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diff --git a/old/50077-0.txt b/old/50077-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 02ad4da..0000000 --- a/old/50077-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7283 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Maternity, by Various - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Maternity - Letters from Working-Women - -Author: Various - -Editor: The Women's Co-operative Guild - -Release Date: September 29, 2015 [EBook #50077] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MATERNITY *** - - - - -Produced by Henry Flower and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) - - - - - - - - - -Transcriber's Note - -Bold text is indicated by ~swung dashes~, and italics by _underscores_. - - - - - MATERNITY - - LETTERS FROM WORKING-WOMEN - - - - - ~ROUND ABOUT A POUND A WEEK.~ By Mrs. PEMBER REEVES. 2s. 6d. net. - - “The best piece of social study published in England for many - years.”--_Manchester Guardian._ - - “If you would know why men become anarchists, why agitators foam at - the mouth, and demagogues break out into seditious language--here - is a little book that will tell you as soberly, as quietly, and as - convincingly as any book that has yet come from the press.”--Mr. - HAROLD BEGBIE in the _Daily Chronicle_. - - - ~THE FEEDING OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.~ By M. E. BULKLEY, of the London - School of Economics. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. net. - - “The first comprehensive description of one of the most momentous - social experiments of modern times.”--_Economic Review._ - - “An admirable statement of the history and present position of the - problem.”--_New Statesman._ - - - LONDON: G. BELL AND SONS, LTD., - - YORK HOUSE, PORTUGAL STREET, KINGSWAY, W.C. - - NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN CO. - BOMBAY: A. H. WHEELER AND CO. - -[Illustration: AN ANNUAL CONGRESS OF THE WOMEN’S CO-OPERATIVE GUILD.] - - - - - MATERNITY - - LETTERS - FROM WORKING-WOMEN - - COLLECTED BY - - THE WOMEN’S CO-OPERATIVE GUILD - - WITH A PREFACE BY - - THE RIGHT HON. HERBERT SAMUEL, M.P. - - HIS MAJESTY’S POSTMASTER-GENERAL - LATE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD - - [Illustration] - - LONDON - G. BELL AND SONS, LTD. - 1915 - - - - -PREFACE - -BY THE RIGHT HON. HERBERT SAMUEL, M.P. - - -These letters give an intimate picture of the difficulties, the -troubles, often the miseries, sometimes the agonies, that afflict many -millions of our people, as a consequence of normal functions of their -lives. An unwise reticence has prevented the public mind from realising -that maternity, among the poorer classes, presents a whole series of -urgent social problems. These letters give the facts. It is the first -time, I believe, that the facts have been stated, not by medical men or -social students, but by the sufferers themselves, in their own words. -The Women’s Co-operative Guild, unresting in their efforts for the -improvement of the conditions of working women, have rendered a most -useful service in eliciting these letters and in making them public. - -It is necessary to take action to solve the problems that here stand -revealed, first for the elementary reason that a nation ought not to -tolerate widespread suffering among its members, if there are measures -by which that suffering can be obviated without indirectly causing -worse. “Woman,” says Kant, “is an end in herself, and not merely a -means to an end.” Apart from all question of social advantage, her -claim for help for her own sake, when she needs help to meet the -difficulties special to herself, is as valid as any other claim--as the -claim of the sick man, for his own sake, to be cured, as the claim of -the child, for his own sake, to be protected and to be taught. - -Action is necessary also because, for the lack of it, the nation is -weakened. Numbers are of importance. In the competition and conflict of -civilisations it is the mass of the nations that tells. Again and again -in history a lofty and brilliant civilisation embodied in a small State -has been borne under by the weight of a larger State of a lower type. -The ideas for which Britain stands can only prevail so long as they -are backed by a sufficient mass of numbers. It is not enough to make -our civilisation good. It must also be made strong; and for strength, -numbers are not indeed enough without other elements, but they are none -the less essential. Under existing conditions we waste, before birth -and in infancy, a large part of our possible population. - -How quickly some social evils will yield to treatment is seen in the -fact that in ten years the campaign against infant mortality has -reduced the death-rate among infants under one year of age by nearly -a third. But it is still very excessive. It is not race or climate or -the irreducible minimum of physical defect which accounts for a large -part at least of the present infant death-rate. In the same towns, -among people of the same stock, twice, sometimes three times, as many -infants, in proportion to the number born, will die in the wards where -the poorer classes live as die in the wards where the well-to-do -live. The excess is mainly due to ignorance, to malnutrition, to all -the noxious influences that go with poverty. Not nature, but social -conditions, are to blame for the evil. Therefore it is remediable. - -The time is past when a shallow application of the doctrine of -evolution led people to acquiesce in a high infant death-rate. It was -thought that it meant merely the killing off of the weak, leading to -the survival of the fittest, and that the process, cruel in its method, -was beneficent in its end. There are few now who do not see that the -high death-rate is due, in large measure, to a bad environment; and -that by keeping a bad environment you produce unfitness. You partly -remedy the evil, it is true, by destroying a large number of lives -which have been made unfit to survive; but you leave, as a clog on the -community, numbers of others not killed but weakened. The conditions -that kill also maim. - -The theory, too, is passing away that the country is over-full and that -the danger to be feared is not a lack of population but its excess. -Because many districts are overcrowded, it does not follow that these -islands as a whole are over-populated. So long as food supplies can be -relied upon from oversea, it is difficult to set limits to the numbers -that, under sound social conditions, this country can maintain. - -The conclusion is clear that it is the duty of the community, so far as -it can, to relieve motherhood of its burdens, to spread the knowledge -of mothercraft that is so often lacking, to make medical aid available -when it is needed, to watch over the health of the infant. And since -this is the duty of the community, it is also the duty of the State. -The infant cannot, indeed, be saved by the State. It can only be saved -by the mother. But the mother can be helped and can be taught by the -State. - -The local health authorities have large powers, and some already are -eager to use them. As President of the Local Government Board I was -able to submit to them a comprehensive scheme of assistance to mothers -in pregnancy, in confinement, and in the care of the infants, and to -offer, to such as chose to adopt it, a Treasury grant of one-half of -the modest expenditure involved. The need at the moment is to create -among the local councillors and their electors a body of opinion -which will secure the adoption of this scheme and its administration -on effective lines. Because I believe it will conduce to that end, I -commend this book the more readily. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - PREFACE BY THE RIGHT HON. HERBERT SAMUEL, M.P. V - - INTRODUCTION 1 - LETTERS FROM WORKING-WOMEN 18 - METHOD OF INQUIRY 191 - OCCUPATIONS OF HUSBANDS 192 - FIGURES BEARING ON INFANT MORTALITY 194 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD MEMORANDUM, JULY, 1914 196 - SUMMARY OF THE NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS (EXTENSION) ACT, 1915 198 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD CIRCULAR, JULY, 1915 200 - ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES 207 - NATIONAL SCHEME PROPOSED BY THE WOMEN’S CO-OPERATIVE GUILD 209 - - - - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND FACSIMILES - - - PAGE - A GUILD CONGRESS _Frontispiece_ - FACSIMILE OF LETTER 24 51 - A FAMILY OF ELEVEN CHILDREN _Facing_ 58 - FACSIMILE OF LETTER 36 63 - FACSIMILE OF LETTER 106 139 - A FAMILY OF FOUR OUT OF FIFTEEN CHILDREN _Facing_ 110 - BRADFORD MUNICIPAL INFANT HOSPITAL _Facing_ 190 - - - - -MATERNITY - -LETTERS FROM WORKING-WOMEN - - - - -INTRODUCTION - - -The whole point of this book lies in the letters which it contains; and -it might therefore have seemed advisable to leave the reader untroubled -by an introduction to gather that point from the letters themselves. -The material is, however, in form and in subject of so unusual a kind -that it has been thought necessary to explain something of its origin -and its authors, and even to touch upon some of the problems which the -letters so vividly show to exist. The letters are written by married -women of the working-class, all of whom are or have been officials -of the Women’s Co-operative Guild. The Guild is a self-governing -organisation within the Co-operative Movement, and deals with subjects -which affect the Co-operative Movement and the position of married -women in the home and the state. It might justly claim to speak with -greater authority than any other body for the voteless and voiceless -millions of married working-women of England, for it has a membership -of nearly 32,000, distributed in 611 branches over the whole country. - -The Guild has for several years given special attention to the subject -of “The National Care of Maternity.” Before the Insurance Bill was -introduced, the Guild asked for the inclusion of Maternity benefit, -and when the Amending Bill was before the House in 1913, an agitation -by the Guild secured the benefit as the mother’s own property. Later on -it placed a scheme for the national care of Maternity before the Local -Government Board, which issued a Circular on July 30, 1914, largely -embodying the various suggestions of the Guild. In the course of this -work it was considered advisable to obtain information from the members -themselves of the conditions under which they had brought children into -the world. These letters are the result. The barest indication of the -information wanted was given, and the only questions used were those on -p. 191, as it was thought that it would be more valuable to allow the -women to tell their own story in their own way. - -We claim for these letters that for the first time are presented in -them the real problems of Maternity seen through the women’s own -account of their lives. If the writers are uneducated in the ordinary -sense of school and university, a long schooling in life and suffering -has given them a peculiar simplicity and dignity of language in place -of the more usual literary style. The letters are left exactly as -written by the women, the only alterations made being in the spelling, -in the addition of punctuation, and in the omission of a few medical -details. All names and places have also been omitted in order to -prevent identification. - -The women are the wives of men who earn their daily bread by manual -labour. The husband’s trades cover over one hundred different -occupations, and their rates of wages vary from 11s. to £5. The letters -show how often the nominal wages are reduced by periods of short time -and unemployment, such periods constantly coinciding with childbirth. -It should also be remembered that a wife does not usually receive the -whole of the weekly wage for her family expenditure. - -The earnings and conditions of life of these men are certainly above -rather than below the level of their class. It is true on the whole -to say that the Co-operative Movement is largely composed of the -better-paid manual workers, and there is no doubt that the woman who is -secretary of a Guild branch lives in better conditions than the average -working woman. If the conditions of their lives are as described in -these letters, the suffering and waste of life, the overwork and -poverty, must be tenfold and twentyfold where wages are less and -employment more precarious. That the women themselves are well aware -of this is shown by the occurrence in the letters of such sentences as -“I was more fortunately placed than most women,” or “I have not had to -go through so much pain and suffering as many poor mothers have to go -through.” - -These letters then give for the first time in their own words the -working woman’s view of her life in relation to maternity. Now, what -is the general impression that the reader gets of the life at such -times of these more fortunate working-class mothers? It is on the -whole an impression of perpetual overwork, illness, and suffering. -The stories and records of 400 lives have been received, taken at -random out of the million similar lives lived in our cities. In this -book 160 letters have been published, and the unpublished letters -describe similar experiences. The evidence of such witnesses cannot -be impugned; it is that to bear children under such conditions is to -bear an intolerable burden of suffering. The cry of a woman in travail -has become a commonplace of literature, and the notion that pain and -motherhood are inevitably connected has become so fixed that the world -is shocked if a woman does not consider the pain as much a privilege -as the motherhood. And this attitude of the world towards the pain of -travail has been extended to all the sufferings attending motherhood. -These letters show that this is the view of women themselves, for which -doctors have been largely responsible. It is hardly too much to say -that the ordinary professional attitude might have been summed up in -the saying, “You’ll be worse before you’re better.” It would be foolish -to cry aloud against the inevitable minimum of maternal suffering. And -it is to be noted that there is no foolish note of self-pity in these -letters. The brave words, combined with a stoic resignation to fate, -the invincible optimism shown in such letters as Nos. 33 and 47, are -characteristic of the spirit of them all. But if it be folly to kick -against Nature’s pricks, what is more foolish is the facile fatalism -with which we resign ourselves and other people to unnecessary and -useless suffering. And a very short consideration of the suffering -disclosed in these letters will show that it is both unnecessary and -useless. - -The roots of the evil lie in the conditions of life which our -industrial system forces upon the wage-earners. It is useful to -consider the different conditions under which the middle-class and -the working-class woman becomes a mother. The middle-class wife -from the first moment is within reach of medical advice which can -alleviate distressing illness and confinements and often prevent future -ill-health or death. During the months of pregnancy she is not called -upon to work; she is well fed; she is able to take the necessary rest -and exercise. At the time of the birth she will have the constant -attendance of doctor and nurse, and she will remain in bed until she is -well enough to get up. For a woman of the middle class to be deprived -of any one of these things would be considered an outrage. Now, a -working-class woman is habitually deprived of them all. She is lucky -if her husband hands her over regularly each week 25s. with which to -provide a house, food, and clothing, for the whole family. It has to be -remembered that the ordinary family wage leaves nothing over for the -additional outlay upon maternity. This ought to amount to £5 if the -expenses are properly met. Too poor to obtain medical advice during -the months of pregnancy, she “learns by experience and ignorance,” -comforting herself with the belief that however ill she be it is only -“natural.” Meanwhile she has to scrape and save to put by money for the -inevitable expenses that lie before her. She often goes out to char -or sits at her sewing machine, to scrape together a few shillings. -She puts by in money-boxes; she lays in little stores of tea, soap, -oatmeal and other dry goods. At a time when she ought to be well fed -she stints herself in order to save; for in a working-class home if -there is saving to be done, it is not the husband and children, but the -mother who makes her meal off the scraps which remain over, or “plays -with meat-less bones.” One woman writes: “I can assure you I have told -my husband many times that I had had my dinner before he came in, so as -there should be plenty to go round for the children and himself, but he -found me out somehow, so that was stopped.” Another woman says: “Many a -time I have had bread and dripping for my dinner before my husband came -home, and said I had my dinner, as I would not wait.” - -If the mother is not working long hours in a factory, she is working -even longer hours in her own home. - -Writers on infant mortality and the decline of the birth-rate never -tire of justly pointing to the evils which come from the strain -of manual labour in factories for expectant mothers. Very little -is ever said about the same evils which come from the incessant -drudgery of domestic labour. People forget that the unpaid work of the -working-woman at the stove, at scrubbing and cleaning, at the washtub, -in lifting and carrying heavy weights, is just as severe manual labour -as many industrial operations in factories. It is this labour which the -mother performs often up to the very day on which the child is born, -and she will be at it again perhaps six or eight days afterwards. The -Factory Acts make it an offence for an employer knowingly to employ -a woman within four weeks after confinement. “In Switzerland a total -absence from employment in factories of women during eight weeks before -and after childbirth must be observed, and on their return to work -proof must be tendered of an absence since the birth of the child of -at least six weeks.” In Germany four weeks’ absence is compulsory, -and “must be extended to six weeks unless a medical certificate is -furnished approving of employment at the end of four weeks.” - -We propose to deal now shortly with the causes of those conditions, -then with the results, and finally with the methods of cure and -prevention of the resulting evils. The main causes seem to be three: - - (1) Inadequate wages. - - (2) Lack of knowledge regarding maternity and of skilled advice and - treatment. - - (3) The personal relation of husband and wife. - -We have already dealt to some extent with the first cause. Thirty -shillings a week for a manual worker is reckoned to be “good wages,” -and there are, of course, thousands of men earning far less than that. -Now, what most people do not realise is that 30s. a week is itself a -wage utterly inadequate for rearing a large or even small family. It -is inadequate because the whole burden is placed upon the woman who -has to bring up a family on 30s., and that burden is excessive. She can -only do it at all by incessant labour which inevitably cuts her off -from every higher human activity except one. That one which is left to -her is maternal affection, and the wonder is that even that endures as -it does the strain of poverty, overwork, and illness. - -The second cause, the lack of knowledge on the part of the women, -receives remarkable testimony in these letters. Again and again the -writers come back to this subject. They are convinced of the evils that -resulted to themselves and their children from their own ignorance of -the functions and duties of motherhood. And there can be no doubt that -they are right. Much of the suffering entailed in maternity, much of -the damage to the life and health of women and children, would be got -rid of if women married with some knowledge of what lay before them, -and if they could obtain medical advice and supervision during the time -of pregnancy and motherhood. It is not the women’s fault that they are -ignorant, for the possibilities of knowledge have not been within their -reach. - -The personal relation of husband and wife is a subject as difficult -as it is delicate. Reading these letters one is often struck by -the fact that that relation remains so good under the most adverse -circumstances. But despite the extraordinary loyalty of the writers, -there is clearly a consciousness among them that the position of a -woman not only impairs the value of that relationship, but is directly -responsible for some of the evils we are considering. In plain -language, both in law and in popular morality, the wife is still the -inferior in the family to the husband. She is first without economic -independence, and the law therefore gives the man, whether he be -good or bad, a terrible power over her. Partly for this reason, and -partly because all sorts of old half-civilised beliefs still cling to -the flimsy skirts of our civilisation, the beginning and end of the -working woman’s life and duty is still regarded by many as the care of -the household, the satisfaction of man’s desires, and the bearing of -children. We do not say that this is the case in every working-class -home, or that there are not hundreds of husbands who take a higher view -of married life and practise it. What we do say is that these views -are widely held, often unconsciously, and are taken advantage of by -hundreds of men who are neither good men nor good husbands and that -even where there is no deliberate evil or viciousness, these views are -responsible for the overwork and physical suffering among women and for -that excessive child-bearing, of which more will be said later. - -The effects of the conditions we have described and of the causes -which produce them can be conveniently grouped under three heads. -They concern, first the woman herself, secondly the children borne -by her, thirdly the children that remain unborn of her. So far we -have deliberately insisted only upon the evil effects upon the women -themselves, and it still remains to insist upon them. The disastrous -results of maternal ill-health and overwork upon the children cannot -be exaggerated, but in the contemplation of them, people are too apt -to forget that the mother herself is an individual with the right to -“equality of opportunity,” which is the right as a human being to be -given the opportunity of understanding and enjoying those things which -alone make life tolerable to humanity. - -It was perhaps inevitable that the mother should have been publicly -overlooked, for the isolation of women in married life has, up to now, -prevented any common expression of their needs. They have been hidden -behind the curtain which falls after marriage, the curtain which women -are now themselves raising. - -The general effect upon women is the useless suffering inflicted upon -them, and one of the chief causes of this is undoubtedly excessive -childbearing. This evil is directly due to those semi-civilised notions -which were touched upon above, and though, as we shall see when we -deal with the decline of the birth-rate, nature is taking her own way -of reacting against it, it still exists. We would draw attention to -the conditions disclosed in such letters as 1, 20, 36, and 71. In the -first case we find a woman married at nineteen having 11 children and -2 miscarriages in 20 years, her husband’s wages being 20s. a week. In -the second case there are 5 children and one miscarriage in 9 years; -in the third 5 children and 5 miscarriages in 12-1/2 years; and in -the fourth 9 children and 1 miscarriage in 24 years. These cases -have been taken more or less at random, and nothing could be more -significant than the bare fact that out of 386 women who have written -these letters, 348 have had 1,396 live children, 83 still-births, -and 218 miscarriages. These figures speak for themselves: the mere -physical strain of pregnancy and childbirth succeeding each other with -scarcely an interval for ten or twenty years renders a healthy bodily -and intellectual life impossible. And when the additional strain of -insufficient means and incessant labour are added, the suffering which -becomes the daily concomitant of life is unimaginable to those who are -born in the more fortunate classes of society. - -If any further evidence is wanted of the direct effect of such -conditions upon the health of women, we would draw attention to the -number of miscarriages and still-births. It is probable that not all -the writers have included miscarriages; but even as it is the number -of miscarriages is 15·4 per cent. of the live births, while the -number of still-births is 5·9 per cent. Taken together, these figures -show a pre-natal death-rate of 21·3 per 100 live births, as against a -national infant death-rate of 10·9. According to some medical writers -the frequency of abortions “is believed to be about 20 or 25 per -cent. of all pregnancies”; while Dr. Amand Routh estimates that the -number of deaths during pregnancy probably equals the number of deaths -in the first year after birth. The following letters are a pathetic -endorsement of the view that fatigue, strain, and domestic conditions -are responsible for large numbers of miscarriages, and point to the -urgent need of pre-natal care. - -We have now come by a logical sequence from a consideration of the -effect of the conditions of women’s lives upon themselves to the -further effect upon the life and death of their offspring. We have, in -fact, travelled the same road as, but in the opposite direction from, -those who in the last ten years have conducted the campaign against -Infant Mortality. It was about ten or twelve years ago that many people -were suddenly horrified to learn that out of every 1,000 children born -in England and Wales, about 150 died before they have lived twelve -months. A vigorous campaign against Infant Mortality by means largely -of what is called Infant Welfare work followed. Government departments -and private persons and organisations have co-operated with such -success that the death-rate of infants under one year of age per 1,000 -births has fallen from 145 in 1904 to 109 in 1913. But the point which, -for our present purpose, is most illuminating is to note the course -which that campaign has pursued and is pursuing. It has become more -and more clear that if you wish to guard the health of the infant, -you must go back from it to the mother; it is the circumstances -of the mother--her health, her knowledge, her education, and her -habits--before the child is born no less than at the time of and after -birth, that again and again determine whether the child is to have -health or disease, to live or to die. In fact, from whatever point you -regard the question, the words of the writer of letter 63 are true: We -shall not get “a race in the future worthy of England until the nation -wakes up to the needs of the mothers of that future race.” - -Infant mortality in the first year of life is still appallingly -high, and there is good reason for believing--though the fact cannot -be absolutely proved--that this high rate is very largely due to -the circumstances in which the great mass of working-class women -are obliged to bear children. As is well known, it is in the first -month after birth that the death-rate is highest, and it is this -rate which reformers have been least successful in reducing. Now, if -the causes of deaths of infants in the first four weeks of life are -examined, an enormous proportion are due to “immaturity.” “It needs -no argument,” says Dr. A. K. Chalmers, “to show that until we have a -clearer conception of the causes which lead to death from immaturity, -we cannot but fail to make any considerable impression on the volume -of deaths which occur during this period of infant life.” But as a -matter of fact there is high authority for debiting the greater number -of these deaths from immaturity to the physical health and condition -of the mother. “It is evident,” writes Sir George Newman, “that if -infants die within a few days or hours of birth, or even if dying -later show unmistakable signs of being unequal to the calls of bare -physical existence, that there must be something more than external -conditions or food or management which is working to their hurt. The -explanation is clearly to be found in ante-natal conditions.” Dr. Noel -Paton considers that the “malnutrition of the mother helps to explain -the very high infant mortality among the very poor. The infant starts -life at a low level, and readily succumbs to the hardships to which -it is too often subjected.” Dr. Ashby writes: “My own experience in -the out-patient room entirely confirms the opinion that nutrition of -the mother has a very important bearing on the nutrition of the fœtus, -and that the statement that the percentage of unhealthy births among -the poor is small is not justified by facts. We constantly see fully -developed infants a day or two old ... clearly ill-fitted, as the event -proves, to withstand the conditions of external existence.... There -is no question of syphilis; they are the children of poor mothers who -have lived hard lives of wear and tear during pregnancy, are themselves -badly nourished and weakly, and have felt the pinch of poverty, though -often perhaps poverty of the secondary sort.” - -No better comment upon, or illustration of, these opinions of experts -could be found than the facts contained in these letters. You can -read in them the little details of existence which made the writers -“mothers who have lived hard lives of wear and tear during pregnancy,” -and watching those details you can see how the everyday working of -the machine, which we call industry and society, leads to suffering, -and wastes and destroys human life as soon as it is born. The results -which can already be shown of care in the pre-natal period, bear out -the contention that the suffering and loss of life which exists is -unnecessary. The Women’s Municipal League in Boston, U.S.A., has had -1,512 women in five years (1910-1914) under its care. Amongst these -women there have been no miscarriages in the last three and a half -years; there were 60 cases of threatened eclampsia in the first year, -there were only 2 in the last year; and the total number of infant -deaths under one month was 2 per cent., while Boston’s rate was 4·3 per -cent. The Johns Hopkins Hospital, U.S.A., obtained similar results, and -in the Glasgow Maternity hospital more exact methods have reduced the -infant mortality and morbidity. - -If the problems raised by these letters throw light upon the terrible -waste of women’s health and infant life, they no less certainly throw -light upon another phenomenon of modern society--the decline of the -birth-rate. - -One of the most remarkable and important signs of change in the -habits and aspirations of society, has been the sudden decline in the -birth-rate which, noticeable in many countries, began in this country -about forty years ago, and has continued steadily down to the present -time. In every locality and class the number of children born yearly to -married women is declining, but the fall is not the same everywhere; -in the industrial population it is greater among the better-class -and better-paid workers, and it is distinctly greatest among textile -workers where wages are comparatively high and a large proportion -of women work in factories. Now, it is absolutely certain that this -decline is mainly due to the deliberate limitation of the family. There -is, of course, a wide divergence of opinion as to the result of this -conscious check upon the growth of population; some regard it as the -clearest solution of the inextricable tangle in which the industrial -system has enmeshed humanity, others see in it the suicide of a nation -and the doom of a race. But people are so anxious to dispute about -the good and evil of its effect that they often fail to see that for -society itself the important good and evil lie in the conditions which -cause the phenomenon. For the State it may be vital to know the result -of men and women refusing to give her citizens; but it is still more -vital for her to recognize the conditions within her which are leading -men and women to this refusal. - -These letters give the skeletons of individuals’ lives, and individual -thoughts and feelings; but in those facts and thoughts and feelings one -can see clearly the general mould of life and the sweep of the current -of general opinion which is among the working classes, resulting in -the refusal to have children. There is a kind of strike against large -families, and it is not, among the workers, a selfish strike. The -motives of this strike are admirably given in the following