I have been married seventeen years, and have had four children. My
first, a boy, was born two years after marriage. The second was twin
boys, born two years and six months after the first. One of these was
still-born. During the whole time of second pregnancy I was very ill
and unable either to work or walk about without great pain, the result
of trying to do just the necessary housework. At my confinement, the
after-birth came first, then the still-birth, and the living child came
last. This was very dangerous to me, and I was unable to leave my bed
for three weeks, and I was at least three months before I was in my
usual health. My third child was born nine years after second (a girl)
the after-birth again coming first, the baby being born nine hours
after. She lived six hours, and was convulsed from birth. The doctor’s
opinion was that I had worked too hard as a girl lifting heavy weights,
therefore weakening the whole system. It is high time that something
was done by the Government to lessen the sufferings of mothers, which
has always been hidden as something not to be talked about.
_Wages 36s.; three children, one still-birth._