The work is published in the BIORXIV preprints. Childing in the Middle Ages, as it is known, was extremely dangerous and carried significant risks for the mother, and for the child. Women died from postpartum infections, commemoration of the uterus and other complications, so the life expectancy of the beautiful sex in those times was much shorter than in men.
It is not surprising that many talismans are connected with childbirth, which offered to wear a Catholic church to women. Among them there are many references to the so-called birth belts made from a variety of materials - silk, paper, parchment. In many similar relics, prayers are inscribed on the protection of man and his health, including the protection of births.
Most of the "maternity belts" was destroyed after the Reformation of the Church, so only a small number came to this day. Ancient manuscripts indicate that these belts were used during childbirth as a kind of "treatment", but there are no direct evidence of wearing belts during childbearing.
Scientists from the Cambridge, Edinburgh and University of London (United Kingdom) decided to hold a biomolecular analysis of one of the preserved "maternity belts" and find out the exact answer to this question. It is noteworthy that researchers selected exactly the sample, which preserved specific prayers for the protection of the feminine and mention of the saints associated with women and childbirth. In addition, it has visual evidence that the belt was really used and wore, since some inscriptions and images are erased, there are also many stains of incomprehensible origin.
After analyzing the samples taken from these spots, scientists came to the conclusion that they correspond to the human proteins of the cervico-vaginal fluid. In conjunction with the above facts, this can be considered proof that the belt was really used during childbirth. Researchers believe that such things were worn about the same as the belt of loyalty.
Source: Naked Science