Groaning Cake: When in Labour, Bake

Before you give birth, the nesting instinct kicks in and you might find yourself doing things like scraping a peeling forest mural off the dining room wall of your new/old house (my first baby), doing all the laundry and re-organizing the kitchen (before my second) or washing floors on your hands and knees with a toddler climbing on your back (my third.)

My great-grandmother (who gave birth 4 times at home, 1 boy and 3 girls) thought washing floors on your hands and knees was the best activity to bring on labour after the due date had passed, as she advised her daughter Isabel, who successfully gave birth to 3 boys and 1 girl.

Walking until you can't any more keeps labour going or gets it started again. My contractions always stopped during the drive to the hospital, although I think if I'd stayed home any longer with my third I would have had the baby in the bathtub. After arrival at the hospital's birthing centre, I was told to walk the halls until the pains got too bad. Then I stood, bent over, while Norm rolled my back with a wooden rolling pin to help ease the pain of back labour.  This was the only time Norm has ever used a rolling pin.

During my last couple months of pregnancy, I drank a lot of raspberry leaf tea to prepare for an easier natural childbirth but check with your doctor before you do this.

Another piece of advice comes from Canadian writer Ami McKay, author of "the birth house," published in 2006. I only recently read it, to distract myself from grief after the death of my dog, my constant companion through ten days of Covid isolation. On the last evening of her life she still sat at my side on our couch.

But I'm getting distracted, thinking about the dog again.

McKay lives in an old house, once a birth house, near the Bay of Fundy. Her historic home was the inspiration for her novel. She says it's traditional for a woman in early labour to bake a nutritious cake. The act of baking, particularly cracking the eggs yourself, is said to speed your labour along, while the aroma of the baking cake is a nice distraction from labour pains, and then you have cake ready for guests who come to meet your new baby.

Comforting aromas help with pain.

After my dog died, I made cookies, something I hadn't done for quite awhile.

I won't ever try baking McKay's recipe while in labour myself as I'm past the time of having babies. But next time there is a birthing in the family I could go over and help bake this. 

Ami McKay's Groaning Cake

Ami says you can modify the recipe to make it your own: add 1 cup of raisins, dates, dried fruit or nuts. I think you could use vanilla if you don't have almond extract, and that instead of 1-1/2 cups apple you could use 1/2 cup apple + 1/2 cup grated carrot + 1/2 cup grated zucchini or any combination of these grated to make 1-1/2 cups. If you don't have cloves, try 2-1/2 tsp cinnamon. Because when you're in labour you're probably not going to run out to the store, I think you should use what you have.

Tip: Measure the oil, then measure the molasses in the same cup and the molasses won't stick to the sides of the cup. 

• 2-1/2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cloves
• 3 large eggs
• 1-1/2 cups apple, peeled and grated
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup molasses (4 Tbsp)
• 1-1/3 cups white sugar
• 1 tsp almond extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line the bottoms of two 9 x 5" loaf tins with parchment. Oil the sides with vegetable oil. (Note: if you also flour the sides the loaves may rise higher.)
3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and cloves.
4. In a separate bowl, beat eggs. Add apple, oil, molasses, orange juice, sugar, almond extract. Blend well.
5. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Mix well.
6. Divide batter between two prepared loaf tins.
7. Bake 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick tester comes out clean.

Spice Cakes

Mrs. Watson's Raisin Spice Cake

A 1930's recipe from Lac La Biche, Alberta. Mrs. Watson was a piano teacher who served this cake at piano recitals.

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1-1/2 cups raisins
• 1 cup water
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 Tbsp molasses
• 1 Tbsp sour cream
• 1 tsp allspice
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking soda (dissolved in a little hot water)

1. Put raisins in a pot of 1 cup water, heat to boiling, boil 2 minutes.
2. Set raisins in water aside and let cool.
3. Cream butter and brown sugar.
4. Add eggs, beating well after each addition.
5. Add molasses, sour cream and spices, mixing well.
6. Add the flour a little at a time, alternating with the cooled raisin and water mixture.
7. Spread batter into a greased and floured 8 x 10" pan.
8. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 40 minutes.
9. Cool, then spread the cake with Chocolate Mocha Icing.

Chocolate Mocha Icing

• 2 cups icing sugar
• 1/4 cup Fry's Cocoa powder
• 5 Tbsp (or more) hot coffee
• 5 Tbsp butter

Put all ingredients in a bowl and beat well (use electric mixer.)