words -from Letter No. 71, the whole of which is very illuminating on this -point: “All the beautiful in motherhood is very nice if one has plenty -to bring up a family on, but what real mother is going to bring a -life into the world to be pushed into the drudgery of the world at -the earliest possible moment?...” The fact that the decline in the -birth-rate is greatest among the better-paid wage-earners is often said -to prove that a growing love of ease and luxury is causing a declining -birth-rate. The words “ease and luxury” are grotesque when applied -to the lives of manual wage-earners. The fact is that the industrial -worker took the first seventy years of last century to learn that -the conditions such as described in these letters make a human and -a humane life impossible alike for the mother and children of large -families. This consciousness has spread slowly and surely during the -last forty years, and, as is natural, it has spread most amongst the -more educated and intelligent workers and those whose wages have given -them at least the opportunity of realising that there are other things -in life besides poverty and work. The numbers of such men and women -will continue to grow who refuse to have children except under two -conditions. Those conditions are that society shall pay its debt to the -manual worker in such a way that his children can be born into a home -where there is something better than bare existence, and that the woman -has the means and the leisure to live a life of her own without which -she is unfit to give life to her children and to direct it during their -most impressionable years. - -It is impossible to leave this question without touching upon one point -which crops up occasionally in these letters. Opinions may differ as to -the good or evil of the general limitation of families, but there can -only be agreement upon the evil which results from the use of drugs to -procure abortion. There are many facts which go to prove that the habit -of taking such drugs has spread to an alarming extent in many places -among working women. Several of these letters confirm that conclusion. -The practice is ruinous to the health of women, is more often than not -useless for procuring the object desired, and probably accounts for the -fact that many children are weakly and diseased from birth. But here -again the cause of the evil lies in the conditions which produce it. -Where maternity is only followed by an addition to the daily life of -suffering, want, overwork, and poverty, people will continue to adopt -even the most dangerous, uncertain, and disastrous methods of avoiding -it. - -This introduction has been mainly concerned with pointing out certain -evils deeply seated in national life. These evils have their origin -in social conditions, and they touch life at so many points that they -must, if allowed to work unchecked, modify the whole future of the -race and state. There is no sign that society, if left to itself, will -secrete some antitoxin to purge its own blood. The industrial and -capitalist system tends to become continually more industrial and -capitalistic; the gulf between the rich and poor, the fortunate and the -unfortunate widens; ideals become higher and broader while the means -to satisfy them are narrowed in the possession of a narrow class; only -discontent seems to rise while the birth-rate falls. Society cannot -cure itself, and the last hope, therefore, is for the State to attempt -a cure. - -The State has first to realise that if it wants citizens, and healthy -citizens, it must make it possible for men and women to have families -while living a full life themselves and giving a full life to their -children. At the present moment this is not possible from top to bottom -of the working class, unless the economic position of the working-class -family be improved. The first requisite is, then, the improvement of -the economic position of the family. - -But it is impossible to treat here the broad question of how this can -be attained; it is only possible to deal with the points in which the -State can to-day take immediate steps to improve the economic position -of the working-class family as regards maternity, and bring specialised -knowledge, adequate rest, nourishment and care, medical supervision and -treatment, within reach. And though the story told in these letters, -in the statistics of infant mortality, in the figures of a declining -birth-rate, be dark, a really bright sign for the future is that the -women so vitally concerned have themselves become aware of the evil -and are eagerly demanding that the State shall adopt those measures -which will most surely mitigate or remove it. The Women’s Co-operative -Guild have brought out a scheme which would greatly enlarge the scope -of State action, precisely in those ways in which it has already -proved itself most beneficial. This scheme, which has already to a -large extent received the blessing of the Government Department most -nearly concerned--the Local Government Board--is given in detail on p. -196. Meanwhile, up and down the country the Guild and other women’s -organisations are pressing Public Health Committees to adopt the -measures recommended. The presence of women on Town and County Councils -is another hopeful sign, and it is greatly to be desired that the -numbers of working-women councillors will increase. Dr. Newsholme says: -“Women could help forward the care of maternity and infants by getting -themselves voted on to Local Authorities, and by bringing pertinacious -pressure to bear on members of Local Authorities.” - -It should be noted that the essence of the Guild scheme is that -municipal, not philanthropic, action is wanted. It is not charity, -but the united action of the community of citizens which will remove -a widespread social evil. The community is performing a duty, not -bestowing a charity, in providing itself with the bare necessities for -tolerable existence. That is why the end at which the Guild aims is -that the mothers of the country shall find themselves as free to use -a Municipal Maternity Centre as they are to use a Council School or a -Public Library. - -The following words of the Chairman of the Bradford Health Committee, -spoken at the opening of the Municipal Maternity Home on March 15, -1915, show that the needs expressed in these letters are beginning -to be met by the methods desired by the writers: “We stand on the -threshold of an age which is to herald the recognition of the mother -and her child, to give public health work that human touch it has -hitherto lacked, and to modify those glaring inequalities in social -life and conditions which are destructive alike of infancy and the -ideals of Christian citizenship.” - - - - -LETTERS FROM WORKING-WOMEN. - - -1. TWENTY YEARS OF CHILD-BEARING. - -I shall be very pleased if this letter will be any help to you. -Personally I am quite in sympathy with the new Maternity Scheme. I -do feel I cannot express my feelings enough by letter to say what a -great help it would have been to me, for no one but a mother knows the -struggle and hardships we working women have to go through. I do hope -I shall never see the young women of to-day have to go through what I -did. I am a mother of eleven children--six girls and five boys. I was -only nineteen years old when my first baby was born. My husband was one -of the best and a good father. His earnings was £1 a week; every penny -was given to me, and after paying house rent, firing, and light, and -clubs, that left me 11s. to keep the house going on; and as my little -ones began to come, they wanted providing for and saving up to pay a -nurse, and instead of getting nourishment for myself which we need -at those times, I was obliged to go without. So I had no strength to -stand against it, and instead of being able to rest in bed afterwards, -I was glad to get up and get about again before I was able, because I -could not afford to pay a woman to look after me. I kept on like that -till the sixth little one was expected, and then I had all the other -little ones to see after. The oldest one was only ten years old, so -you see they all wanted a mother’s care. About two months before my -confinement the two youngest fell ill with measles, so I was obliged -to nurse them, and the strain on my nerves brought on brain-fever. All -that the doctor could do for me was to place ice-bags on my head. Oh, -the misery I endured! My poor old mother did what she could for me, and -she was seventy years old, and I could not afford to pay a woman to see -after my home and little ones; but the Lord spared me to get over my -trouble, but I was ill for weeks and was obliged to work before I was -able. Then in another eighteen months I was expecting another. After -that confinement, being so weak, I took a chill, and was laid up for -six months, and neighbours came in and done what they could for me. -Then there was my home and little ones and husband to look after, as he -was obliged to work. It was the worry that kept me from getting better; -if I could have had someone to look after me I should not have been so -ill. After this I had a miscarriage and another babe in one year and -four months. I got on fairly well with the next one, and then the next -one, which was the eighth, I had two down with measles, one two years -old with his collar-bone out, and a little girl thirteen with her arm -broke. That was at the same time as I was expecting my eighth little -one, and my dear husband worried out of life, as you see with all this -trouble I was only having the £1 a week and everything to get out of -it. What a blessing it would have been if this Maternity Scheme was -in go then! It would have saved me a lot of illness and worry, for my -life was a complete misery. For twenty years I was nursing or expecting -babies. No doubt there are others fixed the same way as I have been. -This is only a short account of how I suffered; I could fill sheets of -paper with what I have gone through at confinements and before, and -there are others, no doubt, have felt the pinch as well as myself. If -there is anything else you would like to know and I could tell you, I -should be glad, for the benefit of my sisters. - - _Wages 17s. to 25s.; eleven children, two miscarriages._ - - -2. “OUT OF BED ON THE THIRD DAY.” - -I received your paper on Maternity Scheme, and I can assure you it -brought back to me many painful hours of what I have passed through in -twenty-one years of married life. For one thing, I have had a delicate -husband for fifteen years, and I have had nine children, seven born -in nine years. I have only one now; some of the others have died from -weakness from birth. I only had a small wage, as my husband was then -a railway porter. His earnings were 18s. one week and 16s. the next, -and I can say truthfully my children have died from my worrying how to -make two ends meet and also insufficient food. For many of my children -I have not been able to pay a nurse to look after me, and I have got -out of bed on the third day to make my own gruel and fainted away. My -little girl which is just fourteen years old, from the first month of -pregnancy until my nine months were up I attended the hospital and -had a hospital nurse in to confine me.... A woman with little wage -has to go without a great deal at those times, as we must give our -husbands sufficient food or we should have them home and not able to -work; therefore we have to go without to make ends meet. Before my -confinements and after I have always suffered a great deal with bearing -down, and doctors have told me it is weakness, not having enough _good_ -food to keep my health during such times. My little girl I have was -under the doctor for seven months, being a weak child born, and I for -one think that if I had a little help from someone I should have had -my children by my side to-day. It has only been through weakness they -have passed away. It is with great pleasure I write this letter to you. -I could say a deal more on sufferings of women if I saw you. - - _Wages 16s. to 18s.; nine children, one still-birth, one miscarriage._ - - -3. HOSPITALS--A CRYING NEED. - -A neighbour of mine called in the doctor, who after examining her said -she must be got into a Lying-In Hospital at once, as she was in such a -critical condition. She needed to be under medical care all the time; -the doctor expects when the birth takes place there will be twins. The -woman was taken by cab several miles, and after being there two days -was sent home, as the birth was not expected till March, and this was -about the middle of February; but she was to be taken back by February -27, as she is in such a state that the children will have to be removed -before they attain their full size. A few days after she was home, she -was so ill that her doctor got a cab and sent her to another hospital, -as he said if anything occurred when he was not able to get to her, her -life would be lost. She must be where there were doctors in constant -attendance. - -After putting her through an examination and bullying her for going -there, she was informed they had no maternity ward, and sent her home -again, and all the time she was in the greatest of pain and vomiting -blood; she is now at home, and will have to be taken to the first -hospital at the end of the week, if nothing happens before. - -Now for her circumstances. Her husband has worked for his present -employer for thirteen years, and earns the magnificent sum of 23s. per -week. The conveying of her to hospitals and back the two times has cost -25s., and the husband had to lose a day and a half. When the foreman -asked the master to allow the man to have his pay for the lost time -owing to the expense he had had, he replied: “He will get 30s. when -the job comes off; let him pay it out of that.” This man is a Church -warden and a prominent Church worker and Christian! The husband’s -fellow-workers who earn no more than him, and some of them less, have -had what they call a whip round, and have managed to raise 19s. for him. - -Our District Nurse goes in each morning and does what she can for her, -and one morning she asked how she had got ruptured; and she said she -was not sure, but she thought it was when she was at the factory. And -it transpired that her eldest boy is very bright, and he managed to -win a scholarship, but his mother said she could not manage to get the -clothes for him that he ought to have at such a school, and so she got -work at the factory to try and clothe him better. She was only there -two months when she was taken ill and had to leave. (What mothers put -up with for their children!) She has been paying 3d. a week into a Sick -Loan, and Dividing Society, in connection with a Church, but she can -have no help from it, as her illness is through pregnancy. - - -4. “ALL DAY WASHING AND IRONING.” - -In answer to your letter, in my opinion the cause of women suffering -from misplacements and various other inward complaints, is having to -work during pregnancy, and I am the mother of three children. When the -youngest was coming my husband was out of employment, so I had to go -out to work myself, standing all day washing and ironing. This caused -me much suffering from varicose veins, also caused the child to wedge -in some way, which nearly cost both our lives. The doctor said it was -the standing and the weight of the child. I have not been able to carry -a child the full time since then, and my periods stopped altogether at -thirty-four. Then I have a niece of twenty-five, who is at present in -hospital undergoing a serious operation through getting up too soon -after her confinement. Once we can make men and women understand that -a woman requires rest when bearing children, we shall not have so many -of our sisters suffering and dying through operations, or, on the other -hand, dragging out a miserable existence. - -My husband’s wages was 19s. 10d. He was compelled to lose time in wet -or frosty weather, and I was very lucky to get my share, 18s., four -weeks in succession. - - _Wages 19s. 10d.; three children, one miscarriage._ - - -5. A HALF-STARVED PREGNANCY. - -My experience during and after my second pregnancy is only one example -of what thousands of married working women have to endure. My husband -has always been a very delicate man, and was ill most of the time I -carried both my children. He had been out of employment eight months -out of the nine I carried my first child.... As a last resource was -glad to go to work on the railway for the magnificent wage of 17s. a -week, and had to walk nearly six miles night and morning or pay 5d. a -day for train fare. Our rent was 7s. 6d. a week and clubs to be paid. -By the time my second child was born my husband’s wages had increased -to £1 1s. a week for seventy-two hours. By that time hard work and -worry and insufficient food had told on my once robust constitution, -with the result that I nearly lost my life through want of nourishment, -and did after nine months of suffering lose my child. No one but -mothers who have gone through the ordeal of pregnancy half starved, -to finally bring a child into the world to live a living death for -nine months, can understand what it means.... It was the Women’s -Co-operative Guild which saved me from despair. - -The first confinement I managed to get through very well, having some -money left from what I had saved before marriage. But how I managed -to get through my second confinement I cannot tell anyone. I had to -work at laundry work from morning to night, nurse a sick husband, -and take care of my child three and a half years old. In addition -I had to provide for my coming confinement, which meant that I had -to do without common necessaries to provide doctor’s fees, which so -undermined my health that when my baby was born I nearly lost my life, -the doctor said through want of nourishment. I had suffered intensely -with neuralgia, and when I inquired among my neighbours if there was -anything I could take to relieve the pain, I was told that whatever I -took would do no good; it was quite usual for people to suffer from -neuralgia, and I should not get rid of it till my baby was born. - -I had to depend on my neighbours for what help they could give during -labour and the lying-in period. They did their best, but from the -second day I had to have my other child with me, undress him and see -to all his wants, and was often left six hours without a bite of food, -the fire out and no light, the time January, and snow had lain on the -ground two weeks. - -When I got up after ten days my life was a perfect burden to me. I lost -my milk and ultimately lost my baby. My interest in life seemed lost. I -was nervous and hysterical; when I walked along the streets I felt that -the houses were falling on me, so I took to staying at home, which of -course added to the trouble. - -Now, is it possible under such circumstances for women to take care of -themselves, during pregnancy, confinement, and after? Can we any longer -wonder why so many married working women are in the lunatic asylums -to-day? Can we wonder that so many women take drugs, hoping to get rid -of the expected child, when they know so little regarding their own -bodies, and have to work so hard to keep or help to keep the children -they have already got? If only the State would do something that would -give _all_ working mothers the assurance that during pregnancy, where -needed, means would be provided whereby they could get an all-important -rest before confinement, and that proper attention should be provided -during and after so long as necessary. It would make all the difference -between a safe and speedy confinement, a better offspring, therefore -a better asset of the State, and a broken-down motherhood, and a race -of future parents who start in life very often with a constitution -enfeebled through the mother having to undergo privation, as well as -the mental and physical strain that childbirth entails. - - _Wages 17s. to £1 1s.; two children._ - - -6. HEALTHY AND STRONG. - -During pregnancy I always looked to my diet, and as my husband never -got more than 24s. 6d. per week, I had not much to throw away on -luxuries. I had plain food, such as oatmeal and bacon, and meat, plenty -of bread and good butter. I may say that during pregnancy and during -suckling my appetite was always better, and I ate more and enjoyed my -food better than at any other time. I always did my own housework and -my own washing, and I never had a doctor all the time I was having -children. I have had six, one dead. - -During my labour I was never bad more than about three or four hours. -I felt I could get out of bed the first day, and I never had the -doctor, only an old midwife. - -And though I say it myself, nobody had bonnier or healthier children -than I had, with fair skins and red cheeks. - -I must say that I am a staunch teetotaller, and have been all my life. -I think that drink has a lot to do with some women’s sufferings. - -I had one child born without a midwife at all, before we had time to -fetch her, and I did as well as at any other time. - -We lived under the colliery, and our rent was only 3s. 6d. a week. -We got our coal at a lower price, about 1s. a week. During part of -the time we had a lodger, who paid us 11s., which helped up a bit. -But you must know we had to be very careful. But, taking all into -consideration, we were very comfortably off. We had not many doctors’ -bills, as our children were all very healthy, and I don’t think I have -spent a pound on doctoring for myself since I was a baby, for which I -am very thankful. - - _Wages 18s. to 24s. 6d.; six children._ - - -7. “SHE IS REAL ILL.” - -I have a sister-in-law who has five children, and from the first month -of pregnancy she is real ill, the sickness (as she herself puts it) -strains her all to pieces, after which she is in a state of collapse. -It is painful to be with her, the faintness and sickness continue, -right up till the eighth month. It is not safe for her to go any -distance by herself, as it comes on at any time, and her legs are -blue-black until after her baby is born. All her children are living; -her confinements are normal. She is a very plucky woman. Of course, -she has to do everything herself; she could not afford to have anyone -in to help her, and in that state she has to do all her own washing, -cleaning, etc. She has been to the doctor during these bad times, but -he does not seem able to relieve her, only tells her to rest her legs -all she can, which of course is one of the things with a family around -you the mother cannot do. Her husband was only getting 15s. at the time -she was having her first three children. Now he is getting £1 per week. -He works for the Rural District Council. - - _Wages 15s.; five children._ - - -8. MEN NEED EDUCATION. - -My own experience in child-bearing was rather abnormal because I had -them late in life. Consequently, I suffered more than usual because -the bones were set and do not easily adapt themselves to changed -conditions. Extreme sickness from first to last, and during last months -much pain and much discomfort. My two first were lost from malnutrition -because I could not retain my food. In loss of strength the miscarriage -cost me most, and because of the falling of the womb--a trouble which -was not cured till I had a living child. I was not ignorant, and took -every care, so that I can conceive any mother’s life being a dreadful -thing if she was neglected under such circumstances. - -My husband’s wages was very unsettled, never exceeded 30s., and was -often below the sum. I earned a little all the time by sewing. Did all -housework, washing, baking, and made all our clothes. But no amount -of State help can help the suffering of mothers until men are taught -many things in regard to the right use of the organs of reproduction, -and until he realises that the wife’s body belongs to herself, and -until the marriage relations takes a higher sense of morality and -bare justice. And what I imply not only exists in the lower strata of -society, but is just as prevalent in the higher. So it’s men who need -to be educated most. The sacred office of parenthood has not yet dawned -on the majority. Very much injury and suffering comes to the mother and -child through the father’s ignorance and interference. Pain of body -and mind, which leaves its mark in many ways on the child. No animal -will submit to this: why should the woman? Why, simply because of the -Marriage Laws of the woman belonging to the man, to have and to own, -etc. - - _Wages 30s.; three children, two miscarriages._ - - -9. BAD CONFINEMENTS. - -I shall only be too glad to assist you in giving my experience. In the -first place, I have had eight children; seven is now living. I was -twenty-three when I was married. My first pregnancy I suffered with my -leg swollen and veins ready to burst. At my confinement the baby was -hung with navel cord twice round the neck and once round the shoulder, -owing to lifting and reaching, which caused me hours of suffering, and -it caused my womb to come down, and I have had to wear something to -hold it up until these late years. I am now fifty-eight; my husband has -been dead seven years. I was left to fight life’s battles alone. As my -family increased I had to have my legs bandaged. I never felt a woman -during pregnancy; as I got nearer I felt worse. At my confinements the -greatest trouble was the flooding after the baby was born, and the -afterbirth grown to my side. When that was taken away the body had to -be syringed to stop mortification. I have had the doctor’s arm in my -body, and felt his fingers tearing the afterbirth from my side. While -I am writing, I almost fancy I am talking to you. I hope I have not -tired you with my letter. - - _Wages £1 to £2; eight children, two miscarriages._ - - -10. “I AM A RUINED WOMAN.” - -I have been a martyr to suffering through having children, owing to -the fact that I could not retain my food. I was always sick, troubled -with nausea and vomiting, which kept me very weak; my constitution was -brought that low, that after having three children born living I was -unable to go the full length of pregnancy. The last still-born child -I had, during pregnancy I was dropsical all the time I was carrying, -and I had to have two doctors to chloroform me before the child could -be born. It had taken all the water from me; it was impossible for it -to be born until they had lanced the child to let the water out of -it. I had to be fed every hour day and night. Besides two still-born -children, I have had two miscarriages. The last miscarriage I had I -lost that much blood it completely drained me. I was three whole months -and was unable to sleep; I could not even sleep one half-hour. I had -lost my sleep completely; my hair come off and left bald patches about -my head. The doctor told me if I had not had the presence of mind to -lay me flat on my bed when the miscarriage took place I should have -bled to death. Having all this to go through, it brought on falling of -the womb, and now that I am able to do for my family and attend to my -household duties, I have to wear a body-belt, a kind that is worn after -appendicitis. I am a ruined woman through having children. All the -times that I was pregnant I could not bear my husband to smoke one pipe -of tobacco. I have sent you the main ailments I have had to endure, but -there are a hundred and one little items that have crept in between -through being brought so weak. I have been subject to other ailments -besides, such as influenza, and rheumatic fever, and catarrh of the -bowels. - -When I was married, my husband was a weaver; at that time his highest -wages were £1 per week. We paid 2s. 6d. rent, so that did not leave -much for food, fire, and clothing. My first-born was one year all but -two days when the second was born. When the last-named was three months -old, my husband went on strike for more wages; he was out eleven weeks, -and not a penny coming in. At the end of that period, there being both -men and women at the same job, the masters were so obstinate they -had to go in at the women’s price. After the strike there was a turn -of bad trade, and he was on short time for seven years; his average -wages during that period was 14s. per week. If I had not been a good -needlewoman and a capable manager it would have been worse. - - _Wages £1 to 14s.; three children, two still-births, two miscarriages._ - - -11. “I WAS AWFULLY POOR.” - -My first girl was born before I attained my twentieth year, and I had -a stepmother who had had no children of her own, so I was not able to -get any knowledge from her; and even if she had known anything I don’t -suppose she would have dreamt of telling me about these things which -were supposed to exist, but must not be talked about. About a month -before the baby was born I remember asking my aunt where the baby would -come from. She was astounded, and did not make me much wiser. I don’t -know whether my ignorance had anything to do with the struggle I had to -bring the baby into the world, but the doctor said that my youth had, -for I was not properly developed. Instruments had to be used, and I -heard the doctor say he could not tell whether my life could be saved -or not, for he said there is not room here for a bird to pass. All the -time I thought that this was the way all babies were born. - -At the commencement of all my pregnancies I suffered terribly from -toothache, and for this reason I think all married child-bearing women -should have their teeth attended to, for days and nights of suffering -of this kind must have a bad effect on both the mother and child. I -also at times suffered torments from cramp in the legs and vomiting, -particularly during the first three months. I hardly think the cramp -can be avoided, but if prospective mothers would consult their doctors -about the inability to retain food, I fancy that might be remedied. -At the commencement of my second pregnancy I was very ill indeed. -I could retain no food, not even water, and I was constipated for -thirteen days, and I suffered from jaundice. This had its effect on -the baby, for he was quite yellow at birth, and the midwife having -lodgers to attend to, left him unwashed for an hour after birth. She -never troubled to get his lungs inflated, and he was two days without -crying. I had no doctor. I was awfully poor, so that I had to wash the -baby’s clothes in my bedroom at the fortnight’s end; but had I had any -knowledge like I possess now, I should have insisted at the very least -on the woman seeing my child’s lungs were properly filled. When we are -poor, though, we cannot say what _must_ be done; we have to suffer and -keep quiet. The boy was always weakly, and could not walk when my third -baby was born. He had fits from twelve to fourteen, but except for a -rather “loose” frame, seems otherwise quite healthy now. - -My third child, a girl, was born in a two-roomed “nearly underground” -dwelling. We had two beds in the living-room, and the little scullery -was very damp. Had it not been for my neighbours, I should have had -no attendance after the confinement, and no fire often, for it was -during one of the coal strikes. My fourth child, a boy, was born under -better housing conditions, but not much better as regards money; and -during the carrying of all my children, except the first, I have had -insufficient food and too much work. This is just an outline. Did I -give it all, it would fill a book, as the saying goes. - -In spite of all, I don’t really believe that the children (with the -exception of the oldest boy) have suffered much, only they might have -been so much stronger, bigger, and better if I had been able to have -better food and more rest. - -Cleanliness has made rapid strides since my confinements; for never -once can I remember having anything but face, neck, and hands washed -until I could do things myself, and it was thought certain death to -change the underclothes under a week. - -For a whole week we were obliged to lie on clothes stiff and stained, -and the stench under the clothes was abominable, and added to this we -were commanded to keep the babies under the clothes. - -I often wonder how the poor little mites managed to live, and perhaps -they never would have done but for our adoration, because this constant -admiration of our treasures did give them whiffs of fresh air very -often. - -My husband’s lowest wage was 10s., the highest about £1 only, which was -reached by overtime. His mother and my own parents generally provided -me with clothing, most of which was cast-offs. - - _Wages 10s. to £1; four children._ - - -12. “I DRAGGED ABOUT IN MISERY.” - -It is lack of knowledge that often brings unnecessary suffering. I know -it from experience. In my early motherhood I took for granted that -women had to suffer at these times, and it was best to be brave and -not make a