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Story: Pregnancy, birth and baby care

Death during childbirth, 1910s

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Death during childbirth, 1910s

Death during childbirth was a realistic fear for women. New Zealand infant and maternal mortality rates were high by international standards in the early 20th century. Neither Mrs Gilmer nor her baby survived.

Using this item

Nelson Provincial Museum, Tyree Studio Collection

Reference: 179367/3

Permission must be sought from Nelson Provincial Museum before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Kerryn Pollock, Pregnancy, birth and baby care – Childbirth, 19th century to 1950s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/26165/death-during-childbirth-1910s (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 29 March 2011.