I can safely say that had there been a centre to which I could have
gone before my first boy was born I should have been saved the terrible
torture I suffered both before and after confinement. I was very
ignorant before marriage, and went away among strangers; and when I
became pregnant I did not like to say anything to a strange doctor, and
I had no lady friends whom I felt I could confide in. So I went about
with an ulcerated stomach, sick after every attempt to take food; and
when my baby came, I nearly lost my life. He was also very delicate for
five years after birth, wholly due, I am convinced, to the state I was
in whilst pregnant.
With the other two boys, I have always had to get about too soon. The
month I have always had to have a woman in the house, during which time
I have been absolutely helpless, being a terrific expense.
The doctor has ordered me to lie down for two hours each day, but that
is absolutely impossible for a working man’s wife when she has two
or three children around her, meals to provide, and the washing and
cleaning, etc., to do in the home.
I speak from my own experience, and I know that there are thousands of
women who are a million times worse off than I am, for I have the best
husband in the world; but his nor any other working man’s wages won’t
pay for help in the home at a cost of at least 12s. a week and food. On
the very day my first baby was born my husband was thrown out of work.
This was kept from my knowledge for five weeks, and I am sure you will
guess all the scheming he used to keep me in ignorance. He had his club
money for the period he was out of employment, which amounted to 9s. a
week.
_Wages 25s. to 30s.; three children._