fuss. Once when things were not brisk in the labour world, -I would do my house-cleaning all myself, for naturally at these times -you like to feel everything is in order everywhere when the strange -woman comes in to take charge. I was in a very weak state through worry -and the difficulty of meeting the demands. I had not seen a doctor, -for I was thinking of having a midwife I had heard of. I dragged about -in misery and in great pain. A friend called in one morning after I -had got the children off to school, and I suppose I looked very ill. -She said: “Have you engaged a doctor?” I said: “No, there is plenty of -time; I was only six months, and surely I shall have a change soon.” I -could not lay, sit, or stand in ease, and my legs were so bad. However, -she went away, saying nothing to me, and brought her doctor. He was -amazed at my condition, ordered me to bed, said my confinement was -near, and the child was in a critical condition. He sent for a midwife, -and they were with me from eleven o’clock till three o’clock. He said -the child was dead, and in such an awkward position that it nearly -cost my life to bring it. I had a very long illness follow on (it -would have been a lovely child full time). The child had been killed -through shock, and already showed signs of mortification. I was in a -poor state of health, and struggled against my strength, looking after -the children’s welfare and neglecting myself. In trying to lift the -washing-tub it slipped, and that was the shock; and instead of resting -and having advice (which I felt I could not afford), I persevered, and -that was the result. Now, if there had been such a thing as a Maternity -Centre where I could have sent for someone, or could have attended -without that feeling of expense, I could have been relieved of all that -suffering. - -Another experience I had some nine years after the previous. I was -pregnant, work had been very scarce, and I was in a very weak state. My -husband had been at work three weeks when he happened an accident. He -had fallen from a high scaffold. The Clerk of the Works came to tell -me they had taken him to the hospital, and I had better go at once and -take someone with me. Of course, I thought the worst had happened. (He -did not know my condition.) I was between three and four months, and -this shock caused a miscarriage. I had a midwife, who, no doubt, was -all right when things were straightforward. I got about again, but was -very weak and ill. He was in hospital six weeks. I took in needlework. -I got very weak yet very stout. I thought it was through sitting so -much at the machine. I worked and starved myself to make sick pay, 12s. -per week, go as far as possible. I got so weak, and fainted several -times after heavy days at the machine. I was taken very ill one night, -and my daughter went for the doctor. He said: “We must have her in -bed,” and sent for a neighbour. It was a confinement of a seven-months -babe. When he told me it was childbirth, I said it was impossible, for -I had miscarried about four months previous. However, it was true. I -had been carrying twins--a most peculiar case--during that four months. -My system was being drained, and the worry and anxiety had effect on -the child. It was weak and did not move much. I had a bad time, but -the child lived for nine months, but a very delicate child. Now, if I -had been able to have a qualified midwife when I had the miscarriage, -we should have known there was another child, and if I could have been -medically treated, all that suffering could have been prevented, and I -might have had a strong child. - -But apart from all that, I do not know which is the -worst--child-bearing with anxiety and strain of mind and body to -make ends meet, with the thought of another one to share the already -small allowance, or getting through the confinement fairly well, and -getting about household duties too soon, and bringing on other ailments -which make life and everything a burden. I could forgive a woman in -such a state giving herself and the children a drug which would end -everything. I was an invalid for six years through getting about too -soon and causing womb displacement. - - _Wages £2 2s.; eight children, one still-born, four miscarriages._ - - -13. “VERY FORTUNATE.” - -I think I have been very fortunate. I have had two children, both -girls; one will be sixteen in April, the other will be ten in August, -so you see there is six years and four months (and not even a -miscarriage) between them. I have always had the best of health, never -had a doctor until my second baby was born.... When I was married I was -three months short of twenty-one.... Trade was very bad at the time. -I worked in the mill up to six weeks from the event; we had a home to -make--that is why, as I thought every bit would help. Sometimes we did -not make 10s. between us. I had a midwife, and I went on very well; in -fact, I asked what I had to stay in bed for. The second day I got up, -the fifth day I went out, the seventh baby got on all right, and I went -back to work at eight weeks’ end. I gave her the breast till she was -twelve months old. When weaning her, I put plasters on my breasts, -which irritated the skin so much that they brought on inflammation. I -suffered awful, as I did not like to tell anybody. It went almost round -my body. Then I told mother. When she saw the state I was in she went -nearly frantic; she made me go to the doctor, and one box of salve -put me right. That is about the worst I suffered with her. I did not -even have morning sickness, which I have often heard women speak about -during pregnancy, with either of my children. When I was pregnant the -second time, I heard that the midwife I had the first time had started -drinking, so I was afraid to have her. I had a doctor, and it was well -I had, as I did not go on as well as I did the first time. I was in -bed a fortnight. I was well looked after, for I have one of the best -of husbands and a good mother. I might say I have wanted for nothing. -I have two fine girls. - - _Wages 7s. to 26s.; two children._ - - -14. INFLAMMATION. - -When my boy was coming, for three months I could not dress myself -properly; I could not get a pair of gloves or boots on, as I was so -swollen--I suppose with water. I did not get any advice, as I thought -I must just put up with it. After he was born, I could not pass my -water for a week--it had to be taken from me. Then I had inflammation -of the bladder, and finally inflammation of the kidneys, besides other -complications. My doctor, who was an old man, had to leave me in charge -of his son for a few days, and once, while talking about my illness, he -said it was a blessing I had had the inflammation of the kidneys, as -it had disclosed the fact that there was albumen in the water of some -standing. I told him how I had been held during pregnancy, and he said -I ought to have been to his father at that time, and he would have been -able to do me some good, but, like the majority of women, I thought it -was one of the ills I _had_ to bear. - -The next case is of a young married woman with her first baby. She took -ill at the eight months, and had a very bad time, falling out of one -fit into another, and at last, after her baby was born, she lay two -days quite unconscious--in fact, they never expected she would recover. -She had two doctors, and they gave her every attention, and then when -she was getting better her own particular doctor told her that if she -had only consulted him beforehand he could have saved her a lot of -pain, which she had to put up with. He said it was some kidney trouble -which had been the reason of all she had suffered. In both her case and -mine we could have had advice, as far as the expense was concerned, but -it was sheer _ignorance, and the idea that we must put up with it till -the nine months were over_. - - _Wages £2; two children._ - - -15. “OH, THE HORRORS WE SUFFER!” - -From the time I married till just previous to the birth of my third -child, my husband earned 28s. per week; then followed two years’ -shortness of work. When my fourth was born, we had no food or anything -to eat, until my husband went to a storekeeper and told him how we were -placed, and he trusted us, and said we ought to have asked him before. -And we all had dinner off oatmeal gruel made with tinned milk. The past -struggle left its mark on the physique of my children. One has since -died of heart disease, aged ten years; another of phthisis, sixteen -years; my youngest has swollen glands, and not at all robust, though -not born in poverty, aged fifteen years.... - -I have not been the worst-placed woman by a long way, my husband -generally having 30s. per week, but I could not afford help during -pregnancy, and I suffer from valvular disease of the heart, which -(doctors say) was caused of extreme attacks of hæmorrhage and shortness -of breath, leaving me a complete wreck at those times. My home was very -dirty, the children got ragged, meals worse than usual, and each doctor -I consulted said I was not fit to do my work, and I had not to bother. -I was told not to worry at all, or I should be worse than I was. No one -who has not been placed in a similar position can realise how horrible -it is to be so placed. I have resorted to drugs, trying to prevent or -bring about a slip. I believe I and others have caused bad health to -ourselves and our children. But what has one to do? - -I hope this communication will not offend in any way. But after the -birth of my first baby I suffered from falling womb, and the torture of -that was especially cruel when at closet, in more than I can describe; -and quite by accident I learnt that other mothers I met were not -suffering the same. My baby was ten months old when I told the doctor, -who said I ought to have told him before, and he soon put me right. But -doctors who attended me never told me anything concerning my babies or -myself. My husband was easeful about attention to himself, and always -willing to help, even after working from 6 a.m. in the morning. I often -pitied him; he was never impatient. I have seen women similarly placed, -and their husbands throw their dinner in the fire. I have been told -I ought to do as well as his mother, and I wish I could have done. -Oh, the horrors we suffer when men and women are ignorant! Some have -severe attacks of hæmorrhage caused by sexual intercourse soon after -birth.... - - _Wages 30s.; eight children, two still-born, three miscarriages._ - - -16. “A NIGHTMARE YET.” - -The first feeling of a young mother (to be) (unless she has been very -intelligently trained or is very ignorant) is one of fear for herself -when she finds out her condition. As time goes on she will probably -lose this fear in the feeling she is to have something all her very -own, but in some instances the dread grows, and in a sense fills her -whole being. This must of necessity weaken her bodily and mentally, -and, of course, makes her time of trial harder to bear. - -I remember over my first baby, although I felt delighted to think -I was to be a mother, I had a very nervous fear that my baby would -prove weakly because I had suffered for so many years from chronic -bronchitis. I believe this dread had a very bad effect on my nervous -system, with the result that when I got within a fortnight of full -term my baby was born very weakly, and I had a severe labour lasting -two nights and two days. (This was twenty-three years ago.) No effort -was made to obtain help for me, although my mother at that time was -starting to practise as a midwife, and had all a mother’s fears for her -daughter in her first labour. At that time it was much more usual to -trust to Providence, and if a woman died it only proved her weakness -and unfitness for motherhood. My baby only lived seven months. In spite -of all this trouble, I was very glad when a year later I found I was -to become a mother again. I was still weak, and this baby was born -at eight months, very tiny but not weakly. I again had a slow time, -lasting two days and one night, but not so severe as the first. I had -what is known as “white-leg” during the lying-in period. This is -usually due to a septic condition, and may be induced by uncleanliness -or careless handling during the first stage of labour; again, a chill -will produce this state, and this was the cause in my case, owing to -getting out of bed on the second day rather than call mother upstairs -when I needed her. My last baby was born at a time when we were really -badly off. My husband was out of work during the greater part of the -time, and I was not only obliged to work myself, but often went short -of food and warm clothing when I was most in need of it. The effect -on my health was, of course, bad, but the baby was a fine healthy boy -weighing over 12 pounds. Bad as was the effect on my bodily health, -the mental effect was worse. I nearly lost hope and faith in everyone. -I felt that even the baby could not make up for the terrible strain I -had undergone, and at that time I could fully enter into the feelings -of those women who take drugs to prevent birth. I know I ought to have -been more strong-minded, but anyway, I got through all right after all, -and, strange to say, I got up feeling better and more hopeful than I -had felt for years. During this pregnancy I never dared to allow myself -to think of the time when the baby would be born; first, because I knew -the pain would be so bad, and then because I realised that I would not -be able to work when I got near the end and for some time afterwards. I -left off a month before and did not start again for four months after -the birth. I don’t know now _how_ I got through, and it is a nightmare -to me yet. (I may say here that although we were so poor we stuck to -the Store all through, and this was a great help.) I believe if I had -felt quite comfortable as to the position of my other children during -the time when I would be laid up, my sufferings would not have been so -great, or my dread of the labour. - - _Wages 25s.; three children._ - - -17. LACK OF FOOD AND BAD HOUSING. - -I think a great deal of suffering is caused to the mother and child -during pregnancy by lack of nourishment and rest, combined with bad -housing arrangements. The majority of working women before marriage -have been used to standing a great deal at their work, bringing about -much suffering which does not tell seriously until after marriage, -particularly during pregnancy. A very common complaint is falling of -the womb. If women could be taught to sit down more when they were -doing little jobs, that they very often stand to do now, I believe it -would be a great help to them physically. The majority of working women -do not get sufficient nourishment during pregnancy. If there is other -children the mother generally takes what is left. I believe this tells -very greatly at the time of confinement. I well remember the prostrate -condition I have been in on several occasions owing to lack of -nourishment and attention at the time. I found I could not get anybody -to come into my house and do the work unless I could pay them 10s. per -week; in consequence I had to take pot-luck. My last confinement I was -nearly twelve months before I was able to do my duties in the home, -which meant a great deal of suffering to my children, as they were -not kept clean. This caused me a great deal of trouble and anxiety. -I believe all this tells on the mother’s health and also the baby’s -which she is nursing. I have known women, who have had the opportunity -and good sense, to get all the nourishment and rest during pregnancy, -even at the expense of something going short in the home; at time of -confinement they have got over it quite easily, and made very little -difference to them a few hours afterwards. - -I believe the bad housing arrangements have a very depressing effect on -mothers during pregnancy. I know of streets of houses where there are -large factories built, taking the whole of the daylight away from the -kitchen, where the woman spends the best part of her life. On top of -this you get the continual grinding of machinery all day. Knowing that -it is mostly women and girls who are working in these factories gives -you the feeling that their bodies are going round with the machinery. -The mother wonders what she has to live for; if there is another baby -coming she hopes it will be dead when it is born. The result is she -begins to take drugs. I need hardly tell you the pain and suffering she -goes through if the baby survives, or the shock it is to the mother -when she is told there is something wrong with the baby. She feels she -is to blame if she has done this without her husband knowing, and she -is living in dread of him. All this tells on the woman physically and -mentally; can you wonder at women turning to drink? If the child lives -to grow up, you find it hysterical and with very irritable, nasty ways -when in the company of other children. When you see all this it is like -a sting at your heart when you know the cause of it all and no remedy. - - _Wages 28s.; six children._ - - -18. ASTONISHING HEALTH. - -Although I have had eight children and one miscarriage, I am afraid my -experiences would not help you in the least, as I am supposed to be -one of those women who can stand anything. During my pregnancy I have -always been able to do my own work. - -With the boys labour has only lasted twenty minutes, girls a little -longer. I have never needed a doctor’s help, and it has always been -over before he came. I have never had an after-pain in my life, so the -doctors don’t know what I am made of. I always had to get up and do my -own work at three weeks’ end. I work all day long at housework until -six or seven, and I then take up all voluntary work I can for the sake -of the Labour Cause. I am sorry and yet glad that my lot has not been -so bad as others. My idea is that everything depends on how a woman -lives, and how healthy she was born. No corsets and plenty of fruit, -also a boy’s healthy sports when she is young. I had the advantage of -never having to work before I was married, and never have wanted for -money, so when the struggle came I had a strong constitution to battle -with it all. - - _Wages 30s. to 35s., and upwards; eight children, one miscarriage._ - - -19. “KEPT ALL TO MYSELF.” - -I was a very strong woman before my baby was born. I was a weaver. I -worked up to five weeks before the baby was born. I had a good appetite -all the nine months and did not ail anything. But when baby was born -he was a miserable little thing. Now that I am older I can see things -different, and I say that if I had not have worked so hard during -the nine months, my baby would have been better. When a baby is born -delicate they are a great care for a good many years. - -I may say here that I did not want any more. I never knew what it was -to ail anything all my life before, but I could not say that after. I -lost 2 stone in weight in a very short time after. Of course, I can see -now I was a good bit to blame, because I thought I was only like other -women would be, and kept all to myself. I was so strong before he was -born, that I was ashamed to own up to it that I felt so weak. It was -more weakness than anything else that I suffered from. They used to -tell me that I would perhaps be better if I had another, but I said -I never would go through it again to feel as bad again. I may say in -conclusion, if ever my son takes a wife, I will do all in my power to -help her not to suffer as I did. - - _Wages 20s.; one child._ - - -20. STEAD’S PENNY POETS. - -I was married at twenty-eight in utter ignorance of the things that -most vitally affect a wife and mother. My mother, a dear, pious soul, -thought ignorance was innocence, and the only thing I remember her -saying on the subject of childbirth was, “God never sends a babe -without bread to feed it.” Dame Experience long ago knocked the bottom -out of that argument for me. My husband was a man earning 32s. a -week--a conscientious, good man, but utterly undomesticated. A year -after our marriage the first baby was born, naturally and with little -pain or trouble. I had every care, and motherhood stirred the depths -of my nature. The rapture of a babe in arms drawing nourishment from -me crowned me with glory and sanctity and honour. Alas! the doctor -who attended me suffered from eczema of a very bad type in his hands. -The disease attacked me, and in twenty-four hours I was covered from -head to foot ... finally leaving me partially and sometimes totally -crippled in my hands. Fifteen months later a second baby came--a dear -little girl, and again I was in a fairly good condition physically -and financially, but had incurred heavy doctor’s bills and attendance -bills, due to my incapacity for work owing to eczema. Both the children -were delicate, and dietary expenses ran high. Believing that true -thrift is wise expenditure, we spent our all trying to build up for -them sound, healthy bodies, and was ill-prepared financially and -physically to meet the birth of a third baby sixteen months later. -Motherhood ceased to be a crown of glory, and became a fearsome -thing to be shunned and feared. The only way to meet our increased -expenditure was by dropping an endowment policy, and losing all -our little, hard-earned savings. I confess without shame that when -well-meaning friends said: “You cannot afford another baby; take this -drug,” I took their strong concoctions to purge me of the little life -that might be mine. They failed, as such things generally do, and the -third baby came. Many a time I have sat in daddy’s big chair, a baby -two and a half years old at my back, one sixteen months and one one -month on my knees, and cried for very weariness and hopelessness. I -fed them all as long as I could, but I was too harassed, domestic -duties too heavy, and the income too limited to furnish me with a -rich nourishing milk.... Nine months later I was again pregnant, and -the second child fell ill. “She cannot live,” the doctors said, but I -loved.... She is still delicate, but bright and intelligent. I watched -by her couch three weeks, snatching her sleeping moments to fulfil the -household task. The strain was fearful, and one night I felt I must -sleep or die--I didn’t much care which; and I lay down by her side, and -slept, and slept, and slept, forgetful of temperatures, nourishment or -anything else.... A miscarriage followed in consequence of the strain, -and doctor’s bills grew like mushrooms. The physical pain from the -eczema, and working with raw and bleeding hands, threatened me with -madness. I dare not tell a soul. I dare not even face it for some time, -and then I knew I must fight this battle or go under. Care and rest -would have cured me, but I was too proud for charity, and no other help -was available. You may say mine is an isolated case. It is not. The -sympathy born of suffering brings many mothers to me, just that they -may find a listening ear. I find this mental state is common, and the -root cause is lack of rest and economic strain--economic strain being -the greatest factor for ill of the two. - -Working-class women have grown more refined; they desire better homes, -better clothes for themselves and their children, and are far more -self-respecting and less humble than their predecessors. But the strain -to keep up to anything like a decent standard of housing, clothing, -diet, and general appearance, is enough to upset the mental balance of -a Chancellor of the Exchequer. How much more so a struggling pregnant -mother! Preventives are largely used. Race suicide, if you will, is the -policy of the mothers of the future. Who shall blame us? - -Two years later a fourth baby came. Varicose veins developed. I thought -they were a necessary complement to childbirth. He was a giant of a boy -and heavy to carry, and I just dragged about the housework, washing and -cleaning until the time of his birth; but I looked forward to that nine -days in bed longingly; to be still and rest was a luxury of luxuries. -Economics became a greater strain than ever now that I had four -children to care for. Dimly conscious of the evils of sweating, instead -of buying cheap ready-made clothes, I fashioned all their little -garments and became a sweated worker myself. The utter monotony of -life, the lack of tone and culture, the drudgery and gradual lowering -of the standard of living consequent upon the rising cost of living, -and increased responsibilities, was converting me into a soulless -drudge and nagging scold. I felt the comradeship between myself and -husband was breaking up. He could not enter into my domestic, I would -not enter into his intellectual pursuits, and again I had to fight -or go under. I could give no time to mental culture or reading and I -bought Stead’s penny editions of literary masters, and used to put them -on a shelf in front of me washing-day, fastened back their pages with a -clothes-peg, and learned pages of Whittier, Lowell, and Longfellow, as -I mechanically rubbed the dirty clothes, and thus wrought my education. -This served a useful purpose; my children used to be sent off to sleep -by reciting what I had learnt during the day. My mental outlook was -widened, and once again I stood a comrade and helpmeet by my husband’s -side, and my children all have a love for good literature. - -Three years later a fifth baby came. I was ill and tired, but my -husband fell ill a month prior to his birth, and I was up day and -night. Our doctor was, and is, one of the kindest men I have ever met. -I said: “Doctor, I cannot afford you for myself, but will you come if -I need?” “I hope you won’t need me, but I’ll come.” I dare not let my -husband in his precarious condition hear a cry of pain from me, and -travail pain cannot always be stifled; and here again the doctor helped -me by giving me a sleeping draught to administer him as soon as I felt -the pangs of childbirth. Hence he slept in one room while I travailed -in the other, and brought forth the loveliest boy that ever gladdened a -mother’s heart. So here I am a woman of forty-one years, blessed with a -lovely family of healthy children, faced with a big deficit, varicose -veins, and an occasional loss of the use of my hands. I want nice -things, but I must pay that debt I owe. I would like nice clothes (I’ve -had three new dresses in fourteen years), but I must not have them yet. -I’d like to develop mentally, but I must stifle that part of my nature -until I have made good the ills of the past, and I am doing it slowly -and surely, and my heart grows lighter, and will grow lighter still -when I know that the burden is lifted from the mothers of our race. - - _Wages 32s. to 40s.; five children, one miscarriage._ - - -21. HOW A WOMAN MAY SUFFER. - -I cannot tell you all my sufferings during the time of motherhood. I -thought, like hundreds of women do to-day, that it was only natural, -and you had to bear it. I was left an orphan, and having no mother to -tell me anything, I was quite unprepared for marriage and what was -expected of me. - -My husband being some years my senior, I found he had not a bit of -control over his passions, and expected me to do what he had been in -the habit of paying women to do. - -I had three children and one miscarriage within three years. This left -me very weak and suffering from very bad legs. I had to work very hard -all the time I was pregnant. - -My next child only lived a few hours. After the confinement I was very -ill, and under the care of a doctor for some time. I had inflammation -in the varicose veins; the doctor told me I should always lay with my -legs above my head. He told my husband I must not do any work for some -time. I had either to wear a bandage or an elastic stocking to keep my -legs so that I might get about at all. I am still suffering from the -varicose veins now, although my youngest child is fourteen; at times -I am obliged to keep my legs bandaged up. With each child I had they -seemed to get worse, and me having them so quickly never allowed my -legs to get into their normal condition before I was pregnant again. I -do wish there could be some limit to the time when a woman is expected -to have a child. I often think women are really worse off than beasts. -During the time of pregnancy, the male beast keeps entirely from the -female: not so with the woman; she is at the prey of a man just the -same as though she was not pregnant. Practically within a few days of -the birth, and as soon as the birth is over, she is tortured again. If -the woman does not feel well she must not say so, as a man has such a -lot of ways of punishing a woman if she does not give in to him.... - - _Wages 30s. average; seven children, two miscarriages._ - - -22. “GOT ON SPLENDIDLY.” - -I have only had one child and one miscarriage, but I can assure you I -had such good nursing that I got on splendidly. Of course, I was not -allowed to get up before the tenth day, and I do not think that anyone -ought to do so, even if they can. I think if everyone at those times -had great care and good nursing for a month, there is no reason why -they should not get on as well as I did. - - _One child, one miscarriage._ - - -23. “ONE OF THE FORTUNATE.” - -I must be one of the fortunate ones. I have always had fairly good -health during pregnancy, and good times at confinements and getting up. -I had never had anything to do with children before marriage, and I owe -my good health to being well nourished and looked after by my mother -when I was a growing girl. I think if the young girls of to-day are -properly cared for, it will make all the difference to the mothers of -the future, and save much suffering during pregnancy and after. - - _Wages 26s. to 30s.; three children, two miscarriages._ - - -24. UTTERLY OVERDONE. - -Sometimes we think that our own life does not seem to be of any -importance, and our troubles are what should be, specially before the -Maternity Benefit. When I was married, I had to leave my own town to go -out into the world, as it were, and when I had to have my first baby, I -knew absolutely nothing, not even how they were born. I had many a time -thought how cruel (not wilfully, perhaps) my mother was not to tell -me all about the subject when I left home. Although I was twenty-five -years of age when married, I had never been where a baby was born. When -my baby was born I had been in my labour for thirty-six hours, and did -not know what was the matter with me, and when it was born it was as -black as a coal and took the doctor a long while to get life into it. -It was only a seven-months baby, and I feel quite sure if I had been -told anything about pregnancy it would not have happened. I carried a -heavy piece of oilcloth, which brought on my labour. Anyway, the boy -lived, but it cannot be expected that he can be as robust as if he had -been a nine months baby, but he is healthy, but not extra strong. - -When he was six years old, I had my fifth baby, and had also a -miscarriage, and then I went on strike. My life was not worth living -at this rate, as my husband was only a working man, out of work when -wet or bad weather, and also in times of depression. I had all my -own household work to do, washing, mending, making clothes, baking, -cooking, and everything else. - -In those six years I never knew what it was to have a proper night’s -sleep, for if I had not a baby on the breast I was pregnant, and how -could you expect children to be healthy, as I always seemed to be -tired. If I sat down, I very often fell asleep through the day. - -I knew very little about feeding children; when they cried, I gave them -the breast. If I had known then what I know now, perhaps my children -would have been living. I was ignorant, and had to suffer severely for -it, for it nearly cost me my life, and also those of my children. I -very often ponder over this part of my life. I must not say anything -about my mother now, because she is dead, but I cannot help thinking -what might have been if she had told me. - - _Five children, one miscarriage._ - -[Illustration: FACSIMILE OF EXTRACT FROM LETTER 24.] - - -25. THREE CHILDREN IN THREE YEARS. - -I was married young. My first three children were born in three years. -My husband’s wages at that time was 27s. a week. My husband works in -a boot and shoe factory. In the winter-time they did not make many -full weeks. There were clubs to pay and holidays to provide for. The -consequence was my third child was not born strong. She had a cough -as soon as she was born. It was a struggle to put enough by to have -a nurse in for a fortnight. I have had to get about to do my own -housework long enough before I was fit to do it. My last two children -have been stronger because I have been able to get better support. My -husband was working for Co-operative firms. - -When we know what the working women have to go through, you need not -wonder at them