The Year of Queen Sālote Tupou III – Queen Sālote’s obstetric history

Sālote was 18 years old and six months pregnant with her first child when she succeeded her father as Queen of Tonga.

She gave birth to a healthy son named Siaosi Tāufaʻāhau Tupoulahi on 4 July 1918, who would eventually succeed her as King. He was quickly followed by a second healthy son named Uiliami Tuku‘aho on 5 November 1919.

During her childbearing years, she also had at least three miscarriages. It was initially believed that she would not have another child, but another healthy son named Sione Ngū Manumataongo was born on 7 January 1922.¹

Her third miscarriage occurred on 6 April 1924,² Even though the literature calls this a “miscarriage”, Queen Sālote named her stillborn son ‘Alaivahamama’o and she wrote a lament for him. “Tell the ‘esi of Pānuve, that my child is lost from me.”³

Only the miscarriage or stillbirth in 1924 was recorded in diaries, but others have referred to miscarriages in circa 1920 and another in 1923. The one in 1923 was reportedly a daughter, although it is unclear if this does not also mean that it was a stillbirth rather than a miscarriage. A miscarriage is usually before 20 weeks of pregnancy.⁴ One miscarriage took place at Faka’osikato, on the island of Ha’afeva, Ha’apai and this child was buried at Falefakauo.⁵

Queen Sālote’s second son, Prince Uiliami Tuku‘aho, died at the age of 16 of dropsy, but her two other sons both lived to adulthood.⁶

Queen Sālote’s eldest son was born weighing 11 pounds, and she had suffered painful tears during the birth. She believed they were the cause of her later health problems and subsequent miscarriages.⁷ By the 1930s, she felt generally unwell. She was examined at home by Dr Olive Wood, who told her that she may have cancer and to seek medical advice in Australia. The doctors in Sydney eventually concurred with Dr Wood’s diagnosis of cancer. On 22 August 1935, Queen Sālote underwent a hysterectomy. Queen Sālote was grateful for the care she received and declared, “My empty cup is full to overflowing.”⁸

1. Sālote: Queen of Paradise by Margaret Hixon p.88
2. Queen Sālote of Tonga: The Story of an Era 1900–1965 by Elizabeth Wood-Ellem p.67
3. Queen Sālote of Tonga: The Story of an Era 1900–1965 by Elizabeth Wood-Ellem p.111
4. CDC
5. Queen Sālote of Tonga: The Story of an Era 1900–1965 by Elizabeth Wood-Ellem p.340
6. Queen Sālote of Tonga: The Story of an Era 1900–1965 by Elizabeth Wood-Ellem p.164
7. Queen Sālote of Tonga: The Story of an Era 1900–1965 by Elizabeth Wood-Ellem p.59
8. Queen Sālote of Tonga: The Story of an Era 1900–1965 by Elizabeth Wood-Ellem p.162