75. Bad Effects of Hard Work.
I think your Maternity Scheme just splendid. You will see by accompanying form I have lost two of my four babies, and had a miscarriage. If I had taken more care before birth, I quite believe those children would have lived.
I have always had good health, and quite able to do my work up to the last, but I think now it is quite wrong for the mother to try to do hard work a month or six weeks before or after. That means she wants three months real care.
In my case before those two were born, I had to work harder than usual, and the consequences were they were born delicate.
My two children that I have reared are strong and healthy, and I had no troubles or worries or hard work before they were born. I could also take things easy until they were six weeks old.
There is one other point; the mother who works and worries generally loses the milk which is so necessary for the baby. If only mothers could take it easy during that time, I am certain we could rear a much better race. I often feel I shall be able to help my own daughter, should she need it, for the mothers of the past were ignorant.
Wages 26s. to 32s.; four children, one miscarriage.
76. Amongst Strangers.
I think many of us have suffered (and do so now) through lack of care during pregnancy, especially over a first child. If something could be done to help the expectant mother to understand how best to care for herself, then much suffering would be saved afterwards.
I went to live many miles away from my home and friends when I married, amongst strangers, and was too shy to ask anyone what I should or should not do (when I knew I should become a mother), and was so ill, tired, and depressed that I felt I did not want to do anything. A dear old woman, one of the neighbours, came to me one day, and asked me if I had been to a doctor; I said “No; I was going to speak to one nearer the time.” She said, “My dear girl, go to him now. Tell him how you are. I am sure he will be able to give you something to ease that excessive sickness, etc., and advise you how best to take care of yourself.”