Hello and Welcome to C Day!
Name:
Cora Mae Gill
Vital Information:
Cora was born on 16 January 1874. She died on 12 July 1894 in childbirth with her first and only child, my great grandpa Philetus.
Relation to Me:
Paternal 2x great grandma.
Tidbits/Characteristics/Commonalities:
Cora and I were both young moms (she 20 and I just 18) and, due to her passing and my experience, I imagine we both had very challenging labors and deliveries. While I don’t know the circumstances of Cora’s delivery (whether she was at home or in a hospital, who was supporting her, what her health was like prior to delivery), I do know that if I had not had the benefit of modern interventions, it’s likely that both my daughter and I would not have made it.
I carry the knowledge of Cora’s tragic passing on the pulse of my heart. A young woman, likely so full of life and hope, gone so quickly… Only here long enough to bring the next generation into the world so that I, and everyone in between Cora and I, could exist.
In Your Research…
Have you encountered kin who have passed away during or shortly after the delivery of a child?
Housekeeping
My theme for the 2025 A to Z Challenge is Kin! The first names of direct lineage kin, to be more specific.
I’m spending the majority of the month focusing on the first names of many of my direct lineage kin. I’ll include their full names, any vital information I’ve found in my research, their relation to me, any fun tidbits/characteristics/experiences, and any commonalities I may have gleaned between myself and them.
In a couple of cases, where I have not identified an ancestor whose first name starts with a particular letter, I will choose a unique middle name, a direct line surname, and/or ancestral lands/places of significance.
Pop over here to read my full theme reveal: A to Z 2025 Challenge Theme Reveal: Kin
Pop over here to visit our host and see what they’re up to throughout this year’s challenge: A to Z Challenge
If you’re visiting from the A to Z Challenge please leave a comment so I can visit you, too! If your comment bio doesn’t link back to your site, please feel free to add the link to your most recent post to the comment field so I can be sure to find you.
Thanks for being here! See you again soon!
Onward,
Melissa
I was terrified of labour. I’m thankful for the time we live in because I would have lost both my sons without modern interventions.
The name Cora is lovely.
Stopping in from A-to-Z: https://brewingcoffeetwistingwordsbreakingpencils.ca/2025/04/03/community-i-am-grateful-for-your-support/
I do not know any that died giving birth, but there must be someone back there who did. My paternal grandmother was told after giving birth to my father, her first child, that she must never have any more children. She had six more and lived to be 99.
I had five labors and deliveries. I wasn’t afraid as I had no horror stories and a friend had told me about lamaze and I’d taken classes. However the doctor wasn’t really into it and I ended up with a spinal for birth 1. birth 2 was natural hospital. birth 3 was natural at the midwife’s house. birth 4 was natural hospital. birth 5 was planned to be natural hospital but ended up with a c-section, during which I had my tubes tied. number 6 was by adoption. Now they’re all grown up, most with children of their own.
Sorry, guess I got carried away with my own stories. LOL
I loved reading about all of your positive birth experiences! And so interesting about your grandma who was told not to have any more children! I wonder why that was? I’m glad all her subsequent births went well 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing!
I probably wouldn’t have made it without modern medicine, so this is especially poignant for me, too.
https://nydamprintsblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2025/03/c-is-for-cooperation.html
Every birth is so unique. I’m so glad we’re all still here to tell the story <3
I have a couple in my family who died in the first few weeks after labour. It was a common thing and is very sad. I was very lucky to have three very quick and easy births, but sorry to hear that yours wasn’t so easy. It’s interesting that your experience is so similar to Cora. https://jonesfamilyhistory.wordpress.com/
Ah yes, maternal mortality shortly after delivery is also such a big deal. My mom got very ill with infection after she delivered my little brother, as did I. Modern medicine for the win. I am so glad your deliveries were quick and easy! So many of them are 🙂
All three of my children were surgical deliveries. Had I not been in the hospital, I would surely have met Cora’s fate and my children with me.
Thank goodness for modern medicine! I am so glad you all survived <3