trying to curtail the family. Though the wages have gone -up, it is quite as difficult, for the prices of commodities have gone -up too. I do feel that something should be done to help our women, -so that they can take better care of themselves during the time of -pregnancy. But when they only have the same amount of money coming in, -how are they going to do it? For it takes them all their time to keep -going on. A mother never thinks of herself. She is always trying to -make her family comfortable. A good many of them get about too quick -after confinement, and it is making invalids of a good many. I am very -sorry I am not in active service for the Guild. I cannot tell you how -much I love the work. - - _Wages 16s. to 27s.; six children, one miscarriage._ - - -26. “SUCH IS THE LIFE OF POOR WOMEN.” - -One of the difficulties I experienced during pregnancy was saving the -doctor’s fee out of the small wage, which was only just enough each -week for ordinary expenses. Thanks to the Maternity Benefit, a woman -now knows she is provided for at the time. - -I have had six children, all living, and what a terrible time it is, -to be sure, especially during the last two months--only just enough to -live on and another coming. The mental strain in addition to bodily -labour must surely affect the child. I think a woman in that state -should have all the rest that is possible. I did fairly well for a -working man’s wife, but the recollection is anything but pleasant. -Fancy bending over a washing-tub, doing the family washing perhaps an -hour or two before baby is born. I think a woman in that condition -should be considered unable to do heavy work for quite six weeks -previous to the birth of her child. - -Like other wage-paid workers, my husband’s wages fluctuated. The -unsteadiness of the wages of a labourer is a matter of concern, and -working a full week he would scarcely receive a real living wage. -During the time of bringing my children up, the highest wage I received -in any one week was 30s., and the lowest--well, I had so many that I -really do not know how I got through. A week’s holiday[A] meant no -wage at the week-end. And if the machinery broke down, or there were -strikes or lock-outs, it stopped for six clear days, the sum of 10s., -and 1s. for each child, would be paid. The same rate would be paid for -out of work. My husband was seldom out of work, but, as I have stated, -his wage was subject to fluctuation. I think the lowest (not to mention -holidays of a week duration, when perhaps I had saved the Dividend to -tide the week over) was 4s. 6d. - -I shall have to tell you of a case near my home. The woman, I believe, -is in her last month. I met her on her way home carrying a baby of two -years (her second). She had been out to wash, as she said every copper -helped (her husband is a labourer). She said: “I have to go out as long -as I am able to help, to clean or wash; you see, they will not let me -work in the factory.” When questioned about the baby she was carrying, -her answer was that she took him with her, and he just sits on a chair -until she has done. The child in question is rickety. He cannot stand -yet. Such is the life of poor women. I have known many such. - -[A] _I.e._, an enforced holiday. - - -27. WORKED UP TO THE LAST. - -I will just give you a little of my confinements. I had been married -eighteen months when I had my first baby, when I had a trying time, -being only an eight-months baby. My water broke five weeks before, -and caused what the doctor calls “dry labour.” He only lived twelve -hours. The second came three years and nine months afterwards. I had -a straight labour, but I flooded afterwards, and if the doctor had -not been there I should have lost my life; it caused me three months’ -doctoring afterwards. The third one, which came two years and one month -after, I had a fairly good labour. Over this one my sufferings were -mostly before it came. I had varicose veins in the right leg right -away in the abdomen, and the irritation was most distressing; I used -to walk the bedroom most nights during the last month. The fourth came -two years and three months after the third, and the doctor put me an -elastic band on my leg, and of course I did not suffer so much over -that one. I could have told at the meeting, where Mrs. D. was talking, -about babies’ eyes, for this one’s eyes after a few days began as if -they had got cold in them, and the doctor told me then many people took -it for cold, but if neglected it was most serious. I am pleased to say -I have had no trouble, for he is a fine young fellow now. - -Between the fourth and fifth I was four years and eleven months, and -then the sixth I went five years and eleven months, and was forty-two -when I had him. Of course, I think I am suffering now for some of it, -as I have always had to do my own work up to the last, and have had a -lot of sickness with my husband and my second boy; till he was eleven -years old I scarce ever had the doctor out of the house. I must say -that I have had a good husband to help me through, but I do hope we get -the £7 10s., and then there will be a many who will not suffer as many -poor women have done in the past. At the time I had my children, and -weighing all things together, I don’t think my husband’s wages averaged -no more than 28s. a week, lowest 12s. and 15s. I should like to tell -you, besides children we had my husband’s mother to keep, and allowed -her 2s. 6d. a week besides keeping her. He has never been a strong man -either, and many a time had him at home six or seven weeks at a time. I -feel that when I go to conferences and meetings that I wish I had been -a co-operator years ago, for since I have been a Guild worker I feel -the years have been wasted, but I am trying to do my best now in my -little way. Wishing you every success in the campaign we are fighting. - - _Wages average 28s.; six children, one miscarriage._ - - -28. HEAVY EXPENSE OF CHILDBIRTH. - -My experiences as a young woman were very difficult, for I was the -first child, and had never been brought up with young babies, or -afterwards been where they were. My mother dying when I was three years -old, I had no one to turn to for advice. I had spent all my youth in -the country, and came as a stranger into a strange place, knowing no -one but the man I married. My first child was a very delicate child, -but I have often thought since that perhaps I had not done all things -that were wise, but that would be for want of knowledge. I think a -mother is a peculiarity during pregnancy, for I myself never seemed to -want anything I had cooked myself, and if I went to any other house I -could have eaten the poorest of foods. Then one must not go and buy -what we may fancy, as that is an extra expense to the home; and knowing -there is an additional expense coming, we have to be very careful. I -have not had the Maternity Benefit yet, but that is only a trifle to -the large expense that is incurred, when you have paid £1 1s. for your -doctor, your nurse 10s. per week, a washerwoman 2s. per day (you cannot -get a nurse here under, and if she does the washing she will charge -12s. per week). Then, you never find anyone that makes the money go as -far as you do yourself, so that when you get up, instead of having the -best of support, and very little to do, you have to begin to get pulled -round again, and start and do the household work before you are strong -enough, with an extra one added. Naturally the child either cannot be -nursed by the mother at all, or only partly. The child suffers as well -as the mother. - -If it could be made possible, I really think mothers should have -practically nothing to do with heavy work three months before -childbirth and three months after--that is, if life is to be made -worth living. But at present we have to clean down thoroughly ready -for the event, till I have found myself wondering if death would not -be a release. What with worry and feeling bad, I am never surprised -at hearing of an expectant mother committing suicide. If she has two -or three tiny children, she never has a minute’s rest, if she is an -energetic housewife. - -I think I won’t write any more, or you will be thinking I am rather a -depressing character, but I shall be glad if anything I have said is -any use to others as a benefit in future time. - - _Wages 20s. to 45s.; five children._ - - -29. “I AM NEARLY USED UP.” - -Through my married life I have had a good, kind partner, which means -so much to the wife, and who always provided me with a doctor and a -good nurse for my confinements, which goes without saying that the -mother and child have a much better chance than other neglected ones. -The first five were born with fifteen months between; then there was a -wait of eight years for the sixth, and three years for the seventh. I -have always worked hard both before and after childbirth. Give a woman -a quiet home and an easy conscience and good plain food, and I see no -reason why both mother and child should not do well. Personally, I -don’t know what I should have done if it had not been for my good old -nurse, my dear mother having passed away some years before; but by -the grace of God and plenty of common sense, I have brought all my -children through so far. I was married in 1884, and knew practically -nothing about a child’s entry into the world. I do think there should -be somewhere where intending brides could get information that would -in some way prepare them for what may take place--those who have no -mothers, I mean. But so much depends on the woman herself, whether she -is going to make the best of things. Personally, I found it was no -good worrying, although I found it much harder than most. I never knew -what it was to have a day at the seaside for twenty years. I am not -grumbling, only now I am nearly used up. If only the Maternity Benefit -had been given when I and many others needed it, I cannot help thinking -I could have done much better. My husband is a bricklayer, and you may -guess it was a bit of a struggle with my little family. - - _Seven children._ - -[Illustration: ELEVEN CHILDREN BORN, ALL LIVING. FATHER A FISH-HAWKER. - -This family is not connected with the Women’s Co-operative Guild. - -(_Reproduced by kind permission of the Medical Officer of Health for -Liverpool._)] - - -30. “MOTHER LAST.” - -When we were first married my husband’s wages was £1 a week. I have had -seven children; one died at birth, one at one year old, and five are -living. Each was about two years and three months old when the other -was born. I had one miscarriage, which left me very ill for a long -time. I found that the money was so little to do on that I must work -as well to pay my way and clothe my children. My husband neither drank -or smoked, but when rent, coals, gas, and food is taken out, what was -left for other things? I had boarders, and was standing on my legs so -much that after the birth of my last child a marble leg set in. I went -under an operation, but my leg is still very bad. A mother wants good -food before the birth as well as after, but how can it be done out of -so little money? If father takes his food it must be as good as can -be got; then the children come next and mother last. - - _Wages 20s.; seven children._ - - -31. LITTLE TO TELL. - -Why is it these things have never been thought of before? Is it -ignorance, or is it that people are got used to the idea that we have -to expect all sorts of illnesses when a woman gets pregnant, and we -have just to put up with it and do the best we can? Personally, I -have very little to tell of my own experiences, although I have four -children--two boys and two girls, the eldest fifteen years and the -youngest six years. Compared with some working mothers, I have gone -through those trying periods fairly well. Also my confinements have on -the whole been good. My husband’s occupation is a carpenter and joiner, -and he gets the trade union rate of wages of the district. - - _Wages, trade union rate; four children._ - - -32. RESTRICTION ADVOCATED. - -I feel that I must write and explain why I advocate educating women to -the idea that they should not bring children into the world without -the means to provide for them. I know it is a most delicate subject, -and very great care must be used in introducing it, but still, a word -spoken sometimes does good. Someone has said that most of the trouble -with delicate children were caused by women trying to destroy life -in the early days of pregnancy. I do not, of course, recommend that -sort of thing. It is absolutely wrong. But it is terrible to see how -women suffer, even those that are in better conditions of life. I -will quote one or two personal experiences. My grandmother had over -twenty children; only eight lived to about fourteen years, only two -to a good old age. A cousin (a beautiful girl) had seven children in -about seven years; the first five died in birth, the sixth lived, and -the seventh died and the mother also. What a wasted life! Another had -seven children; dreadful confinements, two or three miscarriages, an -operation for trouble in connection with same. Three children died and -the mother also quite young. There are cases all round us much worse. -You find in the majority of cases that in large families a certain -number die and the others have less strength. Of course, there are -exceptions. The trouble is that it takes so very long in England for -things to be changed, and you are told to mind your own business and -let people do as they like; but I am pleased to see that many men and -women are getting wiser, to the benefit of the wives and families for -whom the poor husband has to provide. - - -33. “ALMOST A WRECK.” - -I was married at the age of twenty-two (barely twenty-two years), and -by the time I had reached my thirty-second birthday was the mother -of seven children, and I am sure you will pardon me if I take the -credit for bringing up such a family without the loss of even one, -seeing that it entailed such a great amount of suffering to myself on -account of having to nurse them through all illness, and in addition -(after sitting up many nights in succession) being compelled to do all -household duties. - -During pregnancy I suffered much. When at the end of ten years I was -almost a mental and physical wreck, I determined that this state of -things should not go on any longer, and if there was no natural means -of prevention, then, of course, artificial means must be employed, -which were successful, and am happy to say that from that time I have -been able to take pretty good care of myself, but often shudder to -think what might have been the result if things had been allowed to -go on as they were. Two days after childbirth I invariably sat up in -bed knitting stockings and doing general repairs for my family. My -husband at that time was earning 30s. per week, and out of that amount -claimed 6s. 6d. as pocket-money, and when I tell you that through all -my difficulties there were no debts contracted on my part, you will be -able to form some idea of what women are, in some cases, called upon to -endure. - - _Wages 26s. to 30s.; seven children._ - - -34. DELICATE CHILDREN. - -I had my three children in two years and five months, and all the -time I carried I had violent sickness, night and day, under a doctor -practically the whole time, who, of course, were unable to prevent -my suffering. The result was my babies were delicate; the last one -suffered with gastritis the whole of its short life--four years and -ten months--which ended in peritonitis and abdominal tuberculosis. I -have the eldest one still, but he is very delicate and unable to attend -school. - - _Wages 21s. to 27s.; three children._ - - -35. CONTINUAL PREGNANCY FOR FIFTEEN YEARS. - -I can speak from experience. For fifteen years I was in a very poor -state of health owing to continual pregnancy. As soon as I was over -one trouble, it was all started over again. In one instance, I was -unable to go further than the top of the street the whole time owing -to bladder trouble, constant flow of water. With one, my leg was so -terribly bad I had constantly to sit down in the road when out, and -stand with my leg on a chair to do my washing. I have had four children -and _ten_ miscarriages, three before the first child, each of them -between three and four months. No cause but weakness, and, I’m afraid, -ignorance and neglect. I was in a very critical state for years; my -sufferings were very great from acute weakness. I now see a great deal -of this agony ought never to have been, with proper attention. It is -good to see some of our women waking up to this fact. It is help and -attention during pregnancy that is wanted, and I hope my own dear -daughter, if she ever marries, will be one to benefit with others, by -our experience. I do hope this letter is something of what you are -wishing for, hoping for good results of our Guild work in this matter. - - _Wages 25s.; four children, ten miscarriages._ - - -36. MANY MISCARRIAGES. - -My experience during wifehood has been that so long as husband and -children could have necessities the mother could manage somehow. - -It is my silver-wedding day to-morrow, and you will see something -of what it has meant to me. I was married young; my husband is five -years older. I had my first three children before I was twenty-four, -nursing them all. Then I had three miscarriages in the next eight -years. I had two more children later, in one and a half years. Since -then, eleven years ago, I have had a misplaced womb, and have had two -more miscarriages since, one being of twins five months, and one three -months. - -I believe it was having children too fast that weakened my inside and -brought on miscarriages. - -When I heard Mrs. H. say at our Conference she always had £5 provided -for confinement, I felt that she had indeed been a lucky woman. I have -never yet been in that position, and it is because a woman has not -enough money to pay for things being done for her until she is strong -enough to do them for herself, that causes so much suffering. - -My husband’s wages was 30s. a week when he made a full week, but -unfortunately his trade was very uncertain. In ten years we had moved -four different times--twice to A, back again to B, and then to C which -accounts a great deal for us being short, as we had to pay our own -expenses each time, and of course you will understand what it means -to a mother when she is left behind. The husband must be found his -board-money and pocket-money, even if she goes short of necessaries. - - _Wages 30s.; five children, five miscarriages._ - -[Illustration: FACSIMILE OF EXTRACT FROM LETTER 36.] - - -37. AGAINST LARGE FAMILIES. - -May I say, first of all, that lack of knowledge means, in nearly every -case, much unnecessary suffering. I was married at twenty-one, and -have had three children--two boys and one girl. Eldest thirty in May, -youngest twenty-five. No miscarriages. I might say that I was very -ignorant when I was married; my mother did not consider it at all -proper to talk about such things. There is too much mock modesty in -the world and too little time given to the things that matter. Knowing -how ignorant I was on matters of motherhood, my husband bought a book -for me called “Advice to a Wife,” by Dr. Henry Pye Chavasse. It is a -beautifully written book and would be a gift of untold value to any -girl about to marry. There is also a sequel entitled “Advice to a -Mother”--it has saved me pounds of expense--price 2s. 6d., by the same -author. Yet, on the other hand, with all this knowledge, I had a very -dreadful time with my first child--in fact, I nearly lost my life and -reason too, and have never really enjoyed good health since. I was -fully six months before I could look after my baby. This was one of -my greatest disappointments. I was obliged to put my little one out -to nurse, although I had an ample supply of milk. My second and third -confinements were very bad, but I was able to get about at the end of -the month. It is always a mystery how some poor mothers get about so -soon, but of course some women are much stronger than others. Here let -me add that through getting about too soon a great deal of suffering -is stored up for later years. My old doctor once said to me that if -women would only realise that a certain amount of rest was absolutely -necessary after confinement, it would add several years to their life. -I cannot speak too strongly about the evils of miscarriages. One -miscarriage brought about unlawfully ruins a woman’s constitution more -than half a dozen children. I have suffered from varicose veins since -my first child was born, and during pregnancy. - -My husband’s wages during child-bearing period have been never more -than 24s.; being a piece-worker, _has_ been as low as 9s. The wages -I received when my last child was born (the same week, I mean) were -11s. I was glad to avail myself of a free doctor from the hospital. -I may say I had a black doctor, and was never better attended in my -life. I do not believe in large families. It does not give either the -mother or the children a chance. Here again, I think, much education -is needed. Fathers ought to control their bodies for the sake of the -mother and child. I could quote several instances where a mother’s -life has become intolerable through the husband’s lack of control. I do -trust that the new Maternity Scheme will soon be a fact. I feel that, -when put into working order, thousands of poor mothers will be saved -unnecessary suffering. - - _Wages 9s. to 24s.; three children._ - - -38. “OTHER CHILDREN WITH MEASLES.” - -I think the earlier stages of pregnancy are the worst, but a woman -needs most attention when she gets up. I have had to nurse my other -children with measles when my baby was only four days old. I could -never employ a proper nurse. I had six children when my husband was -getting £1 a week. I am so glad to see the improvements in the lot of -women to-day, but in some ways it is worse now to bring up a family. I -am so glad to see anything being done to help the mother. - - _Wages £1 and upwards; eight children._ - - -39. BENEFIT FROM HEARTS OF OAK. - -I am afraid I have not much to tell from my experience. I have always -been able to look after myself, with the help of a good husband. I have -had nine children; eight are living. - -When I tell you my husband is a member of the Hearts of Oak Benefit -Society, you will know I have benefited by it.[B] - - _Nine children._ - -[B] The Hearts of Oak gives a benefit of 30s. at child-birth. - - -40. NEGLECT BY DOCTORS. - -I might say that I have had two children. The first one was still-born, -but it was owing to the doctor not paying proper attention to me, as, -when he came, he said he would not be needed until the morning after. -However, I got to be worse, and he was fetched again, but refused to -come, so we had to get a midwife, and she said if I had had proper -attention the child would have been born then. Consequently, the child -was suffocated in the birth. When all was over, my husband went to tell -him, and he said he was very glad, as he wanted his rest. Then when I -was going to have my second, I ordered another doctor, and when he was -wanted, he was drinking, and sent another midwife; so you see I have -not had it all straightforward. But when I was carrying them, I can say -that I was very well during the time of pregnancy, only for sickness in -the morning and after food, until about seven months gone, when I was -all right. - - _Wages 21s. to 23s.; two children._ - - -41. OVER-CHILD-BEARING. - -My feelings during pregnancy were just like those of Mary in Hall Caine -(“The Woman Thou Gavest Me”). My mind was full of love and my time of -preparation for the coming life within me. I worked very hard during -the time of six children, knitting stockings and making clothes for -those I already had, so my little one could be well nursed. Three are -suffering from consumption, and one from curvature. When I had had -six I never murmured, never once said I had enough, and did not want -more, but after the birth of my last one I changed, because I could -not nurse it and never carried it about. I do not blame my husband for -this birth. He had waited patiently for ten months because I was ill, -and thinking the time was safe, I submitted as a duty, knowing there -is much unfaithfulness on the part of the husband where families are -limited. - -What is necessary for mothers is State aid for every child she gives -birth to. If this is necessary for the aged, it is more so for the -mother with the children. - -It is quite time this question of maternity was taken up, and we -must let the men know we are human beings with ideals, and aspire to -something higher than to be mere objects on which they can satisfy -themselves. Near my home are two sisters with ten months and eight days -between their ages. Two doors from my own are four sisters, all living, -and they all came in two years and fifteen days--the second born eleven -months after the first, and thirteen months after twins came, and since -then three more have been added to their number. None of them are old -enough to work, and you will understand the position of the parents, -who are good, deserving, well-meaning people, when the father, being -out of work through the war (painter), has had to go labouring. - - _Wages 30s.; seven children, two miscarriages._ - - -42. “CONSTANT CARE AND HELP.” - -I take a strong personal interest in the matter, and will state a case -that came under my notice, where a poor but respectable mother was -practically ill the whole time of pregnancy, gave birth to a healthy -baby, herself left very weak, and a month later taken to hospital, -as a last resource, from no particular disease whatever. The doctors -themselves could not give it a name. I myself should say that all -her strength and vitality went to the nourishment of the baby, and -she herself was left with scarce enough to live at all. I did all I -could. She had another little one, one year and ten months old, at the -time. I had him most of the time before her last illness, and entirely -during the time she was in hospital (about three months, I think). -This happened last year. The baby is now thirteen months old, and a -fine, healthy child. The mother is still weak and ailing at times, -certainly not fit to attend properly to her home duties and two small -children. She had, previously to the two living, two other children, -both still-born. In fact, I think both were dead some days previous to -birth. This was before I knew her. I am confident, if more help had -been forthcoming before and after confinement, she would and could have -been saved much suffering. - -My own personal experience is small, having had only three and a half -years of married life. My one confinement and its results was enough -almost for a lifetime. I was not well for many days together the -whole time of pregnancy, suffering from sickness, faints, and severe -headaches the whole time. A long and severe confinement followed, and -a tedious recovery, and I can honestly say that, though it is over two -years ago, I can feel the effects of it still, though up till marriage -I did not know what illness was. My age was twenty-eight when baby was -born. Had I been a poor mother, struggling along on a bare living wage -as many are, I do not think I should have been alive now. But constant -care and a good, kind husband, and help with the heavy housework when -necessary (though I did practically all the work from day to day -myself), gave me a far better chance of life and recovery than many, -many of our poorer, though equally respectable members have. For they -have neither time nor the means, many of them, to take the necessary -care of themselves that they should do. - - _One child._ - - -43. BAD EXPERIENCES. - -When I was married, I left my home and went to a distant town, out -of reach of my mother and all my friends, and in due time I became -pregnant, and as time rolled on, I began to feel the symptom which I -thought was right to feel and bear. - -Now, in a strange town, and no particular friends, and, shall I say, -mock modest, I was almost afraid to go to a doctor for advice, in case -he would think I was a coward, and did not try to bear what I thought -was right. At last, I ordered the doctor and midwife, then I awaited -the arrival of the baby. The time came. I was in labour thirty-six -hours, and after all that suffering had to be delivered by instruments, -and was ruptured too badly to have anything done to help me. I am -suffering from the ill-effects to-day. This is thirty-one years ago. - -I had two children after that, but all the time I was carrying them -I was quite unable to get about. When the last baby was about to -arrive, the last month I was not able to go upstairs, unless I got up -backwards, and to come down I had to slip from step to step. Going back -to the first birth, I was unable to sit down for three months. If I -wanted to rest, I had to lie down. - -Now, after that experience, my feeling is that if it were possible to -get Maternity Centres or schools for expectant mothers, it would be a -godsend to many a woman; and also to get some little help in nourishing -the body, such as a small quantity of fresh milk. I hope I have -enlightened you in some little way; if I have, it is worth the time I -have spent in writing. - - _Wages 26s. to 28s.; three children._ - - -44. “AN INDOMITABLE WILL.” - -My health during pregnancy was very good. I took no intoxicants, good, -simple food, and through adverse circumstances worked hard in my own -home. - -I was married in 1887. My husband had just left the Army; he got work -as a porter in a bedding warehouse. This firm failed, and he and the -book-keeper joined forces and began in the bedding trade in a small -way, and we were married. I went every day except Saturday to the shop -to cut out and sew. My husband’s wages were £1 per week; we did our -own housework at night, and I baked and ironed on Saturday morning. -When my boy was born, twelve months after marriage, my husband’s wages -were 25s.; of course, I could earn nothing. In another twelve months -my second baby (a girl) was born. We removed to ----, where rents were -cheap, and I was a stranger. I took in plain sewing and washing, and -cut up my clothes for my babies. I had a good stock of clothes, I may -say. - -About this time we were involved in a lawsuit which was quite -unnecessary, and our income was reduced to 19s. 6d. per week. I still -took what work I could get, minded a child whose mother worked in the -mill, etc. I had no assistance from my own family, as I was too proud -to let them know. This lasted three years, when we had a change for the -better. The cost of this lawsuit I mentioned was, to us, £55 12s. 4d. I -then had another daughter, and three years later another girl. I could -then obtain one dozen pounds of sugar for 1s. 9d., now it is 4s., and -this applies to many things. When my last baby was born my housekeeping -money was £2 10s. - -The first six years of my married life was one perpetual struggle, -often wanting necessaries, but God’s hand has been over it all, and -I thank Him to-day for the faith and perseverance with which I was -enabled to go through this struggle. - -Our circumstances are improved, and my three daughters are all -teachers--one certificated, and one college-trained, the youngest a -student teacher, entering College in September next. Two of my girls -are accomplished musicians, and can do anything menial or otherwise in -a home. I think if the mothers of to-day were not so idle it would be -better for them; also, if they would make their own food, and not buy -ready-made food, we should have a better class of children and healthy -mothers. I am fifty-three next month, do my own washing, baking, and -cleaning with a little help from my girls. My house has nine rooms -and three cellars. I still make time to do my secretarial duties, and -take a great interest therein. I was an extremely delicate girl, and -suffered from heart disease as a child, but my doctor says I have a -most indomitable will. Lest you should think I am of a boasting nature, -I beg to submit that God has been very merciful and kind to me. - - _Wages £1 to over £2 10s.; four children._ - - -45. “MOCK MODESTY.” - -I had no mother to talk to me, or for me to ask questions, and both my -husband and myself being of a reserved nature, I suffered, perhaps, -more than I need have done. I needed chloroform and instruments in -each case, and after the birth of my second child, I was a cripple -for nearly twelve months, but having a good husband, I tried to bear -patiently. I cannot say much else, except that now I can call it mock -modesty on my part. - - _Wages 28s. to 36s.; three children, one still-born._ - - -46. A HEALTHY MILL-WORKER. - -I myself have had five children, all living. I had the five in