OMG i cant imagine the upset that your gran must have been feeling. Thank you for sharing you'r stories they were some what heart-breaking. You'r gran is a very strong hearted woman, if that was me god alone know's what trouble i would have caused.
I stumbled across this today whilst looking for something else. I just thought it was an amazing story and wanted to share my respect for the OP's grandmother and any other women who have had to go through similar experiences.
omg I feel sick and want to cry. Would love to get a hold of those doctors and nurses now! There is lack of knowledge, but there's also pure heartlessness and abuse
But go your gran even after all that to tell them where to go and BF!
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.
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.
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
Oh wow! I had goosebumps and tears in my eyes thinking about what your Gran endured. My how times have changed. I wish I had asked my Grandmother about her births, too late to do so now what stories they would have been, an 11lb 10oz footling breech for one.
That was so horrible. Imagine being tied to the bed and then "forgotten" and not even being told what your baby was or if it was alive. I would have skinned the drs and nurses alive. Tell your nan that she is a strong woman to have endured all that abuse and give her a huge cuddle from us all
I will have to ask my nan and mum their experiences now - just to compare.
thank you to your grandmother for recording and sharing her stories.. absolutely heartbreaking. As much as people criticise medical interventions and hospitals, we really are so lucky that things have changed since then (well here in the developed world anyway). I wish I had the chance to ask my grandmothers about their births, so again, thank you for sharing this.
oh man.. thats heart breaking..
That treatment, particularly of your Nan in hospital (and your Dad) was so totally inhumane..God bless them both!
I cant believe that sort of stuff used to happen!
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Would love to get a hold of those doctors and nurses now! There is lack of knowledge, but there's also pure heartlessness and abuse
. 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.
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