How did women in the 1700's deal with their period?

Question

I know this sounds crazy but, I really am curious. I mean like there weren't any pads or anything back then so, what were they doing holding a gravy bowl underneath all that cloth.

Answer 1

I am a 1770's living historian, and I can easily explain this. Ever heard of the terms "ragging" or "on the rag"? Well, being that there was no such thing as underwear (and "bloomers" of the 19th Century were crotchless), women tied rags around themselves to soak up the blood. There was no such thing as tampons, being that inserting a phallic object into the vagina or touching the vagina would be seen as incredibly sexual and thus shunned (this continued later on, being that vibrators in the 1900's were seen as women's necessities, wheras speculums were taboo because of their shape). During "that time", women also stayed inside, and were seen as "indisposed", meaning that they had no visitors. Yeah it sucked to be sans undies, but imagine trying to pull down underpants and then lift up 2 petticoats and a gown and an undershirt (shift) to pee in a little pot? Trust me, it's hard.

Answer 2

When I first read your question I was going to respond have you ever heard of "being on the rag" But it looks like that has been covered already. It was still a "bloody mess" I am sure.

Answer 3

um...and why arent you waiting to convey pads and stuff?? properly...convey alot of rags or something with you cuz certainly i dont be responsive to an im a woman myself lol edit: the pill does no longer give up your era it helps adjust it

Answer 4

It's usually impossible to say for sure for most cultures, although women have used tampons, pads ("rags" and commercial ones), sponges, grass and other absorbent materials probably for thousands of years.
In European cultures, the history of women, especially their everyday affairs, is inadequate; men ruled the roost and women were "good" for a limited number of things, few worth recording - at least, so thought the men.
Keep in mind that prior to the 20th century, European and American women menstruated infrequently compared with today. They
started menstruating later, frequently in the mid to late teens, and stopped earlier, if they lived long enough to experience menopause, thus creating a shorter time for menstruation

married earlier, legitimizing the production of children, which reduced menstruation

had more children, and used less contraception, stopping menstruation for long periods

breast fed their children longer (and more often), which usually stopped menstruation

were more likely to be under- and malnourished or sick, or any combination thereof, which can stop menstruation

died earlier - stopping it dead

Answer 5

My Grandmother who was born in 1913 {even that was before pads and such}

Grandma told me that she used old rags and then had to wash them out and reuse them. There was too much work to be done so she never was able to stay in bed. She said she hide two flower sacks in the out house one with the clean rags and one for the dirty rags. At the end of the day she would wash them out and hang them out to dry.

She also told me that once she got married {shortly after she had her first period} she was happy to be pregnant because she didn't have to wash her rags. She had 10 pregnancies

Grandma told me that "On the rag" is not a new term it was from when women really used rags!

Grandma died in 1998 at the age of 85.

Answer 6

Yes, they were holding a gravy bowl underneath all that cloth.

Answer 7

they used old rags, wool fleece and other absorbant materials. It sounds like it was very gross. Luckily they spent alot of time pregnant or breastfeeding, so they didn;t have as many periods as we do. And then they died young!!! Ahh, the good old days.

Answer 8

http://www.mum.org/pastgerm.htm

Answer 9

Well it takes me back a ways, but to the best of my
recolation, They wore diapers under them big thick dresses.
A "potato" told me that. When you are working in the garden.
You have to watch out, how you bend over. Because them
there potato's have "eyes." Athena. <}:-})