seven -years and two months, so you see for yourself I had them all very -little, and no Maternity benefit to help me, and only a small wage -coming in--say 25s. a week--so I had to go back to the mill when fit -for work, to help to keep home right, which I don’t think did me or -the children any harm, for I have not paid 10s. to a doctor in all the -bringing up of the five children, nor for myself. No still-born nor any -miscarriages. - - _Wages 25s.; five children._ - - -47. “I THINK A LOT.” - -Oh, for the time when the Maternity Scheme becomes law, and the Divorce -Reform. No one will welcome it more than I, for the sake of those who -have not got true companionship in life. I am afraid I cannot tell you -much about myself during pregnancy, as I have only had one child and no -miscarriage. Perhaps my husband and myself have taken a different view -from most people. You see, we both belong to a large family of brothers -and sisters, and both had a drunken father, who did not care for their -wife and offspring as much as the beast of the field. - -My mother, whom I loved with all my heart, brought fifteen little lives -into the world; twelve are still living. I remember many a time she -has gone without food before and after confinement, and without fire -in winter. I have gone round the house many a time to try and find a -few rags to sell for food. I have seen my father strike my mother just -before confinement, and known her be up again at four days’ end to look -after us. You see, my mother had no education, and had been brought up -to obey her husband. But, poor dear, she left the cares of this world -some years ago now, at the age of fifty-nine. My father has always been -in business for himself, and used to have plenty of money, but spent -it on himself, and is still living at the age of seventy-four. When I -got married to the man I loved, and who loves me, he said I should -never suffer as our dear mothers had done, and that we would only have -what little lives we could make happy, and give a chance in life. My -son will be eighteen years of age in June, and is still at Technical -College, for which he won a scholarship. I get no grant-in-aid, and my -husband is only a working man, so I go out to work for two hours every -morning to help to keep him, as he is a good lad. - -Please excuse my ramble, as I only wish I was better educated. I think -a lot, but cannot express it, as I had to leave school at the age of -ten years, to go into farm service. I have found the Guild a great help. - - _Wages 26s.; one child._ - - -48. “A TIME OF HORROR.” - -My two last babies came to me in troublous times, the boy, four years -since, when my husband (through being too prosperous and false friends) -gave way to drink, although he never tried to strike me, or any of the -outward cruelty that I know many wives have to contend with; but it was -so different to what I had been used to, and three months before the -baby came, I was practically an invalid. Up till dinner I could manage -to get about, but after dinner I had to lie or sit as best I could. I -could not get on nine in men’s shoes, my feet swelled up so, and every -night my hands were in agonies; the only relief I got was when I used -to hammer them on the wall, to try and take the awful dumb pain out of -them. Then when I started in labour, I was in it from eleven o’clock on -the night of Thursday, the 17th of February till Saturday, the 19th, at -10 a.m. The waters broke at eleven o’clock on Thursday night, and baby -came at ten o’clock on Saturday. The doctor had to put it back, as it -was not coming naturally. Of course, I had chloroform; indeed, I had -it with all my seven children, except two, as I have always such long -and terrible labours, although I am a big woman--5 feet 8 inches, and -I weigh over 13-1/2 stone. I flooded with two. By the way, I am never -able to get up under three weeks after confinement, as I always start -to flood directly I make any movement, and I have to keep my nurse -from five to seven weeks after. I always have terribly sore breasts, -although the doctor treats them three months beforehand, but it makes -no difference. My last confinement was worst, as I found, five months -before baby was born, that my husband was having an immoral going-on. -The shock was so great, I could not speak when first I heard it. A -cold shiver went over me, and my body seemed to go together in a hard -lump. I was never right after, till she came. Indeed, I was never right -till my operation last October. I always had a weary bearing-down pain -in my body all the time I was carrying babies, and suffer a great -deal in my back. I never had morning sickness with any of them, and -not one varicose vein, I am so thankful to say. And yet I know many -women who can go right up to a few hours before, and then tell me they -think nothing about it, while to me it is like a time of horror from -beginning to end. I suppose we are differently made, somehow. - -My husband earned 6d. an hour, and some of the summer months he worked -overtime at the same rate of wages. What he earned overtime we always -put in the Post Office, and what else we could spare towards the long -winter months, as many times we started short time in August, which did -not bring in very much. Then we were very lucky if we were getting 10s. -a week at Christmas-time, but it used to be oftener _nothing_ for weeks -before Christmas. But we never went into debt. What we could not pay -for we did without, and I can assure you I have told my husband many -times that I had had my dinner before he came in, so as there should be -plenty to go round for the children and himself, but he found me out -somehow, and so that was stopped, although I had been many times only -half filled, and I am glad to say during the worst of the pinch time I -was not pregnant. - - _Seven children and three miscarriages._ - - -49. VERY HARD TIMES. - -I seem to have had a very hard time all through. Well, my first baby -was born twenty-three years last February, and my husband was working -just about one or two days in a week at 3s. 4d. a day. My second baby -was born sixteen months after, being still-born. My husband was out -of work for three months then. I did nothing but cry. I could not get -what I ought to have. The doctor wanted to know if I had been in any -trouble. My mother told him how long we had been out of work, and I -had cried a good deal. The doctor said that would be the cause of my -baby being dead. When I got better, I went to work (and to tell you -the truth, I have worked hard ever since). Twelve months after that I -had another baby. I was very ill. When I got better, I took in plain -sewing; then two years after I had another baby, but my husband was in -better employment, earning 18s. per week, and I thought I was a lady. -But it was not for long. My husband’s work finished, and we moved to -----, where I had fresh troubles, my next baby being dead born, and -my next only lived five months. When I was laid up again we were very -hard up. I had to let the young person who looked after me go before -her time was up. After I paid her and my rent and coals we had no -dinner the Sunday, simply because we could not afford any. I always -tried to get on and keep us all respectable, but it was hard work. I -also managed to get the doctor paid before I wanted him again. Two -and a half years after I had another baby, and she has taken more to -rear her than all the rest; she cannot go to school. She takes such a -lot of fits, both night and day. My next baby was born about eighteen -months after, and when she was five I had the misfortune to go to bed -again; I had a very bad time, although it was my tenth child. I was -chloroformed, and the baby lived half an hour. I am sure you will be -tired reading all my troubles, but I assure you I had to work hard in -my home and out of it to keep us all together. I used to buy extra -every week, it did not matter how small, so that I could be better -able to pay for someone to look after me. I have a good husband, and -he helps me all he can. Three of my daughters is under the doctor now, -and I am of the candid opinion it is through me working so hard and -not getting plenty of food and attention during that period. I hope I -have not wearied you. I many a time feel I could write a book of my -troubles; I seem to have had so many. When we look back, we wonder -however we have got along, but every cloud has a silver lining, and I -am looking forward to see my children better provided than I have been. -With all good wishes for a brighter future. - - _Wages 18s. to 22s.; eight children, two still-births._ - - -50. A FARM-WORKER’S WIFE. - -I have had four children; the oldest is now twenty-three, the next -twenty-two, the next twenty-one, and the youngest fourteen. I might say -that at the time my three eldest were born, my husband was working on -a farm, and earning 18s. a week. When the last was born he had moved -into rather better work, and earned 25s. a week. You may be sure after -I had paid 3s. for a small cottage of two rooms and scullery, I had not -much to spare, and of course doctors had to be paid. As for nursing, -well, I did not get much of it, and I feel very deeply always the -need of good nursing at these times. For years I suffered from what I -feel was the want of proper nursing and nourishment. In fact I wonder -sometimes even now if I have ever really got over it. When I think of -it I feel I would do anything to support any measure that would help -to secure that our daughters now shall not suffer as their mothers did -before them. - - _Wages 18s. to 25s.; four children._ - - -51. SHUN PATENT FOODS. - -As you will see (from my having lost six children in succession before -I reared one), I was very unfortunate in my early married life, and -at one time thought I was not going to rear any children. Congenital -weakness may have had something to do with the failure to rear, through -falling down a flight of stairs as a girl and dislocating my neck. This -fall would have cost me my life but for the presence of mind of a young -woman who picked me up. Using her hands and knees, she pulled my neck -in, and undoubtedly saved my life. The doctor said I would suffer as a -woman, for every organ internally was put out of place. My first set -of children were weakly, and being unable to nurse them, I resorted to -patent foods, which I am now firmly convinced did harm and not good, -and in my opinion contributed to the convulsions. I found later that -weakened milk, afterwards strengthened as the baby got older, was the -best and safest food for infants brought up by hand. Undoubtedly the -remaining ones progressed all right, and are sound and healthy. The -fact that one girl put ten and a half years’ perfect attendance in at -an elementary school speaks well for the change. The one I lost at -seven weeks was easily accounted for, from the fact that at the time -of birth I was suffering from the bloody flux, a very severe form of -dysentery. In fact, the doctor said that if I had had Asiatic cholera I -could not have been worse. You will readily see that that child had a -very poor start in life, and waned away from birth. As a result of my -experience, my advice is that mothers unable to suckle their children -should shun all patent foods, rusks, etc., as they would shun the devil -himself, for an infant will have to be born with a digestion like a -horse if it is to digest solid food in the early stages. Thousands of -infants are killed with mistaken kindness, and I am convinced that milk -and milk only--human, if possible, and animal, if human fails--in a -diluted state, is the only safe food for infants. I sincerely hope you -will sound a note of warning against patent foods that cake to a solid -lump in the infant’s stomach, the result being convulsions and death. -This is my sincere belief resulting from bitter experience. - - _Wages 24s. to 30s.; ten children._ - - -52. “GET VERY LITTLE PITY.” - -I am the mother of a large family, but I am glad to say they are fast -growing up, as their ages range from twenty-eight down to five years, -so that I feel I can speak from experience, if anyone can. I must say -that although it is a time that women suffer terribly, yet it is a time -when they get very little pity, as it is looked upon as quite a natural -state of things. I have myself got up in the morning, unable to partake -of any breakfast, and tried to get about my work, and had to sit down -in every chair I have got to with my brush in my hand. Then after -confinement, as soon as I could sit up in bed, having such a large -family, I have had to sit with my needle in my hand. But all this does -no good, but only tends to keep a woman’s health down. When I had my -first miscarriage--it happened in October--and I crawled about all the -winter, and well on into the next summer, like a person in consumption; -in fact, it was generally thought that I was. And, of course, all those -months we were obliged to have a woman in, as I could do nothing. So I -think if anything could be done to lessen the sufferings of the coming -generations, I for one should be in great favour of it, as of course, -if it is too late for me to benefit by it, I have daughters growing up, -and sons’ wives to think of. Suffering as I have done, it is really a -time when extra funds are needed, so that one could pay a little to -have anything done, instead of having to do it themselves. - - _Wages 17s. 8d.; nine children, six miscarriages._ - - -53. WORK IN THE MILL. - -When I have been pregnant I have suffered very much with bad legs. You -see, I had to go to work in the mill, and so I had not the chance to -give them the rest they needed. I think it is a great hardship for a -woman to have to do so. However, when I have got over the confinement, -I seemed to pull up after my first baby. But after my second one was -born I was in bed nearly a month, and my husband (who, thank God, is -one of the best) had to lift me in and out of bed, and put my legs -on a level with my body while he made my bed. After the third I was -something the same, only not quite so bad. - -My babies have been very strong and healthy, though they have not -always had the best of health since. But I have tried to do my duty to -them as well as I could. - -I might say that I think ignorance has more to do with suffering than -anything, and I think if our Guilds would get the doctors to lecture to -them on this subject it might help our members, and also other people, -to take more care of themselves. - - _Three children._ - - -54. IN FAVOUR OF BREAST-FEEDING. - -I have not had children as fast as some, for which I am thankful, not -because I do not love them, but because if I had more I do not think I -could have done my duty to them under the circumstances. I may say I -have had a very good partner in life, and that has made it better for -me. But seeing my husband is only a weaver, I have not had a lot of -money to go on with. I have been compelled to go out to work. I have -worked when I have been pregnant, but I have always given up when I -have been about six months, and then I have done all my own work up -to the very last, and I can tell you it has been very hard work. Then -when it has been over I have had to begin to do my housework at the -fortnight end, and I think that is too soon, but what can women do when -they have not the means to do it with? Of course, I am not half so -bad as some. I have never carried a baby out to nurse. I have always -managed to stop at home one year and get them walking. But I think if -we as women had our right, we should not have to work at all during -pregnancy, because I think that both the mother and baby would be -better. I never knew so many bottle-fed babies as there is now. Nearly -all the young married women cannot give breast. How is it? Now, I think -because they work so hard before, do not get enough rest, therefore -have no milk. And, then, some will not begin with their own milk, -because they know they have to go out to work. Hence the baby has to -suffer. Mother’s milk is the best food for baby. I heard a young mother -with her first baby say the other day her husband’s mother had told her -not to bother with her breasts, it made a young woman look old giving -her baby breast. What a mother! I think it is one of the grandest -sights to see. So you see we have a lot of educating to do yet when we -hear such things as these. - - _Wages 16s. to 30s.; four children._ - - -55. MIXED EXPERIENCES. - -I have three girls. Over my first child the only ailments I had were -sickness during the first five months, and at childbirth I had a very -good time. And over the second a much similar time, with the exception -of colds in my face. Over my third baby I had a much harder time, as -during the whole of the nine months I was unable to do anything, as I -had such terrible pains in my back and legs--could not bear to be on my -feet for more than a few minutes at a time. - -During all this illness of mine I had my husband at home ill sixteen -weeks, which of course made it worse for me, as the extra worry went -against me; and then at the same time I had an abscess in my breast, -which I can assure you was most painful, as I can tell you I had my -hands pretty well full at that time. - - _Wages 14s. to £2; three children._ - - -56. TWELVE CHILDREN. - -I have had a large family (twelve) and a miscarriage. I had a hard -struggle at the beginning, my husband not being in very good work. But -for the last five children I was able to pay for someone to wash, and -that made a lot of difference. - -But as far as the confinement went, I always had pretty fair times, and -got up fairly well. - -I have had two bad attacks of the heart since I had the last child, -which is six years old, and the doctor told me it was with having so -many children, and so quick. But I am getting better. And the doctor -said I should get better if nothing else happened. - - _Wages £1; twelve children, one miscarriage._ - - -57. DREADFUL SUFFERINGS. - -In my case all my pregnancy times have been rather bad. Had I been less -fortunate in finding a good husband, and one who was able to keep at -home, one thinks, I should never have been living to-day. I have cost -pounds and pounds besides the care and anxiety in bringing my two into -the world. My first was a miscarriage owing to a fall while hanging a -picture. Was in bed over a fortnight, and almost drained bloodless. -My second, a fine bouncing girl--unfortunately too fine. I had to be -stitched twice, the first at confinement, the second three weeks later, -caused by the agony of a gathered breast. I was eight weeks ill at -that time. My third, I could scarcely walk about for six weeks before -confinement owing to strain on weak parts, and only short of eighteen -months of previous confinement. I had to be stitched again, but managed -to ward off the breast trouble to a great extent; incapable for five -weeks. My last was the worst; we had removed away to a strange place, -and I happened to get a woman who did not know her work. I was very -ill at the time, but everything was favourable until the third day -I developed childbed fever. I went blind, sometimes unconscious, my -breasts in slings, so large I could not see over the top, inflammation -of the bowels, and blood-poisoning; I was almost beyond hope, and was -seriously ill three weeks. Then took a turn for the better. We had to -get a thoroughly efficient person in, the cost of which was £1 per -week for seven weeks, and, God bless her, she deserved every farthing -she got, although it was hard. We had to pay again for other housework -to be done. I feel I owe much of my recovery to her. My husband was -seriously reduced in means, but he would have sold anything to do good. -When I got sufficiently well I had to go to hospital; was a patient -there a month, was fetched home, carried to bed, and stayed there six -weeks, owing to abscesses from the stitching being delayed so long and -bad condition of my system. I am not a strong person now, but I am -now in my forty-sixth year, and seem to be improving in a good many -respects. - -The highest wage my husband earned was 45s., the lowest, and at the -worst time, being £1--just the amount the nurse required, besides all -else--washing, cooking food, and everything a home needs. - - _Wages 20s. to 45s.; three children, one miscarriage._ - - -58. INEFFICIENT DOCTOR. - -My first baby was born fifteen months after marriage. During the first -four or five months I suffered very much from sickness, not morning -sickness only, but many times during the whole day, and nearly all the -way through severe toothache.... As a result of inattention by the -doctor attending me I was badly torn during the birth, and after three -days my husband dismissed him and called in another doctor, who said -though this could not always be avoided it might have been in my case. -I ought to have been stitched at the time, instead of which it was done -four days after. - -It was four years and six months later when my second baby came. I was -much better during pregnancy--occasional morning sickness. There was -the fear all through of the tear reopening, but with having a good -period between the births the parts were strong enough to resist, and -all went well. Six years afterwards, I had a miscarriage about three -months. Don’t know how to account for it, excepting that there is so -little rest in the married working woman’s life. From early morning -until late at night she is on her feet. I was more fortunately placed -than most women; I was able to go to bed and be attended to, and to -stay there until I was better. - -Four years after my third baby was born (still-born). This was the -worst time I had, the sickness being most distressing, so bad that -could not describe it, and one was always afraid of a miscarriage owing -to everything being forced down through straining. At these times it -was impossible to hold one’s water. At seven months, as a result of -this bearing-down, I had a flooding bout, and was in bed several days. -I had no labour pains, though weak and poorly, and so did not send for -the doctor. I know now that I ought to have done so at once, as my life -was in danger. However, I got up again and did my ordinary duties until -the day of the birth, which was harder than usual, as a live baby helps -in its own way. The baby had gradually died after the flooding, and had -been dead more than a week at birth. I was in a very low condition for -the first three days, the doctor being uncertain how things would go. -There is always the danger of blood-poisoning, and it takes one much -longer to get their health back in cases of this kind. Where there is -a large family or a thoughtless husband the woman pays with her life. - - _Wages 25s. to £2; two children, one still-birth, one miscarriage._ - - -59. HOUSEHOLD HELP NEEDED. - -I may say that during pregnancy I suffered considerably the whole time -from sickness and severe pains. This was not due to any traceable -cause, as I took every precaution to see that I did not exert myself -and do harm. I did all my own work all the while. I had little -appetite, and was not able to sleep well. During confinement I had a -very hard time, and was a long time in recovering, and have always, -since my first child, suffered from falling of the womb, although I had -a doctor and midwife in the house three weeks. It is owing to working -women having to take on household duties too soon after confinement -that is responsible for the greatest part of the sufferings which we -are subject to. What is really wanted is a supply of real good midwives -who could be got for a month to see to all requirements of the patient -and the home while the woman has a fair chance of recovering. It is the -system of midwives attending too many cases at the same time that is -responsible for a lot of the trouble, as the woman gets neglected and -are forced to get about before they are fit. - - _Wages 30s. to 35s.; three children, one still-born._ - - -60. MISCARRIAGES. - -After my first little one I went out too soon, with the result that I -got cold in the ovaries, which caused me the most acute pain, and for -quite a month every few steps I walked I would sit down. I have had -several miscarriages--one caused through carelessness in jumping up -to take some clothes off the line when it commenced to rain, instead -of getting a chair to stand on, another through taking some pills -which were delivered as samples at the door, and a third through a -fright by a cow whilst on holidays. So you will see I realise to the -full the care and thought a woman requires. I may say that to me the -after-effects of the miscarriages have been worse than confinements, -for it takes months to get over the weakness. - - _Wages 26s. to 30s.; two children, three miscarriages._ - - -61. A VERY SAD CASE. - -The man and woman I know, who are very steady people, have six -children. The three elder ones are quite normal. After the birth of -the third the father had a very serious illness--double pneumonia -followed by typhoid fever--and for weeks he lay at death’s door. The -expense of all this so reduced them that they had to sell the best of -their furniture to pay doctor’s bills, over £20, and to keep going -until he could start work again. Then the doctor said he must not go -back to his work as a mason, and he had to take a job at labouring -work. This and short time brought his income down to 14s. per week, -and to make ends meet the wife had to go out cleaning. She had been -parlourmaid. She continued to do so until near the birth of her fourth -child, who was very delicate and suffered from abscesses. The mother -told me she did not know how to get sufficient food for them. When her -fifth child was born she had a bad time and the child appeared very -backward, but it was not until it was two years old that they knew its -brain was affected. He is in his sixth year, and can only say a few -words, and has never come downstairs, always had to be carried, and -at times is violent; if thwarted in what he wants to do will go into -violent tempers and throw anything he may have in his hand. He will -also put a rope round the neck of the younger child to play horses, -and has no control over bowels. A sad case indeed. The youngest child -is in his fourth year, and can only walk two or three yards without -help. He cannot say a word yet. I am beginning to be afraid he may be -dumb. Both his hands are deformed, and he has no control over bowels, -and has been ruptured from birth. Doctors say they cannot perform any -operation until he is stronger. When the mother asked the doctor how -it was her children were so delicate, he turned to her and said in the -kindest possible manner, “Ask the mother,” showing that it was due, in -his opinion, to the weak state she was in previous to their birth. I do -not think the two youngest will ever be able to work for themselves. -The mother looks almost distracted at times. I have known her from -girlhood, and pity her most sincerely. - - _Six children._ - - -62. STATE MATERNITY HOMES WANTED. - -My husband is a non-smoker and total abstainer, so you will know no -money was spent in waste. But I feel sure my first baby was still-born -through hard work and lifting. The money brought in not being -sufficient to keep us all, I went out to work, and looked after my -husband and step-children as well. - -I feel sure it is not so much lack of knowledge as lack of means that -entails so much suffering. I endured agonies when carrying my second -child, through bad varicose veins in legs and body, but of course -still had to plod on and look after the rest. I had knowledge of what -to eat to produce milk, etc., but could only confine myself to cocoa -and oatmeal, which I often felt sick at the sight of, but could afford -nothing else, as I made these things for the rest of the family also. -I at the second confinement produced a fine boy, 9-1/2 pounds in -weight. He is now eight, and is still a very fine boy. The medical -officer, when examining him, passed a very pointed remark, saying: -“He is, of course, an only child,” and I often feel thankful he is. -We live in quite a poor house, 7s. 6d. weekly rent, but to do justice -to my grown-up step-children, so that they may live up to standard -required of by their work, I cannot afford to have any more children, -also I cannot face the awful agonies a woman has to go through in -looking after a family (there are five of us in the home now) whilst -child-bearing. When I had my boy I had to do the family washing in the -third week after confinement. As to taking care, no working woman can -do that unless absolutely obliged to. The best thing that could happen -would be a system of State Maternity Homes, where working women could -go for a reasonable fee and be confined, and stay for convalescence -(not a workhouse system). There is no peace for the wife at home. She -is still the head and chancellor of the exchequer. If she were confined -on Friday, she would still have to plan and lay out the Saturday money, -and if it did not stretch far enough, she would be the one to go short -or do the worrying. I am sure if we, as a Guild, could bring this -about, a lot of women’s worry would be over. At the same time it would -be a recognition of the importance of our women as race-bearers, and -lift her to a higher plane than at present. - -My husband’s highest wages during the time you ask were 36s., lowest -24s., but in his trade wet weather and frosty weather means no work, -and in addition no pay during slack times. - -There is one thing--as to mechanical prevention of family. I know it is -a delicate subject, but it is an urgent one, as it is due to low-paid -wages and the unearthly struggle to live respectably. All the beautiful -in motherhood is very nice if one has plenty to bring up a family on, -but what real mother is going to bring a life into the world to be -pushed into the drudgery of the world at the earliest possible moment -because of the strain on the family exchequer. - -I was much struck with the remarks of “Kitchener’s” boys who have -been billeted on me, about my boy. He is only nine, and they said -he was as big as the general run of lads in the North when they are -thirteen--“But then, ma, you’ve only one to keep which is different to -seven or eight.” - -There is nothing that is done can ever be too much if we are to have -going a race in the future worthy of England, but it will not be until -the nation wakes up to the needs of the mothers of that future race. - - _Wages 24s. to 36s.; one child, one still-birth, one miscarriage._ - - -63. “A MISERABLE EXPERIENCE.” - -I am really not a delicate woman, but having a large family, and so -fast, pulled me down very much. I used to suffer very much with bad -legs; and my husband was laid out of work most winters, so I had a -great deal of poverty to deal with. - -Nearly all my children were delicate, and being badly off, very often -I could not get or do what I would like to for them. I lost four out -of the ten, and had a very great difficulty in rearing some of the -others. They were nearly all two years before they ran; my eldest girl -was three years before she ran; I never thought she could live, but, -thank God, she has lived, and is nearly twenty-two. If something could -be done for poor women with large families, I think it would be a good -thing; for a woman’s life is not much when she is in poverty and got -sickly children, and never knows what an hour’s liberty is. It is keep -on work with no rest days, and not much nights very often. Of course, -during pregnancy one never feels well, what with one thing and the -other. That was my experience; and after confinement I used to be so -weak, and by the time I began to regain my strength a little I was in -trouble again. So you can’t wonder poor delicate women break down and -very often die. It would be good if something could be done for them, -so as to give them a change and a little rest. And when you have got an -unkind husband it is a terrible life. I very often think that is why -my poor children have to suffer so much now they are grown up, as they -are not any of them strong, and very often ailing with one thing or -the other. You may depend on it there is a good many women got unkind -husbands that make it a great deal worse for women. - -My husband used to lose his work through drink. I couldn’t tell you -exactly what my wages were, but I feel almost sure, to take the years -through, they never amounted to £1 a week. I was in hopes, as soon -as my boys started work, I should have got on better, but the more I -got off my boys the less I got off my husband, for mine has been a -miserable experience. - -For a good many years I kept account of what he gave me, and to take -the year through it used to amount to about 15s. a week. - - _Wages unknown, wife’s allowance 15s. to £1; ten children, two - miscarriages._ - - -64. “BEST OF TIMES ARE BAD.” - -I have been most fortunate, and have had very good times, so they tell -me, but the best of times are bad enough. I have had four healthy -children, and had them all before I was twenty-seven years of age. - - _Wages 26s.; four children._ - - -65. EVERY ATTENTION. - -During the whole time I was pregnant I had every care and attention, -and a good doctor and nurse at my confinement. - - _Wages 25s.; one child._ - - -66. VERY GOOD HEALTH. - -I am by nature very active, and during pregnancy had very good health, -and was able to look after my home and family up to the time of -confinement. My confinements have not been what would be called bad -times. - - _Wages 30s. to 36s.; four children._ - - -67. “A STEADY AND REGULAR INCOME.” - -Having fairly good health, my experiences were only the perfectly -natural ones, though at the time I thought it was hard to bear. I was -fortunate enough to have a steady and regular income, and consequently -put myself in my doctor’s hands at the earliest possible moment, and -had all the care and nursing that is every woman’s right to have. - - _Two children._ - - -68. “READ, STUDIED, AND TOOK CARE.” - -I am not, nor have ever been, a very robust woman, so naturally felt -the strain of pregnancy perhaps more than some women feel it, but -coming away from home as I did, over two hundred miles, when I was -married, when I found out my condition, I put myself in the hands of a -good doctor, and that helped me a good deal. - -With neither of my children was I troubled with sickness, but was -troubled a great deal with inflammation and heartburn, with which I had -to be very careful, and it prevented me getting about much, especially -the last three months. I had splendid times at confinement, but have -not been able to nurse either of my children. I tried for four months -with the last one, but the baby did not get on, and myself came down -very low. I was obliged to resort to artificial feeding, and the baby -never looked back after. I do not think any of my troubles came at -these times through ignorance. I am one that has always taken great -interest in these subjects, and read and studied all I could about -them, and naturally took great care of myself at these times. But -having at all times weak digestive organs, the extra strain on them -during pregnancy brought forth the troubles I had to fight with both -before and after confinement. - -I do not think any women expect to go through these times without -some small amount of--shall I say?