My Grandmothers births, UK, 1947 and 1949

[Bun]

OMG what a story. Your poor Gran. I have never thought much about how birth was in the past, but after reading that I am pretty glad to be having my babies in this day and age! I would love to ask my grandma about her births but I don't think she would remember.

[Traveller]

What awful stories, please thank your gran so much for sharing.

I have spoken to my gran about her births. She had four homebirths because she was not high risk, and therefore not allowed to deliver in hospital. She had a PPH after her first baby and was terrified each birth that she would die at home but they would not let her have a room in hospital. It's a bit of a shame because if she had gone to hospital it would have been the big new one that was just built, which is where my twins were born 50 years later . Her fourth child was in distress during birth but (in her words) the midwife just ignored it and her baby was deprived of oxygen and has suffered lifelong problems as a result. She is very opposed to homebirth and midwives as a result, and is not overjoyed on my career choice.

She never wanted to breastfeed, and the midwives said that formula was probably better for them anyway so she just did that.

[Cassius2]

thank you and your Gran for sharing her stories xx (i bet your Gran's friend was happy to have gotten the vet instead!.

My Oma also lived in fear of her births. she had four between 1957-1962. and yeah, basically told to be flat on your back and ignored until pushing. she told me that no one explained the birth process to her and she thought that contractions were a sign of something dangerous so she told me that her first birth was particularly traumatic as she was sure that it was her baby and herself dying...and no one came to tell her otherwise

[Aligater]

My Nana has told me her birth stories she is 88 hers was good but that was just horific.