Childbirth during the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods was a time when a woman called together her closest friends—her god-siblings—to help with the delivery. The midwife delivered while the god-siblings helped out, creating a warm, womblike atmosphere in the room and serving up hot caudle. After a while, “god sibling” became shortened to “gossip”—with its dual meaning of a confidante and happy, newsy chatter between women.

The caudle simmered over the fire. The room felt warm and safe from the bitter cold and snow outside. Warm with light, warm with heat, warm with friendship. My heart soared even as I prayed that I would survive this childbirth, that my son would survive, too.

From When the Moon Has No More Silver, by Connie Lapallo