--trouble, for which she is fully -recompensed when she can take her dear child in her arms. - - _Wages 45s. to 47s.; two children._ - - -69. PREVENTIVES. - -I was married before I was twenty, and eleven months afterwards my -first baby was born. During pregnancy I suffered dreadfully from -nervousness, very bad legs, occasional neuralgia, and the usual -miserable sickness. Indeed, before baby came I felt very bad indeed. - -I had a stiff but quite straightforward confinement. My husband worked -on the water, and only came home once a week, or how I could have shown -a cheerful face every day, and got through my work, I don’t know. - -For some months after baby was born I was weak and ill. I nursed her -myself, and when she was a year old, I weaned her. When she was a -year and nine months old, my second baby was born. I had been through -the usual sickness, bad legs, neuralgia, etc., but I had a good -confinement. I hoped to get up well; but I can assure you I had the -most miserable six months of my life. No physical pain, but extreme -weakness, frightened of my own shadow, faintings, feelings that I -would die. Indeed, I was almost tired of life. I had continually to go -to bed, my head felt a tremendous size, and I felt as though I were -floating away. - -When this baby was two years and three months old, my first boy was -born; I had had a miserable nine months, legs worse than ever, bad -cough, sickness, etc., but a good time. - -After this, I said to a friend one day, “If only I could feel that this -was my last, I would be quite happy.” “Well,” she said, “why don’t you -make it your last?” and she gave me advice. - -As a result of this knowledge, I had no more babies for four and a half -years. In carrying this one, I certainly had the bad legs, which I am -likely to keep, but my general health and nerves were much better. My -health improved, and people said I looked years younger, and I found -life a happy place. I sometimes think that the Great Almighty has heard -the poor woman in travail, and shows her a way of rest. I had a fight -with my conscience before using a preventative. But I have no qualms -now. I feel I have better health to serve my husband and children, and -more advantages to give them; while if another comes along, we will -hail it with pleasure, as we did our last, instead of looking on it as -a burden. - -I do think that a great deal of misery is caused by taking drugs. The -poor woman feels she will do anything to keep herself “all right.” If -only she and her husband also could be taught how to prevent, much good -might be done. - -I had never resorted to drugs; I was just a simple girl, and my young -husband was as simple as myself. - -I often feel, too, how hard it is that when a woman is carrying and -needs extra nourishment and rest she has to stint herself, to provide -for the expensive time coming, or try and add to her household linen by -taking in work, or taking lodgers or boarders. - - _Wages 30s. to 35s.; four children._ - - -70. THE TEACHING OF EXPERIENCE. - -I am in fairly comfortable circumstances for a working-class woman, and -have a good, considerate husband. I have had six children. You will see -by the enclosed particulars that there is not much difference between -the ages of my first three children--as a matter of fact, not nearly -enough--and this through ignorance. At the birth of my second child -“flooding” occurred, leaving me very anæmic as a consequence. I could -not nurse the child, and was an out-patient at the hospital for five -months. - -Then I became pregnant with third child, and at the seventh month a -miscarriage was threatened, but was averted for a few weeks, when the -baby was born an eight-months child. It was a delicate child, and -required a great deal of care and attention; although ailing myself for -months, I managed to rear him to a fairly healthy child, but, oh, it -was such a strain! - -I am so glad the Guild is taking up the question of Maternity, and also -“Moral Hygiene,” as I feel sure if only young people were advised, both -before and after marriage--a great deal of suffering caused to mother -and child might be avoided. - -My husband and I are quite determined not to allow any of our children -to marry without first explaining to them the great responsibilities of -creating a new life that is to be pure and healthy. - - _Wages 30s.; six children._ - - -71. “BUT IT IS TOO LATE.” - -I am sending you my experiences as near as I can. I was married at -twenty-one years. I am now forty-five. I have had no children this last -eight years. I can safely say I am suffering now for my ignorance in my -young days, during pregnancy and confinement. It was after my second -baby was born; I was living a piece away from my mother. I could not -afford to pay someone to look after the house and me, and pay a midwife -too, so my mother came and did what she could for me in the morning, -and then left me till my husband came from work. Of course, I got up -sooner than I should have done. It was in January, and snow was about. -I went in the back place, and started to put things right, when I had a -cold shake, and I was put to bed. It stopped all the courses, and I was -many weeks before I was right. Since then I have suffered with varicose -veins in my legs before and after confinement. - -I have been in bed four and five weeks, the longest nine weeks, with -my legs, after baby was born. At the present time of writing I am in -bed now, and have been nearly three weeks with the same thing. Now the -change has come. It is three years since I had an attack. - -I think I was getting about 26s. off my husband. - -Thank God, my husband has been very good in all my sickness. If he -had not, I could not have lived through it. I feel sure I should not -be suffering now, if I could have had money to pay to be looked after -then. Of course, I am better off now, but it is too late. - - _Wife’s allowance 26s.; nine children and one miscarriage._ - - -72. LOSS OF STRENGTH. - -I was married at the age of nineteen years. My boy was born when I -was twenty-one years. Although during pregnancy I realised I was to -become a mother, I had never been taught what I should do or should -not do during that time. One of my sufferings during pregnancy was due -to over-sensitiveness. I have thought, especially since hearing Mrs. -----’s address on “Moral Hygiene,” what a comfort and help it would -have been to me, had the above subject been taught when we were young -by school-teachers, or had our mothers realised the need of explaining -nature as a necessary form of education. I do hope that the community -will soon realise how necessary it is for boys and girls to have -knowledge of this important subject. - -When I was confined, the doctor and monthly nurse were both with me. -A few hours after the birth of my boy, when the nurse brought me some -gruel, I sat up in bed to eat, but was soon told to lie down again. I -do not know whether it was due to that act of ignorance, but I suffered -with my back for a long time. My boy when born was a big and lovely -baby; he is now eleven years old, a picture of health, standing 5 feet -and 1/2 inch in his stockings. - -I felt very well while lying in bed after my boy was born. It was when -I got up and dressed the tenth day I realised my weakness. I was glad -to lie on my back in less than an hour after. - -My husband had been out of work for six weeks during the time of -pregnancy, and again another six weeks when baby was four and a half -months old. I have mentioned the above fact, for I am sure it was -partly due to that that I did not regain my strength for years after. -I fed the baby on the breast for thirteen months. By that time I felt -so low that it was an effort to walk upstairs, and was glad to sit on -the top stair to pull myself together; so I went on until I got really -ill. I was under the doctor’s care for three months. Meanwhile I had -had several attacks of inflammation inwardly, but the last attack was -so severe I myself was frightened. The doctor then told me it would be -some time before I regained my strength. I certainly gained strength -after that illness; part of it, I feel, was due to rest. - - _Wages 21s. to 31s. 6d.; one child._ - - -73. SUFFERING AND HARD WORK. - -During the early stages of pregnancy, with first baby, I was very -much subject to a fainting condition, which I was informed was a -perfectly natural condition during such a period, and could not be -avoided. Whether such be the case or not, I cannot say. Otherwise my -health generally was very good, being at that particular time blessed -with an excellent robust constitution. My first baby was one year and -eleven months old when the second one arrived. During the first four -months of pregnancy with second child, except suffering violently from -morning sickness (another thing I am told cannot be dispensed with), -I maintained my usual state of health. After four months had elapsed -a pain developed in my right side (I can compare it only to a gnawing -toothache), which caused me a great deal of annoyance through the day, -and most restless nights. This continued until my baby was born. I -recovered splendidly from my confinement, but owing to circumstances -had to be about performing household duties much earlier than I ought -to have been. My third baby was born two years and eight months after -second one. Whilst carrying this baby, from very early stage, I was -distracted with an almost unbearable itching in the exterior part -of the abdomen. In fact, I thought I should have gone mad with it, -and had I then had the means at my disposal to consult my medical -adviser (but 2s. 6d. was a great consideration to me at that time, for -one visit, out of a small income), I could have been spared a great -amount of agony.... During pregnancy with my third and fourth babies, -I had to contend with the pain in my side, as with the second one. I -attribute this pain to having to carry one child about so much whilst -in a state of pregnancy with another, and not being able to employ -anyone to assist me in the more laborious duties, such as washing, -scrubbing, etc., to give me the necessary rest which my condition -demanded. When my third baby arrived, I regret to say it was disfigured -with a hare-lip, from which cause it could not take its food properly, -which caused it to cry almost incessantly, and after a trying period -of eleven weeks, she, poor little mite, succumbed. Owing to the worry -connected with this misfortune, also having to be up again too soon -after confinement, and for want of rest, I felt my health giving -way, and being in a weak condition, I became an easy prey to sexual -intercourse, and thus once more I became a mother in fourteen months. -My health was very moderate whilst in pregnancy with my fourth and -last baby, now seven years of age, which I attribute solely to having -children too quickly in succession, and in not procuring, as I said -before, the necessary rest and nourishment which is essential to a -mother at these periods. - -Since the birth of my last child I have suffered from a falling womb, -which my doctor informs me has been caused by getting out of bed too -soon after confinements, which was due entirely to not having the -wherewithal to provide for adequate attention. - -I feel very keen concerning this problem, and do hope something will be -done in the very near future to alleviate the unnecessary suffering of -working mothers. - -During the time I was having my children, my husband’s average weekly -earnings were 25s. When working overtime he may have earned 30s. or -even 32s., but on the other hand, when on short time or holidays (which -are equivalent to short time--no work, no pay), I have known him to -receive as low as 15s. or 12s. To give you an instance. Christmas week -of last year his wages amounted to 12s., and New Year week this year, -10s. My husband, along with myself, considered his wages were not -adequate to maintain a family, provide proper attention, etc., during -confinement, and solely for this reason we do not feel justified in -having any more children if it can possibly be avoided. I love children -dearly, another reason why I do not wish to create them to be badly -fed, clothed badly, uneducated, etc., on a mere pittance. I could say -much more, but my sincere desire is that a better time is dawning for -working-class mothers and their babies. - - _Wages 15s. to 32s.; four children._ - - -74. “HEAVY WASH-DAYS.” - -I think a great deal of suffering might be spared especially over the -first child, if the mother could only have had a little more knowledge -how to go on, _re_ the suffering. I have been prostrated for days with -violent sickness and pain in the head. The case of miscarriage was a -very bad one, resulting in having to attend the hospital nearly two -years. The doctor says the miscarriage was caused by heavy wash-days, -one of the things I think the expectant mother ought not to have to do; -but it is one of the most important things in the home. I think if the -mother could only be allowed to take care of herself the first three -months of the time, many both deformed and deficient children might -be avoided. I do not mean for a mother to lead an idle life for three -months, because exercise is most necessary in a proper way; but such -work as washing, paper-hanging, whitewashing, and hanging clothes up to -dry, is the work that has serious results with the mother. My results -after confinement can, I think, be traced to the lack of good nursing -and good support--in such cases when one neighbour will nurse another -one, having had no experience herself. - - _Wages 28s. 3d. to 37s. 6d.; five children, one miscarriage._ - - -75. BAD EFFECTS OF HARD WORK. - -I think your Maternity Scheme just splendid. You will see by -accompanying form I have lost two of my four babies, and had a -miscarriage. If I had taken more care before birth, I quite believe -those children would have lived. - -I have always had good health, and quite able to do my work up to the -last, but I think now it is quite wrong for the mother to try to do -_hard_ work a month or six weeks before or after. That means she wants -three months real care. - -In my case before those two were born, I had to work harder than usual, -and the consequences were they were born delicate. - -My two children that I have reared are strong and healthy, and I had -no troubles or worries or hard work before they were born. I could also -take things easy until they were six weeks old. - -There is one other point; the mother who works and worries generally -loses the milk which is so necessary for the baby. If only mothers -could take it easy during that time, I am certain we could rear a much -better race. I often feel I shall be able to help my own daughter, -should she need it, for the mothers of the past were ignorant. - - _Wages 26s. to 32s.; four children, one miscarriage._ - - -76. AMONGST STRANGERS. - -I think many of us have suffered (and do so now) through lack of care -during pregnancy, especially over a first child. If something could be -done to help the expectant mother to understand how best to care for -herself, then much suffering would be saved afterwards. - -I went to live many miles away from my home and friends when I married, -amongst strangers, and was too shy to ask anyone what I should or -should not do (when I knew I should become a mother), and was so ill, -tired, and depressed that I felt I did not want to do anything. A -dear old woman, one of the neighbours, came to me one day, and asked -me if I had been to a doctor; I said “No; I was going to speak to one -nearer the time.” She said, “My dear girl, go to him now. Tell him -how you are. I am sure he will be able to give you something to ease -that excessive sickness, etc., and advise you how best to take care of -yourself.” - -I did not go to him for some time, but eventually did so, and felt much -better for his advice and care during that trying time. - -I had rather hard times at the birth of my little ones, and can quite -realise that it is most necessary that a woman should have the greatest -care and attention possible. Still, I feel that if more could be done -to teach them how to care for their own health before the birth of the -little ones we should have healthier and stronger children. How it -can be done without hurting the mothers’ feelings is a very difficult -problem, but I suffered so much before my first baby was born that -perhaps I feel most strongly on the need of our sisters knowing how -best to care for themselves. I am so glad the Maternity Scheme is being -taken up so much more by Health Committees now since the Guild have -worked for it. - - _Wages 25s. to 30s.; three children, one still-birth, one miscarriage._ - - -77. CARE AND ATTENTION. - -I am afraid the information I can give you about myself is not much, -as I have been able to have the care and attention not attainable for -many working-women. My first baby was still-born. This was really -brought about by ignorance during pregnancy in trying to open a very -stiff window, causing a strain, and also causing the cord to become -twisted round the baby’s neck. Fortunately, I was able at once to -receive medical attention, and when the child was born I had to have -two doctors and nurse, chloroform, etc. Doctors both say I should have -lost my life also if I had not had the attention I was able to have. -The other two children were born under quite normal conditions--the -symptoms of sickness, cholic pains, etc.--but I am glad to say I have -never suffered from varicose veins, perhaps due to the fact that I have -always been able to take rest during pregnancy. - -My mother had thirteen children, and, as far as I can gather, suffered -terribly at these times, because when a woman brings up ten children -to full age she has not much time to rest. I may say one of hers was -still-born, the other two dying, one at the age of nine months from -vaccination, the other at three years and a half from concussion of the -brain. - -Mother died at the age of fifty-two years from Bright’s disease, -brought on, I believe, from excessive child-bearing, and the doctor -said every organ in her body was completely worn out. My mother had, -perhaps, the care most women would not get, as my father was always in -a good position earning a good salary--I may say £150 a year at that -time. But with all those advantages, she could not have the care she -ought, or the rest, and, of course, no trained nurses, as we have at -the present time. - -I often wonder when I read of the deaths of women, at from forty years -of age upward, if, when they should be having the best of their lives, -that their early deaths are due to lack of care and rest during the -times they are having their babies. - - -78. WEAKNESS FOLLOWING PREGNANCY. - -I suffered very much in pregnancy, was violently sick quite a dozen -times a day every day for the first six months, with occasional -fainting attacks. I was better towards the end, but had bad nights, so -had to rest a lot in the day. The baby was born all right, and I got -on well, but was weak. When she was twelve months old (I nursed her -myself) I had a goitre in my neck, which lasted two years. At one time -I was very ill in hospital seven weeks, and away in country six. The -doctor said it was weakness following pregnancy that caused it. I was -not able to do my home duties, and if I had been a woman who had to go -out to work--well, I could not have done so for nearly all the three -years. My husband did not want any more children, as I suffered so much -with the first. He is eleven years now, and I am very well. - - _Wages 30s.; one child._ - - -79. FREQUENT PREGNANCIES. - -During pregnancy I was fairly well in health, but during my -confinements I was very ill. I never had a natural birth.... I think -what caused my miscarriages was with having children so quickly, and -having to work rather hard at the same time. - - _Wife’s allowance 24s.; five children and three miscarriages._ - - -80. HUSBAND ON SHORT TIME. - -During pregnancy with my first child, after about three months, I -started with inflammation of the bladder. I happened to be with my -mother at the time, but had it been otherwise I could not have got -anyone to look after me, as my husband was only working two and three -days a week. Of course, my friends would have looked after me, but -everyone is not so fortunate as that. I would have freely died, the -pain was so severe. And whatever maternity benefit a wife and mother -receives, she gets nothing more than she deserves, and I believe they -will get the money as easy as they get the old age pensions, and they -will have less to waste. - - _Wages 17s. 6d. to £2; three children._ - - -81. CONVULSIONS. - -I very nearly lost my life over my first confinement, through being -ignorant of how to take care of myself beforehand. I had lived about -eighty miles away from home for some years, and was away from my -mother at the time, also too shy and reticent to ever mention my -condition to neighbours. I had always been strong and healthy, and -never took medicine or aperients in any shape or form, in fact, never -thought about it, and acted just the same when pregnant, although -dreadfully constipated all the time. I thought it was a result of my -condition. At confinement, after twenty-four hours’ pain and suffering -I was seized with convulsions just as the baby was at the point of -being born, and knew no more for about twelve hours. Another doctor -was fetched, and the child was got away somehow, also my friends -telegraphed for, as they expected me to die. However, that did not -happen. But the doctors said it was the only case of convulsions at -confinement that they had ever heard of the patient living after, and -they blamed it to the clogged condition of the bowels. I was quite -normal over the second confinement. There may perhaps not be much in -this, except, perhaps, if I had known a bit more about such things, it -would have been a lot better for me. My girl is nineteen now. - -It seems almost incredible that I was so ignorant, but I had lived -quietly a long time with a strictly particular widow lady, and had -hardly ever heard such things discussed. - - _Wages 10s. to 30s.; two children._ - - -82. “EVERY CARE ON EVERY OCCASION.” - -I have eight children and one miscarriage from ptomaine poisoning. And -never can I say I have not had every care on every occasion. My husband -from the first saw that I had the necessary requirements. During the -pregnancy of the last four I suffered from varicose veins, and there -were days when I could not get about so well, but on the whole I am -pleased to say I have always been able to do ordinary housework, with, -of course, rests between. - -After confinement, I always had the month out before commencing my -house work, but I took the management of my baby as soon as possible, -say from two weeks old. - -I have all my children, never buried any. - - _Wages £2 to £3; eight children, one miscarriage._ - - -83. A WAGE-EARNING MOTHER. - -I myself had some very hard times, as I had to go out to work in the -mill. I was a weaver, and we had a lot of lifting to do. My first baby -was born before its time, from me lifting my piece off the loom on to -my shoulder, as two of us had them to lift, and then carry them from -the shed across the yard to be weighed. If I had been able to take care -of myself I should not have had to suffer as I did for seven weeks -before that baby was born and for three months after; and then there -was the baby suffering as well, as he was a weak little thing for a -long time, and cost pounds that could have been saved had I been able -to stay at home and look after myself. But I could not do so, as my -husband was short of work; and when I had my second baby I had to work -all through again, as my husband was short of work and ill at the time. -So there was another poorly baby. While I was carrying this one he only -worked three months out of the nine. I could not get any support at -all then. I had to go out to work again at the month-end, and put the -baby out to nurse. I had to get up by four in the morning, and get my -baby out of bed, wash and dress it, and then leave home by five, as I -had half an hour walk to take my baby to my mother’s, and then go to my -work and stand all day till half-past five at night, and then the walk -home again with my baby. I had to do this with three of them. I think -you will understand I have had my share; and all my children have had -to be brought with instruments. I have had six living children and one -miscarriage. I lost two from injury at birth; and when I had the last, -the doctor told me he did not know how I had kept one, the times that -I had had, and the way they had to use the baby before birth. And now -I am suffering myself, all from not being able to take care of myself -during pregnancy. My baby that I lost died from hæmorrhage when he was -eight days old; then the second, when she was four months old, died -from an injury to the spine, both done at birth. I think it would have -been a good thing for me if all these reforms had been in force, as I -should have both been better in health and saved a lot of suffering to -myself and my children. - -It was from no fault of my husband that I had to suffer: it was from -shortness of work. I know I should have had the best of everything if -he had been able to get it for me. He had 28s. a week and all holidays -off. Then there was out of work, many a time playing for six weeks at -a time. - - _Wages 28s.; six children, one miscarriage._ - - -84. “TWO CHILDREN UNDER THE YEAR.” - -I have had seven children, and three have died. I certainly have had -very hard, long labours, but I don’t know that it could have been -avoided; the doctor always said it was in my favour--I am not very -strong. But I think what I suffered during my pregnancy most women have -to suffer. Although my husband and myself were very ignorant on such -matters when we were married, or some of it might have been avoided. -That is why I am so pleased it is being made a public question, so -that the people will be more enlightened on the subject. - -You will see I had my first two children under the year, all due to -ignorance. It nearly sent me in a decline. My husband and myself were -very young, and no one had ever talked to me. I am pleased it is -different nowadays. I had a daughter married a year last Christmas; -her husband and her is as pure yet as the day they married. She is -twenty-seven, and her husband thirty years old. They are as happy as -two children. They are both well read, and understand things better -than I did when I married. They are passionately fond of children, and -will go in for one presently. - -It is my three last babies I have buried. The doctor says I must not -have any more; it will be fatal to me if I do. - - _Wages 22s. to 26s.; seven children._ - - -85. EFFECTS OF WORRY. - -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._)] - - -86. “NOT MUCH STRENGTH LEFT.” - -I am afraid I cannot tell you very much, because I worked too hard to -think about how we lived. When my second baby came, I did not know how -I was going to keep it. When the last one came, I had to do my own -washing and baking before the week-end. Before three weeks I had to -go out working, washing, and cleaning, and so lost my milk and began -with the bottle. Twice I worked to within two or three days of my -confinement. I was a particularly strong woman when I married. There is -not much strength left. But, thanks be to God, I have not lost one. I -have two girls and three boys, every one strong and healthy. - -The firm my husband worked for failed; then for the most times he did -not work; but I can truly say that for the most part of twenty-five -years 17s. per week was the most I received from him. - - _Wife’s allowance 17s.; five children._ - - -87. STRUGGLES OF A MINER’S WIFE. - -I dare say I could write a book on my early struggles with my seven -children, and a miner’s home to contend with; and many a week my -husband has not had a penny of wage to bring home, besides the -experience of three big strikes and many small ones. - -I may say we were married nineteen years before we lost one, and then I -lost my baby first, a grand little girl of two. Then, a year and a half -after, I lost a fine lad of fourteen in the fever hospital, of scarlet -fever and diphtheria. Two years after that we lost a girl of twelve -from tubercular disease of the kidneys from cow’s milk. The doctor was -treating her for eight years for Bright’s disease of the kidneys. I -brought them up breast-fed, so she must have contracted it after she -was weaned. Such a clever child she was. So you will see we have had -our troubles. - -I may say I had very good times at confinements, except the first -and the last. The youngest was born feet first, which was an awful -experience, and her heart was nearly stopped beating; so I think that -left her heart weak, and she cut her teeth with bronchitis. I used to -get up always by the ninth day until the last. I was between forty-one -and forty-two when she was born, so had to rest a bit longer, but had -to see to household duties as soon as possible. - -I am firmly of opinion that if the State wants strong, healthy, useful -citizens, they should provide the mothers in the homes with sufficient -wages where the husband’s wage is inadequate. Nor should married women -be allowed to work outside the homes for some stated period before and -after childbirth. The men should demand a decent living wage to provide -for them at home. - - _Seven children, one miscarriage._ - - -88. “DID NOT LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING.” - -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._ - - -89. A BRUTAL HUSBAND. - -I have just heard of the following case: A poor woman, only -twenty-eight years of age, was confined last Wednesday with her seventh -child, all living. She has been allowed to live until this affair is -over in a deplorable cottage that is condemned. She has been living -quite near for about four months, but I and my neighbours have never -seen her nor the two youngest children, aged two and a half years -and fifteen months, and we are now told they have no clothes to come -out in. These two children were born in the workhouse infirmary. We -hear that the father, a