extravagant gowns and clothing. When they became pregnant, the doctor recommended bed rest until the baby was born (Bach.) These women refused to give up their lifestyle. Also, society depicted women to be pure and virginal. A pregnant body was unacceptable (Bach.) This was another reason to wear the corset. Working women often hid their pregnancies because they feared losing their jobs. Employers were afraid that a pregnant woman would be lethargic and slower. They would slow the factory work load down. Working women were often fired when they became pregnant. Wearing a corset helped the woman to work longer during her pregnancy. Women continued to wear corsets during pregnancy in hopes of aborting the baby. Because birth control was almost nonexistent, wearing the corset would not let the fetus grow, causing a miscarriage (Bach.) A maternity corset was available during the 1800’s. This corset was designed differently. Instead of lacing up the back, the laces were at the sides, where it could be loosened as the mother expands. This corset would allow the mother to hide her bump for a short time until she could no longer hide it (Bach.) Since most women wore corsets, their back muscles weakened, requiring them to wear a corset during the months of pregnancy

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