When I was married, I left my home and went to a distant town, out
of reach of my mother and all my friends, and in due time I became
pregnant, and as time rolled on, I began to feel the symptom which I
thought was right to feel and bear.
Now, in a strange town, and no particular friends, and, shall I say,
mock modest, I was almost afraid to go to a doctor for advice, in case
he would think I was a coward, and did not try to bear what I thought
was right. At last, I ordered the doctor and midwife, then I awaited
the arrival of the baby. The time came. I was in labour thirty-six
hours, and after all that suffering had to be delivered by instruments,
and was ruptured too badly to have anything done to help me. I am
suffering from the ill-effects to-day. This is thirty-one years ago.
I had two children after that, but all the time I was carrying them
I was quite unable to get about. When the last baby was about to
arrive, the last month I was not able to go upstairs, unless I got up
backwards, and to come down I had to slip from step to step. Going back
to the first birth, I was unable to sit down for three months. If I
wanted to rest, I had to lie down.
Now, after that experience, my feeling is that if it were possible to
get Maternity Centres or schools for expectant mothers, it would be a
godsend to many a woman; and also to get some little help in nourishing
the body, such as a small quantity of fresh milk. I hope I have
enlightened you in some little way; if I have, it is worth the time I
have spent in writing.
_Wages 26s. to 28s.; three children._