I am bound to say that I have never had bad times, neither before nor
after birth. Of course, I have tried to obey the laws of Nature, taking
plenty of exercise, good plain food, avoiding constipation--all three
very essential things in such cases. Also, I have had home comforts, a
husband who has studied me in every respect during the time. Some women
are dreadfully sick all the way through, which is much against both
the child and herself. I am never sick from beginning to end. The most
difficult thing at the time is securing a woman who is able and willing
to do housework, and look after the woman at the same time; that to
me is one of the greatest problems in the Maternity Scheme to-day. If
something could be done to organise such women, then it would mean
much. A midwife simply goes and washes the baby and sees to the mother
once a day for a week, but when the mother gets up, she often has more
loss, and therefore feels her weakness.
_Wife’s allowance 18s. to 30s.; six children, one still-born._
P.S.--I could give you many very wretched cases, as I am on the Guild
of Help Committee, also the N.S.P.C.C., so come across a lot of sad
cases--in fact, I have a case on my list just now where the woman has
had thirteen children under fourteen years. Twelve are living, the last
two being born this week. I visited her before the children were born,
to see if she was having sufficient food for herself and family, as
her husband was unable to work, suffering from nystagmus. She said she
had only been able to eat dry toast for weeks, her throat and chest
were so bad. The woman at this time is very ill, and has two babies to
consider. Her husband has done nothing for ten weeks. These are the
cases we want to fight for.