hay-carter, only did six weeks’ work in a -twelvemonth. He must be a most brutal man. He was fighting the poor -wife only a fortnight ago, as if she were another man. The poor thing -lies there with only an old sheet and quilt for covering, and a poor -woman who is attending to the other children has taken the blanket -from her own baby to lend her. The very night the baby was born the -midwife had to send for a policeman, the husband was carrying on in -such a dreadful manner, and was worse afterwards, because they would -not let him have the Insurance paper that had just been filled in by -the midwife for the Insurance. - - -90. “I OVERDID MYSELF.” - -Judging from my own experience, a fair amount of knowledge at the -commencement of pregnancy would do a lot of good. One may have a good -mother who would be willing to give needed information, but to people -like myself your mother is the last person you would talk to about -yourself or your state. Although mother nursed me with my first child, -I never said one word to her about it coming, except the bare date I -expected. I felt I couldn’t, and outside people only tell you what -garments you need, and just the barest information. I have learned the -most useful things since my children have grown up. The youngest is -nine. The idea that you impress the child all through the time with -your own habits and ways, or that its health is to a great extent -hindered or helped by your own well-being, was quite unknown to me. - -At the time I fell with my second child we were in very bad -circumstances, and feeding my first with a bottle, I stinted myself -all I could to give him plenty; and having moved from one house to -another two months before the second one was born, I overdid myself, -with the result that I was bad for a week before he was born; and -then, the birth being such a long time about, a clot of blood got down -into my ankle, and before I got far over the confinement I was laid up -with a bad leg, which the doctor said was due to the child being so -long coming into the world. I should say I had a midwife this time, -as I could not afford the doctor’s fee. Had the midwife called in the -doctor, as she should have done, I might have been saved a lot, for my -back has never been right since. Whenever I get very tired or not very -well, I always feel it in the place where he seemed fixed. So I feel -that if young mothers knew more of the need for care of themselves, and -what should be done for them at the time of childbirth, much suffering -could be saved. - - _Wages 18s. to 32s.; three children, one miscarriage._ - - -91. “BETTER TO HAVE A SMALL FAMILY.” - -I have only had the three children, and have been married thirty-two -years. In the first place, I was only twenty years old when I had my -first baby, and must confess that I suffered a great deal through -ignorance, but am pleased to say that I always had all that was really -necessary, as regards doctors and nursing. I may say that my husband -and myself were quite agreed on the point of restricting our family to -our means. If we had not done so, I could not possibly have reared my -eldest girl. I was able to have good medical advice and give her plenty -of attention day and night. - -I may say that I have disgusted some of our Guild members by advocating -restrictions. I think that it is better to have a small family and give -them good food and everything hygienic than to let them take “pot-luck.” - - _Wages £2 to £3; three children._ - - -92. IGNORANCE. - -I feel very keenly myself on the ignorance of young girls getting -married and having babies, because I am quite sure some of my -sufferings and the death of my babies need not have been. - -When my first baby was brought into the world, within a few days of my -twenty-first birthday, after three days’ labour and agony, the baby was -nearly dead. I can hear now the slaps from that doctor on the child -to bring life into him, and my own cry of “Let it die; do not beat it -so.” He lived, a lovely boy but a cripple, for nine and a half months, -admitted by the doctor to be through the long hours of labour. - -A strong point has always been mine that doctors do not give sufficient -advice to young mothers. I had to go through the same suffering with -my second child, born an epileptic, living three months. My next -three girls are alive to-day, spared, I honestly believe, through -my own experience, and the fact of having more humane doctors with -instruments. My last baby was literally torn from me. The doctor told -my husband he could not save both. They dare not chloroform me, and -so I had to bear it. The doctor said I must never have another child. -I never have, but why should I have suffered? My first doctor could -have said that I was not fitted. I had a good husband, a fairly good -income, but when I think of poor women with probably indifferent or bad -husbands, how do they live? If our scheme could be brought forward, -what a help to know that a woman after a bad time could have a longer -rest! Oh, the feeling of knowing that the nurse has gone, and you -must wash and dress your own baby! Whereas if the mother could be -helped--and the money could do this--how nice she would feel, as she -could rest with her little one, after having made it comfortable, by -having some help with the housework! - -We want all our mothers to teach their daughters, not to keep -everything from them, as it was kept from me. If we can only get -expecting mothers to attend maternity homes--to see they get a good -nurse, not a tippler: they should be banished from the profession.... -I thank God that a band of good women are working on the maternity -scheme for women. - - _Wages 32s.; five children._ - - -93. OUT-OF-DOOR EXERCISE EVERY DAY. - -I had a very natural confinement with both, and a short, sharp time of -labour with the first, rather more lingering with the second. My first -was what they call a dry labour, and a very sick one--the worst the -doctor had had--and it was very exhausting to me. The best times are -bad enough, but I was told by the nurse that mine were good times. With -the first she stayed a month, and the second three weeks, being called -to another case. I think I was very fortunate in having a good mother, -who always taught us from childhood how to live to be healthy, and both -my sister and I had natural confinements through following her advice -when young; that is what makes me so keen on “Moral Hygiene.” Young -women do not take care or have proper exercise enough. Ordinary work -does not do the harm. I did all my housework and the washing right up -to the time of confinement both times, but I did not whitewash or do -papering, as I know some do, and then wonder why they miscarry. Another -one I know of insisted on the doctor giving chloroform, as she was sure -she would never get through it without. Of course, I am very active, -while some are indolent, and that has a great deal to do with it; and I -made a practice of getting outdoor exercise every day, if not too far -towards the end of the time, and at great inconvenience, as with the -boy I had piles very bad, and often had to stop a moment or two before -I could go on, but of course it was at night when I went out. I also -had heartburn with both a short time, and a bad attack of indigestion, -which I never suffer from at other times, but which the doctor soon -relieved. - - _Two children._ - - -94. “GIVEN ANYTHING TO HAVE A GOOD SLEEP.” - -There is a great deal of unnecessary suffering entailed on the woman -during pregnancy by lack of not knowing what to do, or how to do it, -such as having all her own washing and work to do, especially in the -latter stages. When a man is only bringing home about £1 a week, and -has two or three children, it is impossible for the mother to get -proper help or even food. I think it would be a very good thing if -something could be done to lighten that burden. I am not speaking -as one that does not know. I have had it to do myself, in my early -married life, but, thank God, my lot is changed now. I have had eleven -children, two still-born, and one miscarriage, so have gone through -it. I also think we should try and do something for the mothers after -childbed, as many have to be about so soon after, and no doubt that -tends to weakening the mother, so that she cannot give her child -proper support, and cannot recover her own strength. I do not think -any woman ought to attempt anything like hard work until she has had -at least a month’s good nursing and support after confinement, but it -is impossible to do it on a man’s pay at £1 or 25s. per week. I have -always felt if I could only have another week or so of rest I should -feel a different woman, and I am sure most of my poor sisters feel the -same. I also think that if children were naturally fed it would be all -the better for them. When I was pregnant I would have given anything to -have had a good sleep during the day. I used to think it was idleness, -and try to shake it off, but I do not think so now, and would give -every poor woman all the rest she really needed. - - _Wages about £1; nine children, two still-born, one miscarriage._ - - -95. “HUSBAND WHO WAS NURSE AND MOTHER.” - -I was brought up in the country with a cat and a dog for playmates, so -when I went among other young people, I was very shy, and never made -girl friends. That may account for my ignorance in the things that -mattered at the time of my marriage, at the age of twenty-one and a -half. My husband was just as ignorant, and we had to pay very dearly -for our ignorance. I was married about eight weeks when I became ill; -I went to the doctor and took a lot of physic, but was no better, then -I would not have any more from the doctor, and tried to doctor myself, -but I was very ill the whole of the seven and a half months that I -was pregnant. The birth was a forced one. I was taken very ill, and -knowing baby should not come for six weeks longer, I was bearing the -pain as well as I could, just cheering myself that it would be less -to go through when the time came, when my husband came in and would -insist on getting a doctor. We tried a new one this time, who lived -quite near. He had just left the infirmary, and we had heard he was -very clever in maternity. When he saw me and questioned me, he sent for -the nurse. The rest of that night is too terrible to go through even -now after twenty-eight years. Suffice it to say that next morning there -was a poor little baby boy with a very large swollen head dreadfully -cut, and a young mother dreadfully cut also. One would have thought -the trouble was over now--anyhow, we thought so, but we found it had -only begun. A week or two after the pains began. I thought it was all -right, that I had not got quite well. At last I had to go to the doctor -again. He told me I was going on all right. At the end of six weeks -the nurse called. I told her just how I felt, and that the doctor said -it was through the bad confinement I had gone through. She told me to -tell him to come and examine me thoroughly, that there was something -growing there. He came, and when my husband saw him afterwards, he -said, “Oh, there is really nothing. There is a little hardness there, -that is all. Your wife is very nervous.” My husband told him that I -was anything except nervous. However, I went on for eighteen months, -never knowing what moment those terrible pains were going to take me. -Many times it was in the street. I was in bed about eight months out -of the eighteen. Then came a very terrible time, and my husband called -another doctor in, and I was ordered into the B. Infirmary at once. I -got better. I was home three months, when I was carried in again. They -said it was ovarian trouble. They wanted to operate. My husband asked -them how long I might live as I was. They said I might live for years, -but I would always be subject to these attacks. He told them he would -rather keep me as I was than risk an operation. On inquiring the cause -of the trouble, I was told by the nurse it was confinement. I went on -in much the same way until my boy was ten years old. Then I had to be -operated on. It was a case of life or death then. But if I went into -the Infirmary I could not choose my doctor, so Dr. ---- offered to do -the operation free, but I would have to go into a private hospital, -which meant a good deal to us, who hardly knew which way to turn for an -extra shilling then. However, my husband insisted that Dr. ---- was to -do the operation, and by letting everything else go he managed to get -the money together by the time I came out, which was three weeks at -£3 3s. per week and £1 7s. 6d. for the second nurse. The trouble was a -multiple tumour; it had grown round about the intestines. They had to -tear the one from the other. After leaving the hospital I was in bed -for three months, but it was a complete cure, though no one except my -husband expected me to get over it. Dr. ---- told me I could not have -gone through a more serious operation unless I had had my head taken -off, and then there was no hope at all. - -Now I maintain that if we had understood things relating to married -life, all this could have been saved. I would not have starved myself -and child before birth for one thing, and I would have been more -careful on washing days not to lift tubs or jump to reach lines, -neither would I have cleaned windows and a hundred and one other things -that a pregnant woman should not do, and, above all, we would not have -had an inexperienced doctor. - -I must just tell you that my husband has always been husband, nurse, -and mother. The pain was never quite so bad when he was near, and no -one ever made my bed like him. - -Our income, until baby was six months old, was £1 6s. per week. Then -my husband got out of employment--was out four months. He took up an -agency, and did a very little with it, but with that little and about -£2 12s. 6d. we had managed to save, and pawning, we got through without -going into debt until he got another job. This lasted about eighteen -months, averaging about 30s. per week. Then for about twenty months he -averaged about 10s. per week. Our home went then a thing at a time, -but we got through at the expense of our insides and outsides, without -help or debt, except doctor’s bills. Then we came to this town on £1 -7s.; after a few years £1 9s. The rise came just two years before I -underwent the operation. We had our home to get out of that, and had to -get it on the hire system (or borrow from friends, and we both objected -to borrowing). Some people say drink is the cause of poverty, but I -think you will agree with me when I say we had not enough to drink. -Our rent would work out at about 6s. per week. I think this is what -you want. Of course, things are very much better with us now, and have -been for the last twelve years, both in health and finance. I just want -to add that although the first half of my married life was so hard and -painful, I would not have missed one bit of it, because it has all -helped to make me understand things that matter from a practical point -of view. If there is anything more I can help in I shall be pleased to -do so. - - _Wages 26s. to 30s.; one child._ - - -96. INJURY AT CONFINEMENT. - -I rather shrink from talking about myself on the subject, but if my -remarks would help any young mother, I don’t so much mind. My husband’s -average wage was about 24s. a week.... I helped in the work, as his -earnings were not nearly enough as the children came. I had four -children at intervals of about two years, whom I was able to nurse, -but although I had no illness during pregnancy, with my fifth baby I -had a very long illness through the doctor hurrying the birth, instead -of giving nature a chance, and he was rough in handling me. Now, the -result was a three months’ illness, and my baby had to be brought up by -bottle. - -What was still more serious, I was so injured that for nearly ten years -I was an invalid. During that period I had two premature confinements, -and several slight miscarriages. Then I got a little stronger, and -finally my sixth baby was born without the help of a doctor, because I -was so afraid of a repetition of what I had suffered. I am glad to say -I gradually recovered, although all my friends thought I would never -get well. - -I think every expectant mother should have a duly qualified nurse to -attend her. I had several miscarriages. There is a better chance now -than when I was having my family. Good nursing is necessary. I rejoice -to know that the Guild is pressing forward on this matter. - - _Wages about 24s.; six children, one still-born, several miscarriages._ - - -97. CHILDLESS. - -I have had four children, and all were born one year and a half after -each other. My two eldest died in one week from whooping-cough, age -five and three. Two of my children were still-born. I was very young at -the time, and only wish this Maternity Scheme had come out years ago. I -have a good husband, but we are childless, I am sorry to say. I am on -many committees, and take a great interest where children are concerned. - - _Wages 18s. to 27s.; two children, two still-births, one miscarriage._ - - -98. “I SIMPLY STRUGGLED ON.” - -I have had two children. I never was so well in my life as I was during -pregnancy over my first. A bearing-down caused hæmorrhoids. However, I -was not troubled greatly with them then. My second child was born one -year and seven months afterwards. Now all the time during pregnancy -over him I was thoroughly ill. My work was a trouble, and altogether -I _was_ ill. But as pregnancy is never thought a sufficient cause for -even having a holiday, I simply struggled on for fear of being held up -to ridicule. You see, I was only twenty-two years old then, and thought -that the only way to do was to show a brave front, even though I felt -almost too ill to do anything. Well, I had to have chloroform, and -again I had to have instruments; and my children would never be born -naturally, for my womb is in the wrong place, the doctor says. I had -also a trained nurse who despaired again of my life. - -I was in bed one month for maternity and was unable to do my work even -when I did get up. I could not mother either of my children, for I -never had any milk. That was a grief to me. I had hæmorrhoids again -through bearing down, brought on through pregnancy, and from these I -suffered for three years and doctored for them. Then I had an operation -and had them removed. I have not had more children, neither do I want -them, as the doctor fears my life will pay the forfeit. I had a serious -operation for tumour in the womb four years ago, and have been much -better in health ever since. - - _Two children._ - - -99. STORY OF A CONFINEMENT. - -My first child was born ten months after my marriage. My husband’s age -at marriage was twenty-eight years, and my own age twenty-five years, -and we are both Londoners, residing all our life in the city of London, -until my first-born attained the age of eleven months. - -My children have been born quite healthy, and the doctors have said -fine babies. But I am pleased to say I am a mother who has had no -terrible sufferings to relate as to the sufferings of a long period -of labour. Two hours and a half has been the time from the very first -stage of labour, until the appearance into this world of each of my -children. And I would say, personally, women were never created to -suffer as many a one does. I made this remark to my first nurse, and -she said, “You are right.” I had been told such experiences by women -who had had families. It is nature, and nature does or should do its -own work, she said. Take, for instance, the apple. When it is fully -ripe, it falls from the tree. So the child, when the time has arrived -for its appearance, I say it should come as naturally, not to look upon -the little creature distorted and bruised through having to be brought -into the world. - -My strong conviction is, as soon as a woman feels the slightest -pain she should have immediate attention. You are strong at the -commencement, and able to give the help in bringing your baby, but -if allowed to go on for hours your strength is exhausted, you have -lost that power and vitality which you require, that after hours of -suffering artificial means have to be resorted to. - -My second child was born at N----. The doctor did his own work and the -nurse’s too, arriving and leaving the house in half an hour, my mother -just taking the baby until the nurse had time to get in the room. - -Now, by my third child I will try to show where I think much is at -fault by not having immediate attention. My little daughter was born in -D----. My husband had at four o’clock to fetch the doctor and nurse (a -qualified midwife) nearly two miles away; no other reliable nearer. - -They resided a stone’s-throw from each other. But on bringing the -nurse and explaining while she dressed she was to call the doctor, she -would not hear of it, and fairly repudiated the idea of such a quick -confinement, sarcastically saying, never in her experience. Well, the -doctor was not informed. Previously on engaging them I made it quite -clear how my boys had been born--so quickly. In D----, I may say in -passing, indiarubber gloves are worn by the nurse on receiving the -child, and like all rubber things in these cases have to be boiled -before using. Nurse arrived. Every single thing was ready for her. -There was a bright fire, and every possible article to lay her hands -on, baby’s clothes on the horse airing and warming. - -She looked at me in my agony, and said: “Oh, not likely to come off -yet, ma” (to my mother), and sent the old soul out for a saucepan to -boil the new gloves in. Well, it went on for a time, until I felt my -pains were leaving me, and I would not trouble any longer; I was tired. -But I thought, no. Why should I suffer? I called to my husband, and -he came to the bedroom door, and I said: “Fetch the doctor, I want -attention.” He went. The nurse said: “Well, I know you have the whole -day to go by the look of things. Doctor will be very cross. He is very -busy, and does not like being brought out of bed. He knows everything -is right when I am on the case.” I felt another little pain, and I made -another effort, my breath almost gone. I called to her, boiling her -gloves: “If you do not leave those blessed things, the child will be -here.” She flew to me, laughing at an unnecessary fuss, but my child -was entering the world, two minutes after my husband had left the -house, but, being certified, she did the doctor’s work. But she could -not get the afterbirth, and pushed and fairly punched my stomach most -unmercifully to get it, and I said: “Well, nurse, I really cannot stand -this any longer. My two previous doctors had said, never be in a hurry -for this. Let nature have its course; it will come in time. The doctor -will be here soon, and he will soon get it.” The doctor had heard and -come in, and told the nurse to see to the baby, who was bitterly cold, -and he would see to me. In a very few minutes I was quite comfortable. - -The doctor was very cross at not having been notified by the nurse -that she was on her way to me, knowing the statement I had given when -engaging them. - -If there is truth in it or not, I was told later that if all was over -and done with before the arrival of the doctor, the nurse was given -something out of the fee. - -I might say, having my mother with me, I only required the nurse night -and morning, and this nurse only went out like that, because she had -so many cases she preferred them so. But it happened I did not see her -one evening during the time, and on the third day she did not put in an -appearance at all, and on the Sunday, two o’clock; other days the times -ranged from twelve till three o’clock when she came. - -My confinements have been splendid ones, but for all that I feel it is -almost, if not quite, three months before a mother feels her strength -the same as before. What women feel like who have to turn out shortly -after to work hard, I would not like to imagine. - -I personally have always felt, besides not having the usual amount -of strength, I have been very forgetful; for instance, I would go to -the cupboard and quite forget what I had gone for, and have to stand -and think for a little time, and then very likely not know. During -pregnancy, my health was always very good, and I was able to do all -household duties and washing right up to the time of my confinement. -But towards evening I would be tired all over, and be thankful to go to -bed. But I usually took a glass of hot milk at bedtime. I found it not -only soothed the nerves, but induced sleep. I took a dose of castor oil -once a fortnight. - -I have nursed all my children for ten months, not allowing a particle -of any kind to pass their lips in the way of foods but my own milk -until nine months old, and then gradually weaned them off. - -I have stated above feelings to show what a woman feels who does not -endure great sufferings in childbirth. - -My strong conviction is that unless there is anything wrong internally, -and a woman takes a bit of care as to what she eats and drinks during -pregnancy, and has, as I say, immediate attention, much suffering would -be alleviated. - -I am the average working man’s wife, who spends most of her time -looking to the needs of an old mother, husband, children, and home, -cutting and contriving to make the weekly income go as far as one -possibly can, attending the Guild as quite a change, and seeking to -obtain as much knowledge of the Women’s Movement on to Progress; and -where, here and there, I may be able to pass an opinion, I do; and try -to live, that when I have passed away the world will be none the worse -for my being in it. - - _Wages £1 15s. to £2 5s.; three children._ - - -100. A WRECK AT THIRTY. - -I had seven children and one miscarriage in ten years and three months. -This left me at the age of thirty a complete wreck. My great difficulty -was during pregnancy, suffering very severely from sickness, so much -so, indeed, that on two occasions I was under the doctor the whole of -the time. The doctor gave me his services free. - -I tremble even now to think what my life would have been but for his -kindness to me. I could not have paid for a doctor, as wages were only -£36 a year, and I had to pay £10 a year rent out of that. When I look -back upon those days I wonder how we did live. - -My last child was born a delicate, weak child, who suffered from -malnutrition until she was eleven months old, and at her birth the -doctor told me I should never have another strong and healthy baby, -and that women should only have a child every three years, and rest at -least a month after confinement. He knew I could not give myself the -rest I needed, for I could not afford to pay anyone to look after my -home and children. I had to rely upon some child of thirteen who was -able to leave school, and whose parents were glad of the 2s. 6d. a -week I could ill afford to pay. I have been forced on many occasions -to do things no woman lying-in should have done. I have left my bed -on the tenth day, and have had to do the family washing as early as a -fortnight. - -I do feel most strongly that women should be able to get advice and -help during pregnancy. Our children are a valuable asset to the nation, -and the health of the woman who is doing her duty in rearing the future -race should have a claim upon the national purse. Ample provision -should be made so that she could give of her best. - - _Wages 10s. to 14s. and husband’s food; seven children and one - miscarriage._ - - -101. TWO CHILDREN IN EIGHTEEN MONTHS. - -I have only had two children. I was married at the age of twenty-three. -My husband was twenty-five. I had been married just eleven months when -my first baby was born. Now, as soon as ever I knew I was pregnant, I -set about (with the help of a considerate and helpful husband) taking -the greatest care of myself for the sake of the babe unborn, in such -things as diet, exercise, fresh air, etc. I did no very heavy work. My -husband and I did the washing in the evening, he did all the dollying -and wringing, and helped me in many ways. The result was I had a fine -and healthy baby, and during pregnancy I was so well myself, and I -had everything a working man’s wife could have to make things as easy -as possible. I had no worry of any kind, and that I consider a great -comfort to a woman. - -At my confinement I had a doctor and a nurse, and if I had not had what -I believe is called a dry labour, I should have had the easiest of -times (and they are bad enough), but the water broke at 6 a.m., and my -baby was not born till 4.30 p.m. - -My baby was never the slightest trouble. I had been in the nursery -before I was married, both as nurse and nursery governess, so my baby -had all the care and attention I had been taught to bestow on babies. -I was sorry to find, when my baby was a year old, that I was again -pregnant. I had breast-fed my baby up till then, for she had cut no -teeth till she was eleven months old, although she was strong and well -and running about at nine months old; of course, I weaned her at once. -We were very disappointed to find I was going to have another baby so -soon after the first. We had not intended this to happen. However, -I made the best of it, and had a son when the daughter was eighteen -months old. I was not so well carrying the second baby, and he was as -great a handful when a baby as my first baby was no trouble, and by the -time he was six months old I was very weak and ill. I think having the -two children so quickly, and nursing my first baby so long, had been a -great strain. The second child was not so strong a baby as the first. -He suffered from teething eczema, and I lost a great deal of rest. My -second confinement was fairly good, although I had thought the baby -was coming two or three times before he came, labour pains came on -and went away; and when my boy was born the doctor said if he had been -another half-hour in the birth, he would have been dead. I should have -sent for a doctor a week previously, but not knowing the exact time -to expect my baby, I did not want to send for the doctor until it was -really necessary. - -I never had any more children. I was ill and weak for a long time while -having to nurse my second baby, and having them so quickly. How women, -and poor women, can have children year after year, is a marvel to me. -I know of cases here close to where I live, where a consumptive mother -is having babies nearly every year. To me it seems terrible, bringing -such children into the world, a burden to their parents, to themselves, -and to the nation, for they are only wrecks, and fill our hospitals, -mental deficiency schools, and prisons. But the cases are so common. -Where they are poorest, where they have not enough to live on and keep -their present family decently, they still have more children. - -I am sure there is great need for thought and care being given to -the mother previous to childbirth and afterwards, and I do feel that -a scheme as is suggested is a good one, and that the public health -authority should deal with all maternity cases. It would mean untold -happiness to the coming generations. It will be grand to get a -maternity benefit such as you suggest, and it is most necessary. We -have some women in the Guild who feel we should be more independent -than take such sums as maternity benefit. They do not realise that we -pay rates and taxes just as property owners do, though indirectly. - -How some of our poorest women exist year after year, bearing all, I -cannot understand. For, if having two children, as I did, in eighteen -months wrecked my health, which it did for a long time--and only -through having one of the best of husbands was I helped to pull -through--I wonder what so many other less fortunate women suffer. It is -just slavery and drudgery. - - _Wages 28s.; two children._ - - -102. NEED FOR NOURISHMENT AFTER CONFINEMENT. - -For what I can see of others, I came off fairly well; but, in the first -instance, my first child was a girl. I was very well during pregnancy, -but being such a strong child the doctor told me to give it the bottle; -but, on the other hand, the nurse persuaded me to keep it to the -breast. The result was as soon as I got about, by keeping the child to -the breast, I had two gathered breasts. I had the two breasts in slings -till they broke. The next two being boys--two years between--I was -right well during pregnancy. But as soon as a mother is able to get up -and have to work, that is the time her health fails her, for she finds -she has to feed the rest of her little family, and goes without her own -food, and then, through lack of nourishment, often mothers have to go -to their bed again. - -In the first place, when we were married my husband was a fireman. We -ran along smoothly, and