Midwives would brew what was coined ``groaning ale ' This groaning ale contained extremely high contents of alcohol and special spices , all in hopes of easing the child bearing pains . A variation to groaning ale was used by some doctors . This was a little less toxin on the mother and baby . Doctors concocted spirits that were used as an anesthetic . This anesthetic was less expensive and more readily available from household to household than the hard spirits used in the groaning...











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