1974 Maternity Ward Pamphlet for New Mothers

[Fleur]

I read that with mild amusement until I got to the schedule... I cannot imagine not having my baby with me all the time! That would have been awful beyond words

[sasha]

So regimented!! Can you imagine having to ask for your baby to be unwrapped so you could see him/her? I thought it was interesting also that all the babies they had back then were obviously boys...

My mum and I were talking about my brother's (very fast) birth, and she got to the hospital with literally minutes to spare, and the midwife said to her, "Well, I suppose there's no time to give you an enaema. You know, Dr ______ doesn't like his patients to birth without having had an enaema." And Mum was thinking, "well, I would rather not poo in the delivery room either, but this baby is coming NOW!!"

Interestingly, I have had help to and from the toilet both times (getting into and out of bed) after the births - not necessarily from the midwife, M and Mum helped me as well, I think. I was "weaker than I thought"!

[TeniBear]

Anyone but my baby tries to wake me up at 5am right after I've had a baby, they won't know what hit 'em (though I suppose I'll make an exception if I'm sharing a room - anyone under the age of four days is allowed to wake me up at 5am?)

And if they weren't allowed to unwrap their babies... what if baby pooed? Who changed the nappy? Did they never have to change the baby until they went home? Even when I was born, my mum was taught how to change my nappy (though she gave up on the clothies a few days in)

And No hair rollers allowed in the delivery room? What in god's name happened that they felt that needed special mention? Did they have a lot of labouring mothers come to hospital in rollers?

Oh my goodness, the viewing hours, too! If I were to have my bub in this hospital, and Scott had to go right back to work the next day, it's possible he wouldn't get to see the baby until we came home - He'd probably be working right through both times

So glad things have changed... The booklet I got at the hospital pretty much implies they'll think less of you if you DON'T want to room in with bub I think it also said they encourage co-sleeping, but I can't remember...