Maternity

 

Over the twenty years from Fred’s birth to Diana’s, procedures and treatment at maternity hospitals/homes, as far as I could see, didn’t alter much.  A woman was expected to spend two weeks there, with the first four days completely in bed.  Babies, pans, and the wherewithal for a wash were brought to her in bed.  Up to the seventh day one could sit in a chair while her bed was made, and after that venture as far as the lounge if she wanted to.

   

In C.J. ward in Waikato hospital there were about twenty beds and at baby’s feed time, pan and wash times the nurses had to lug screens round each bed- a noisy and no doubt stressful operation for them.  Even after they were up, each mother went back to bed to feed the baby.  With my first baby I was taken to watch him being bathed once and then expected to do it myself the day before I went home.  The bath was an old fashioned washbasin.  My breasts were very hard and full, and Freddy didn’t find them easy to feed from.  A few minutes on a breast pump relieved the pressure and made it easier for the little one to satisfy their needs, but it was also at C.J. that Mooloo, the milking machine was introduced.  How we laughed!  I found it easier than the breast pump, but they didn’t have it in Tauranga annexe. 

Twice I managed to get the time shortened.  The first time I had a W.D.F.F. housekeeper at home and persuaded the doctor that I had help, so he let me home at 10 days, but as soon as I got home she told my husband she was going.  I suppose he could have refused to take her (she’d have had a long walk) but we managed. When Ian was born on December 15th I told the doctor I had to be home for Christmas and I was.  That was in Tauranga annexe, and their curtains were on a rail, and needed only to be pulled around each bed.   

Now-a-days the time has been cut right down, and only some stay more than a day or two, and I think have to get up to their baby even after some time in labour.  Apparently the midwife does visit to help a new mother as she sees necessary, and I guess if she’s not too busy.  Without the extra help if needed to get baby feeding and sleeping properly, or a mother with several other children and not a good rest after the birth, it would not be surprising if mothers do not manage a good milk supply to breastfeed, and so resort to bottle feeding.  Then the necessity, these days, of so many mothers having to go back to work means it is more convenient to put baby on the bottle. Another amenity these days is child-care centres where the babies are cared for by trained staff instead of mothers.  I guess in some cases this has an advantage for both, but I wonder who becomes the most looked for by the little one, and how baby can differentiate?