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1.1840-1844:THEFIRSTFOURCHILDREN
andhowsheresentedbeinginuastateofconstantmalaise”,aswellas
emphasisingtheusufferingsandmiseriesandplagues”ofpregnancy.Her
physicalstatenowdictatedwhatshecouldandcouldnotdo.Shehadto
takeuconstant”elaborateprecautionsagainstharmingherselforthe
baby,givingupwhatshecalledtheuenjoymentsetc.”ofanunrestricted
life-dancing,latenightparties,orriding,andsubjectingherselftothe
staresofherguests.55
Byuhappyenjoymentwithdearpapa”56theQueenmusthavealso
meantsexualrelationswhichpregnancyvirtuallyexcluded,asmedi-
caltheoriesofthedayrecommendedextremecautionorabstinence
fromsexualrelationsthroughoutapregnancy.TheVictoriansgenerally
believedthatusexualindulgence”orevenuamativeexcitementonthe
partofthemother,withoutindulgence”coulddamagethehealthofthe
unbornchildorleaditintofutureudestructivevice”.Inparticular,uvio-
lentcoitioninsexualintercourse,shouldbecautiouslyavoided,tosave
thepreciouslittlebeinginthewombfromdisplacementofitslimbs,or
spinaldistortion,whichmightresultinpermanentphysicaldeformity;
foralthoughremarkablywellprotectedbysurroundingmembranes,
fluids,andthemuscularwallsoftheuterus,thefoetusissometimes
deformed”bysuchactions.57
*
TheQueenmusthavealsobeenconcernedaboutmaternalmortality.
Estimatesofthenumberofwomenwhodiedgivingbirthinthe1840s
inEnglandareaboutfourorfvewomenperthousand,withtheusual
reasonfordeathgivenbydoctorsbeinguexcessivementalemotion”.
58
VictoriawasalsoprobablyhauntedbythedeathofhercousinCharlotte,
wifeofUncleLeopoldandtheonlylegitimategrandchildofGeorgeIII,
who,havingsufferedatleastonepreviousmiscarriagediedattheageof
21shortlyaftergivingbirthtoastillbornson.59Evenbeforehermarriage
theQueendiscussedPrincessCharlottewithLordMelbourneonseveral
occasions.
60
InJune1838,MelbournetoldheraboutuaMissArklow”,
61
the
wifeofLordSpencerwhodiedwhenlying-in,asdidthechild.62
WhatevertheQueen’sinitialthoughtsonbecomingpregnant,astime
passedshebegantoviewherconditionsomewhatdifferentlyandon
10October1840,exactlyayearsinceshehadreceivedAlbertandubeheld
thosedearbeautifuleyes,whichseemedtogotomysoulthen”,shewrote
21
