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Gestation Corset
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This corset was specially designed for pregnant women.

Gestation Corset

Sam, with her vast knowledge of costume collections, has never seen another maternity corset. Made of sateen and whalebone, this stay would have been worn to slim the torso and push up the breasts. During the second half of the 19th century, corsets were specifically designed to wear while bicycling, playing tennis and horseback riding, as well as for maternity wear. Thank goodness things have changed! Driven by fashion to wear a tightly laced corset, some women went so far that they could only breathe with the top part of their lungs. This caused the bottom part of their lungs to fill with mucus. Yuk!

This corset is made from sateen and whalebone and dates to around 1800-1828.

Corsets specially designed for pregnant women were common in the early 19th century. Like the standard corset of the day, it is made of stout cotton sateen. It has two hefty whalebone 'busks' sewn into the centre back, and laces down the front, not uncommon for a maternity version, which could then be altered easily as the abdomen expanded. Extra tape supports to the sides have been attached which seem to have passed over the shoulders through the loops then crossing to fasten over the stomach, when still possible in early pregnancy. The bust and hip gussets are extra large to accommodate a full term pregnancy. Corsets throughout the 19th Century were similar in construction, using double layers of strong fabric, whale or metal 'bones', and eyeleted lace to adjust the tight waist.

Given by Commander AA Mackinnon in 1963.

Accession number: 19.1963 (m)