Having suffered with rheumatic fever at the age of five, through going
to live in a new damp house, perhaps explains the reason I suffered
more than most women during pregnancy and confinement, as I was left
with a weak heart all my life. I may also say I have had the same
fever three times altogether. I married most happily, and my first
miscarriage occurred when I had been married two years, through lack
of strength, as I was anæmic. Two years afterwards my little girl was
born, strong and healthy, although for nine months I was unable to walk
or do my housework, and she has thrived up to the present age of six
years. I never recovered my usual health, as I could not afford to rest
after my confinement, as I had to work to help pay the debt incurred
through my long illness. After one year I was again pregnant, and as I
had overworked myself I was again too weak to carry; and thus occurred
the second miscarriage, due entirely to having no rest. I suffered two
months with hæmorrhage that threatened to end my life, but I revived
and continued in a weakly state for three years, being just able to do
my housework, when my little son was born, strong and healthy, weighing
at birth 12 pounds, and has remained healthy up to two years, the
present time; and I have fed both children by breast up to two years
each, without the aid of stout or intoxicants, milk being my chief
diet. Thus you will see that I have had two miscarriages and two lovely
babies. If you can understand this jumble of events, you will notice
that while I was worried by circumstances I could not bear children,
while during both times when I was obliged to rest I was successful,
showing that homes of rest for women in pregnancy and confinement would
result in a great saving of life, and also result in children being
healthy born. Also, the grant advocated would relieve the mother of the
necessity to overwork herself.
In reference to my husband’s earnings, during the time they varied from
16s. 6d. to 25s. per week. But of course I never received more than the
small amount in the winter, and the largest amount in the summer, for
housekeeping, as my husband had to lose short time in winter.
_Wages 16s. 6d. to 25s.; two children, two miscarriages._
[Illustration: FIFTEEN CHILDREN, FOUR LIVING. FATHER AN IRON MOULDER.
The family is not connected with the Women’s Co-operative Guild.
(_Reproduced by kind permission of the Medical Officer of Health for
Liverpool._)]