Modern women can easily determine if they are pregnant. The methods they use provide a very high percentage of reliable information even at the earliest possible date. And how was pregnancy determined earlier, when modern diagnostic methods were not yet used?
How pregnancy was previously determined
There are many popular ways to determine pregnancy. Some of them do not have any scientific justification, while others, on the contrary, are relevant in our time. Pregnancy is associated with biological changes in a woman's body, which were noticed by midwives in ancient times.
A pregnant woman changes hormones, behavior, addictions, and over time, the body.
The most striking sign of pregnancy is a delay in menstruation. However, some women are able to find out about their new condition even before the date of their occurrence. This is due to the fact that there are very sensitive ladies who begin to feel changes in the body already about a week after the possible process of conception.
The fact of the appearance of pain in the chest may indicate pregnancy. The nipples can become hypersensitive and painful to touch.
Pregnant women may begin to experience fatigue, drowsiness. Some even experience early toxicosis.
Women are especially sensitive to smells.
Some midwives used to use boiling urine to determine pregnancy. If a sediment appeared in her, it was believed that the woman was in position.
Historical facts
There are many historical facts regarding the definition of pregnancy in ancient times.
In Sumer, pregnancy was determined using a tampon made of linen, woolen thread or grass. A woman had to wear such a tampon for three days. If he transfused after extraction, this meant pregnancy.
In ancient Egypt, pregnancy was detected with the help of an unusual drink, which was prepared on the basis of the milk of a nursing woman who gave birth to a boy, and the "bududu-ka" plant. Vomiting caused by the mixture drunk indicated the conception of the fetus.
In Greece, on suspicion of imminent motherhood, they drank wine with honey or anise-honey mixture at night. If in the morning there was pain near the navel, this meant pregnancy.
The Jewish sages asked the woman to walk on the grass. The deep marks left by her testified to pregnancy.
In China, the presence of pregnancy made it possible to determine the method of acupuncture. In theory, a pregnant woman's heart rate was measured, after which complex calculations were carried out. Based on the results obtained, conclusions were drawn about the status of women.
