I have had three children. There was one year between the first
and second, two years between the second and third. I have had no
miscarriage, and no still-births. But I have been very ill at times
ever since my children were born. I can assure you that some doctors
are very neglectful at these times. This you will see when I tell you
about myself at these times. My first child was a boy, and I nearly
lost my life because the doctor did not bring his bag containing the
necessary instruments for use at these times, and his home was five
miles away. So I can assure you I was nearly gone when the child was
born. Then, when I had the second one--which was a girl--the very same
doctor (there was only one doctor within miles then) came nearly
drunk, and I had a frightful time. What is called the after-birth had
grown to my side, and he never got it all away. I had milk fever first,
and then childbed fever. I lost all reason, never knew a soul for just
three months. Then I had to go under an operation to have the substance
got away, which left me in a very bad way, the child being eight months
old when I was able to get up. And, still worse, I had nearly the same
thing to go through over the third, through not being able to get a
doctor, and had a midwife who was not very experienced. I had to be
taken to the hospital, and the doctors told me there I should never
have any more children through the way I had been treated at the last
childbirth, and I was very pleased to hear it, I can assure you, after
what I had gone through. My youngest child is just twenty years old,
and I have never had any since, but I love children, and I think they
are a blessing to every good mother. I know I shall have to suffer
while I live through being neglected at childbirth. The Maternity
Benefit would have been a godsend to me while I was having children.
_Wages 14s. to 20s.; three children._