up to the time my first and second child was -born his standing wage was 30s. a week and overtime. The time went -on, and in two years the second was born. Now, just before it came it -was my husband’s turn to go to pass for engine driver. The result was -he failed to pass the eyesight test. It was a great shock to us both, -more so to my husband. It was then the dots they had to count at a -distance. They then reduced him to 21s. a week to work in the shed, so -we thought it was cruel to run the risk of more family on such a wage. -To keep my home up and keep the children respectable I had to take in -two young men lodgers, which we have done till I started the children -to business. Of course, I take it you don’t want to know the ups and -downs of life between these times. I must say I have had the best of -husbands, or else I should not have been alive now. - -If there could be such a thing as a Maternity Club started it would -be a benefit to all married women, because the majority of us have to -screw and save for confinement, where we ought to be able to have good -food and more nourishing food while we are carrying the child, but -often have to go with less. - - _Wages 21s. to 30s.; three children, one miscarriage._ - - -103. HER “LOT.” - -Your letter to hand reminding me of my promise to let you have a few -details of my neighbour’s life. At first she hesitated about telling -anything, as she said it was all past and done with, and at times felt -ashamed at having had thirteen children, especially to a man like her -husband (who is a drunkard). She looks back on her past life at the -age of forty-eight with different feelings to what she had at thirty. -Then she thought it was her “lot,” as she terms it, to have so many -children, and so many sickly ones, but now she feels she has been to -blame for many things--for instance, for the number of children she -has had; for the dulness and lack of energy in two of them; for the -feeble-mindedness in a third; deafness and sore eyes in a fourth. -She blames the conditions under which she bore those children during -pregnancy. She was married at nineteen, and a mother before she was -twenty, with no knowledge whatever of the duties of motherhood. Her -first five children came in rapid succession. While she was pregnant -of her sixth child her husband fell out of work, and was out of work -six months. During this time they had 10s. a week to live on (from the -husband’s trade union). She went out washing and cleaning-up to the -last week of her confinement. While cleaning windows at one of the -houses she slipped and fell, hurting her side. Three days later the -child was born, apparently all right, but as time went on the mother -noticed there was something wrong, but nobody seemed to know what. This -child did not cut its teeth till two years old, nor walk without help -till it was seven, and now, at the age of eighteen, you can hardly -make out a word he says. He is not exactly an imbecile, but he is -feeble-minded, and all this could have been avoided could the mother -have had proper nourishment during pregnancy, and less work. The mother -had to work hard all day, and got little rest at night, as the fifth -child was weakly and ailing, and the neighbour who looked after the -child during the day used to put gin in its milk to stop its crying, -which it did till the effects of the gin had passed off. The poor -mother, not knowing that gin was given to the child, would often, after -a hard day’s work, spend most of the night pacing the bedroom floor, -trying to soothe the fretful child, and often had to go downstairs -because the crying disturbed her husband. It was not until her sixth -child came, the feeble-minded one, that the neighbour admitted giving -it gin. Consequently the lad has grown up dull, never made any headway -at school. He is a labourer, and twenty years of age, and will never -be anything else but a labourer, because, as his mother says, he has -no “head-piece,” and cannot do a simple sum in arithmetic to save his -life. The mother firmly believes her children would have been as bright -as anybody’s could she have had proper nourishment during pregnancy, -and herself cared for them after they were born. Her girl of sixteen -is deaf in one ear, and has weak eyes, the after-effects of measles -when a child. The mother nursed this child a fortnight, then was -obliged to leave her with a neighbour while she went out to work. The -neighbour neglected the child in letting her run out too soon, etc., -and as there were no school clinics when her children went to school, -some of them are suffering to-day from diseases which might have been -cured, could they have had attention at the proper time. Now that they -are grown up they seem fairly healthy, though undersized, but when one -considers their childhood, the want of sufficient food, lack of fresh -air (the younger ones always slept four in bed, two at the top and two -at the bottom), one wonders they are as healthy as they appear to be. -They seem to be fairly good workers, but not one good scholar among -them. And to add to the above discomforts, they had a drunken, brutal -father. He was never a real father, a surly, gloomy man, never a kind -word for his children, and not one of them remembers a caress from him. -I can quite understand the woman being ashamed of bearing thirteen -children to a man like him, and having to rear them in surroundings and -conditions which she has reared hers. It takes it out of the mother -mentally and physically. - - _Wages 16s. to 30s.; thirteen children._ - - -104. NEED OF REST. - -I am perfectly well aware of the urgent necessity of both mother and -child receiving proper nourishment and attention. With regard to -myself, the one great drawback to me was the fact that I was not able -to suckle any of my children, owing to my breasts not being properly -developed, so that the child could not draw the nipple. In consequence -of this my children had to be fed by the bottle, although I am pleased -to say they have thriven and are quite healthy children. Also, prior -to confinement, I suffered very much with varicose veins, and felt -the need of not being able to have rest, as I had got to be about my -work. Also, after confinement, I have been about again in a fortnight, -which I should not advise young mothers now to do. I may say that I do -think that getting up so soon is the cause of all the misplacements -that we hear so much about. However, I am pleased to tell you that -I am fortunate in having a considerate husband, which of course is -something to be thankful for. My heart aches when I think of women who -have brutes to contend with. In my opinion, women should have every -kindness shown to them during pregnancy; also means to obtain advice -and everything to insure that the unborn child shall have a good start -from birth. - - _Wages 28s. to 40s.; three children._ - - -105. “NEVER LOST A MOMENT’S SLEEP.” - -I am a very busy body, and have not been blessed with a great deal of -this world’s goods, having had an ailing husband, whom I lost when the -youngest was not two years old. But at those times mentioned in your -circular I always enjoyed good health. No sickness, as so many women -have; of course, days when not feeling quite well. But I do think -many women do not give themselves a chance. They seem to give way too -much to feelings, and lie about instead of interesting themselves in -their work and always keeping hands and minds employed. I had heavy -labour times, but did not keep to my bed any longer than I could -help, generally feeling able to be up after the fourth day for a -little while; then each day a little longer. I often think lying in -bed weakens very much, and if able to rise, it is much better to do -so, both for baby and self. Of course, not to work as though you had -not been through a trying time, and needed to be careful, but at the -end of ten days I was always able to do my own work all right, at the -same time being able to take good plain food, and making an abundance -of milk for the baby. They were such well fed, fat, healthy, happy, -contented children, and I never lost a moment’s sleep in my life with -them. I never used myself to take stout and beer to make milk, as -many of the mothers in the North believe in. In the North here, the -working class mothers have to work very hard, and they all seem (or -in a general way) not to make a trouble of child-bearing. They do not -coddle themselves, but just work a not-up-to-the-mark feeling off, -which is certainly by far the best way. And about the care of baby, -cleanliness is the first care. Then mother’s milk if possible, and with -perseverance, most mothers could manage to diet themselves to make -plenty of milk, but the bottle is the laziest way. Then, of course, -baby can be left in another’s care, whereas if on the breast, you -must take baby with you. I have never had an afterpain after any of -them, and soon pulled up again. Once the instruments were used after -a weary wait, but I think the women who work have the easiest time. -With my last baby I had what made me think of labour pains, every night -for a fortnight, and when she came I had only about three pains, and -she was born before I could rap for help, and no pain whatever. Do -you not think I have been one of the lucky ones? But really many in -this condition are like children. They do not want overmuch sympathy -or they reckon themselves martyrs straight away, instead of bracing -themselves to go through a time of weariness. I have not come across -in my experience any who have suffered so acutely, unless in one case, -where two of her babies grew to her womb, and had to be brought away -by force. Another woman had a big, broad-shouldered husband, and was -herself a very small woman, and it was a case of force every time, -and she has had fourteen children, and the same to go through every -time, but was able to be up soon, as she soon mended and regained her -strength. - - _Two children._ - - -106. “I WAS LOCKED UP IN A MORNING.” - -I have been a very healthy woman, and pregnancy never upset me very -much, but I think if the Maternity Scheme had been in force when I was -having children it would have been a great benefit to me. Being very -poor, I had to get up on the third day, three or four times, not being -able to pay for someone to look after me. My first baby I was locked -up in a morning at half-past four, food put so that I could reach it -until my husband came home at four in the afternoon, to help myself -with everything with regard to the baby. My second was just the same. -After that we removed a bit nearer the works, and I did better. We -were a very comfortable lot of neighbours, and we always did for one -another. I don’t say that it was not very hard, because it was, and a -little money help would have been a great boon to some of us more than -others. With regard to wages, it is rather a sore point. My husband has -earned a very good wage nearly all our married life, but he is a born -gambler. I never had £1 a week, and a great many times I had nothing, -so that when my children began to work, it took years to pay for what -they had to have to be brought up. I have had ten children; nine alive -at the present time; six married; three have received the Maternity -Benefit and have found it a great help, and feel that it is a credit to -everyone who helped to bring so great a scheme about for the benefit of -the working man’s wife. - - _Wife’s allowance less than £1; ten children, one still-birth._ - -[Illustration: FACSIMILE OF EXTRACT FROM LETTER 106.] - - -107. “FELT LIKE GIVING IN ALTOGETHER.” - -I have had two children. I might say I felt better during pregnancy -with the first one than I had ever felt in my life, but I had a very -bad time at the birth with instruments, and after three years, when -I had the second one, I never felt well, and did not seem to have -strength enough to drag through day after day. But I, like a good many -more, could not afford to go to the doctor; and with the second baby I -had to have instruments again to bring the baby into the world, after -which for about eight months I never seemed to regain my strength, and -life was a weary existence. Also, I am sorry to say, I had not one -of the most careful of husbands, and have always had to make my own -provision for the time on £1 a week, and very often nothing, as at that -time he would think nothing of staying out all night, and gambling -away all his week’s earnings. I have always struggled and managed -to keep his club paid, so that I had the 30s. from the club to pay -the nurse and doctor. For the rest, I have happened to have two good -sisters near to me, who always did whatever they could for me, but as -to nourishment, I have never been able to get much of that, and have -always thought that was what kept me back. I have fortunately been -very handy with my needle, and have been able to earn a good bit at -times by taking in needlework, or I don’t know whatever I should have -done. But I am pleased to say, that since I had a breakdown last year, -about this time, and was sent away for one month through our Guild -Convalescent Fund, my husband has been very much better. I think he had -time to find he missed me. Of one thing I am quite sure. I have had as -big a struggle as a good many of my womenfolk, but where some have no -friends and no talent for earning, I have been more fortunate in being -able to do so. I may tell you that when I joined the Guild, nearly five -years ago, I had very nearly lost all my spirit, and felt like giving -in altogether, but the Guild has done a lot for me in that sense, as I -have felt that I must go on doing my duty, and fighting for the right, -although sometimes it is very hard. Still, I have always the Guild to -look forward to, and have found amongst our members some real good -friends, and I shall never forget the great benefit I have felt from -the thorough rest and change of the month at the Rest Home. I feel a -different woman. Although I am not over-strong, still, I have regained -my strength, and a little more energy. I had one miscarriage five years -ago, at ten weeks, and my husband was out of work, so I did not have -any doctor, but had to keep about and do the best I could, taking just -whatever rest I could get. I was months and months getting strong again. - - _Wages 24s. to 26s.; two children, one miscarriage._ - - -108. EXTRA WELL. - -As regards myself during pregnancy, I have always been extra well, -which I daresay is due to the fact of having been in a position to be -able to have all that is required--rest and help in the home, and -good nourishing food. Others who are not in the same position have my -heartfelt sympathy. - - _Four children, one miscarriage._ - - -109. WORK IN A BRICKYARD. - -I am very pleased to say that, having one of the best of husbands, -I suffered nothing during pregnancy, only ailments of my own caused -through my mother having to work in the brickyard during her pregnancy -with me. That, I am sorry to say, is the cause of my own and sister’s -illness--working hard, knocked about, and poorly fed, a good mother, -but a rogue of a father; and that thing will go on until women give up -hard work during pregnancy. - - -110. HUSBAND WITH TYPHOID FEVER. - -During the first three months of pregnancy with my first baby I -suffered fearfully with my head. Then, as time went on, I gradually -got better, and able to do my work, and felt quite strong until about -the sixth month. Then water began to trouble me; my feet and legs were -very much swollen, so much that I could not get any boots on, and -had to remain indoors the rest of the time. On the day of the birth -I commenced with pains at six o’clock in the morning, and I went on -all day, until a quarter to seven at night, and I was getting so weak -that the doctor asked me if he might use the instruments. I was glad -to have them, but they gave me a fine putting up. The doctor said that -my baby could not have been born without them. No doubt it relieved -me at the time, but I suffered afterwards, as I was all torn with the -instruments, and had to be stitched. I was so weak afterwards that I -could not get up on to my elbows, and it took me a considerable time to -get my strength up again. At the same time my husband was in bed with -an attack of typhoid fever. We had no hospital in our district then. My -doctor was very much afraid that I would contract the disease, but I am -thankful to say that I escaped. With my second boy I was in good health -all the time, and had a quick birth, and without instruments. That -was two years and two months after. About four years after the birth -of my second boy I had a miscarriage, which I reckon are worse than -having a baby, as they nearly drain your system and you suffer severe -pain, and it makes you very weak. I always blamed the miscarriage for -an attack of nervous debility I had. I first commenced to lose flesh, -then my nerves were affected, and I got so weak that I used to faint -away several times in the day. My doctor ordered me away for a change, -and to get into company, as I was getting so low, but it took me a long -time to pick up. About nine years after the birth of my second boy I -had a girl, which I am pleased to say put new life into me; it seemed -to renew my whole system. She is now eleven years old, and quite strong -and healthy. - - _Wages 27s. 6d. to 42s.; three children, one miscarriage._ - - -111. “TOO EXHAUSTED TO EAT.” - -I have been one of the more fortunate women; being fairly strong, my -sufferings have not been so heavy as a lot of poor women. At the same -time, I was often so poorly that if I had had means to get a little -help at times it would have been a blessing. My husband has never -earned more than from 23s. to 25s. a week, and many a time I have had -to go without many a thing that would have done me good. When I was -expecting my last baby, I think it was with going such a long time, -and the others, some of them at work, and coming in to meals. I know I -used to get the dinner cooked and struggle through the serving, then I -was done, and was obliged to lie down a bit, often without my dinner, -as I was too exhausted to eat, and the pleasure of the rest was partly -spoiled by the thought of the dinner-table still laid. A bit of help -then would have been a boon. But having a good husband smoothed many -things over. But this shows that many a woman is unable to do her work, -and if the husband is a thoughtless man, or even a bad one, her lot is -a hard one indeed. Then, after confinement, women should not be obliged -to work, in my opinion, for three weeks, but most working women have -to do. I never could possibly keep a woman more than a fortnight--and -the struggle during pregnancy of saving up 30s., which was the sum we -always aimed for, and it was a big job. Some weeks I have had to be -content with putting 3d. away, with the hope of 9d. next week to make -it into a shilling. To my mind, this is one of the hardest tasks a -working woman has. - - _Wages 18s. to 25s.; seven children._ - - -112. THIRTEEN BIRTHS AND FOUR MISCARRIAGES. - -I am afraid many mothers, like myself, will find it almost impossible -to explain our sufferings. During pregnancy we do not all suffer alike, -but to me it was nine months of misery. But I had to work all the time. -My husband’s wages were only £1 a week, and he had to lose all wet -weather. With my fourth child he was out of work twelve weeks in the -bitter winter. I worked as dressmaker with a machine nearly night and -day, and when the baby was brought into the world with instruments, I -nearly lost my life, and could not be moved for nearly a fortnight. My -ninth son, I was working at a lady’s house when near my confinement, -and in putting down a carpet I hurt myself very much, and was very ill -until my baby was born, and then he was born a cripple--would have -always walked on his ankles, with the soles of his feet together. But -I used to take him to the hospital for a long time, and he is able to -get his own living now. So you will see it takes all energy and hope -and joy out of a woman’s life, when they have to work the whole time -through no fault of their own or their husbands, but just to keep the -home together. - - _Wages £1; twelve children, one still-birth, four miscarriages._ - - -113. AN AGRICULTURAL LABOURER’S DAUGHTER. - -I have only had one child, a daughter, who is now six years. I had been -married eight years when she was born, but have had no miscarriages. I -was very well when I was pregnant. The mothers in the Guild were most -kind in advising me during pregnancy, at the time and after. I weaned -her at nine months, and she is one of the bonniest girls one can see. - -My husband, _when in work_, earns a good wage. It has been his -experience to be out of work many times, for varying lengths of -time--once for fourteen weeks--that soon after our child was born. - -In an agricultural district, large families and small wages -predominate. I am the second child of a family of twelve, and as my -father’s earnings were very small it always meant my mother working -too--hop-tying, gathering fruit, harvesting, and even picking stones -off fields. As soon as each of us was old enough we had to work very -hard; at ten and eleven years of age I worked in the fields, and -did shaving poles, etc. My mother had to pay 9d. and 11d. per week -school money, out of her little, for us, and I am thankful to her for -educating us as she did, never keeping us away to mind babies, as a -great many did in those days. I am nearly thirty-nine now, and free -education had not come in then. - - _Wages 24s. to 40s.; one child._ - - -114. “NO REST FOR MOTHERS, NIGHT OR DAY.” - -I remember it was a very big struggle to get all that was quite -necessary for ourselves and the expected baby. Although my experience -was far before thousands of others--should I say, women, when I was -only just turned eighteen? - -In the first place, I felt a doctor would be too expensive, so only had -a midwife. Things were not just right with baby, so I had to call in -a doctor and pay £1 5s. My nurse I only engaged for a fortnight, then -thought I could manage, but I took cold, and had a most awful gathered -breast, and had to go back to bed again for another week or two. When -my baby was five months old I began to turn against my food; was -nursing baby at the time, so did not think for one moment I could be -pregnant again, but it was so. When the second one came, the first was -unable to walk, I can assure you. You need not wonder at women doing -all they can to prevent having big families, for there is certainly no -rest for mothers night or day. - -I can tell you I saw but very little pleasure the first part of my -married life. I married in 1884. I had two children, lost one, and -lost my husband by consumption in June, 1887. He needed the best -of everything. It used to cost nearly 5s. per week for one sort of -medicine he felt did him good, so you see there was very little to do -with. I was only twenty-two when he died. I believe now, when I think -about it, my baby could have been spared had I had more experience; -although I did my best and was a good mother, as far as lay in my -power, but there was no one to advise me. So you can imagine ours was -one continual struggle from beginning to end, and then not so bad as -many others. When I look back on that time I feel very sad. I believe -my husband was in receipt of £1 5s. per week, but I am not quite -sure; he was a policeman, so it was regular, and of course not many -clothes to buy. Living in a village, our rent was small. This will, I -am afraid, be little to assist you, but it is all I can tell you. It -would not be possible to tell you all one feels with one baby and the -expected one, and all work to do. No one could imagine who has never -been through it. - - _Wages 25s.; two children._ - - -115. PROPER CARE. - -With regard to myself, fortunately I have always had the proper care, -with the result that I had normal times. - -My first child (a boy) died when he was eight months old. My health -broke down, and he had to be taken from the breast, no food agreed with -him, convulsions set in, and my loved one died. I was three years, -then had another (a girl). Two years and nine months after that I -had another girl. Both these are now fine young women. The proposed -scheme to “link up the State with the home and the municipality under -one authority” is just what is wanted in all towns and cities. Much -suffering would be saved and many lives spared. - -From the advice that mothers have been able to get at the “Baby -Welcome” here, many babies’ lives have been saved. But this is -voluntary, and a fortnight ago a week was set apart to go from house to -house for subscriptions in every district, as the work could not go on -without funds. - - _Wages 27s. 6d. to 35s.; three children._ - - -116. EIGHT MISCARRIAGES. - -I have not had any children to bring up, but I have had the misfortune -to have had eight miscarriages, the last one as far back as 1898, when -I had to go to the infirmary for an operation, and I have not had any -since. But you must understand they have not been brought on by neglect -or ill use, but by my having a severe attack of influenza in 1891 -before I was married, which left me with weakness of the womb. I had to -be attended by the doctor every time. - - _No child, eight miscarriages._ - - -117. NEED FOR MUNICIPAL MIDWIVES. - -I have had two average children--one a boy aged nine years, the other -a girl aged four years. As regards pregnancy, I had general good -health--though I felt rather faint at times in the first and second -month--up to the seventh month, and then I used to feel rather bad -some days--cramp in my legs, etc. I have been able to keep my house -going up to the time of confinement (my husband being a mechanic, I -had to do the housework and washing and cooking). I must tell you I am -a teetotaler, and during pregnancy I used every morning to take fine -groats with plenty of milk. I still took them every morning and evening -after my babies were born, and I had sufficient milk for them until I -weaned them, starting from ten months and finishing them altogether at -one year. Neither of them had any fits or convulsions, my boy’s first -illness being at the age of five and half years, and my little girl -has not had an illness yet. At the present time they are both well in -health. I think I should dearly like to see State maternity nurses, for -this way there is the greatest difficulty in securing a nurse. I know -from one or two of my friends and from my own experience we were all -greatly worried at not being able to secure good nurses. As you are -aware, many of them drink, and others don’t care to come when there -are other children to look after. I had a doctor, and had to pay 14s. -a week for a nurse. I think expectant mothers should not be allowed to -work in factories, etc., when they are pregnant, for you want as much -fresh air as possible. - -Taking an average year, with all holidays, I think my husband’s wages -would amount to 35s. weekly. He is in the black line and a Socialist, -and we both cannot think how working people, especially Co-operators, -can be otherwise. - - _Wages 35s.; two children, one miscarriage._ - - -118. EASY CIRCUMSTANCES. - -As you will see on the attached form, I am not able, as a mother, to -give my experience of suffering during pregnancy or after childbirth. I -was able to have good attention both before and after the birth of my -boy, so that any special information other than the ordinary childbirth -pains I cannot give. - -I suppose my experience will go to prove that proper attention to -health, such as you wish expectant mothers to have, would do away with -a good deal of the suffering and pain connected with maternity. The -opinion of myself and my husband is that none but skilled doctors and -nurses should attend at childbirth. I have known many cases in our -district where the ordinary midwife has had mothers in pain for hours, -only to send for a doctor in the end. - - _One child._ - - -119. NOTHING UNUSUAL. - -Nothing unnatural or unusual seemed to happen in my case. - - _Wages 35s. to £2 5s.; three children._ - - -120. SOCK-MAKING AT TWOPENCE A PAIR. - -I will give you the following concerning my married life. First let -me tell you I was in the place I was married from just five years as -children’s maid. I was twenty-five, my husband twenty-six the day we -married. Many, including my relatives, thought I ought to have married -better. I had been engaged previously, but he turned out to be not the -God-fearing man I thought. Then our married gardener asked me to tea, -and I met my husband that is now, a true follower of Christ. And I must -tell you, the two years we courted we only missed Church twice. I soon -saw he had won my heart, but his wages was then poor, but I remembered -my dear mother’s words--money does not bring happiness; and so we -were married against the wishes of my friends, and took two rooms and -furnished them. But, oh! I soon found out how hard it was to keep our -little home on 24s. a week, 7s. for our two rooms. Then I got a night -now and again waiting at table with the lady I had lived with and her -friends. How I pleaded to be kept all right, as I could not see our -way clear to have a baby in the home, and I would not, could not, let -any of our friends know the hard struggle I had. I have a dear, loving -husband, who agreed we would like a baby, but had no means of providing -for it. I must tell you I had bad health (bloodlessness) before I was -married, which cost me a lot of money. Then when we had been married -two years I found I was in a certain condition. I hid my condition, and -went still waiting at table, until after a big dinner I fainted, and -had to own I was so. Then came the shortage of money. I began to stint -myself in order to provide for my little one. Many a time I have had -bread and dripping for my dinner before my husband came home, and said -I had my dinner, as I would not wait. Then I was ill, and had to have -the doctor. He said I was run down, and away went some of the little -store I had been able to get together. I would not let my friends know -how we stood, remembering what they said before I was married. Then -came headache after headache, as I worried to know wherever was all -the money to come from to provide the funds for doctor and nurse. My -sister, who was very proud, and unmarried, engaged me a nurse at 14s. -a week for three weeks. She thought she was helping me by seeing that -I had a good nurse, but this only added to my worry. Then my husband, -thinking to help me get the money, had a knitting machine on the hire -system, and made socks and stockings. I had to sew up the toes and -press them into shape. I could not get them right for a long time, and -this added another worry, as we had to pay each month for the machine, -which was a failure. I worked hard at them right up to the time my boy -was born. Oh, my poor head, how it ached, as I tried and tried to do -them right; and we only got 2d. a pair for making them, and my husband -used to walk to the city to the shop with them. (They found the wool.) -I had a very bad confinement, and the baby was almost gone when it -came into the world. I had no strength to go through. The doctor would -not allow me to see anyone for nine days. This was twelve years ago. -My boy, although fat, suffers so much with his head. He had a brain -and nerve breakdown two years ago, and was ill eleven months. One day -the doctor said: “How were you when you carried this child?” Painful -though it was, I told him all. “Ah,” he said, “now we know the cause -of all this trouble.” I have suffered with my head ever since. His -heart also is slightly affected. If only I could have gone to someone -who would have understood, not my relatives, and got some nourishment. -All this that he now suffers, I am sure, is the result of my having to -work and worry so much while I was carrying. I might say the nurse was -very extravagant, and the second week I lay so ill I missed a photo -machine my husband had, and learnt--oh, it is almost too painful to -write--that he had pawned it for 7s. 6d. to help get me nourishment. -He said: “Never again will you go through this. You are too dear to -me.” Well, six years ago, my boy being six years old, my husband had -got on, and his wages increased. We had a little girl, which we had -always longed for, only to lose it as soon as it came into the world, -for I have no strength in my inside (the doctor said) to bring a child -into the world. All this weakness, you see, the result of the first -confinement. Of course, now, the doctor says it would not be safe for -me to have another child. I have a dear loving husband who does all in -his power to keep me right. But it is hard to think if I had another it -would go or be delicate. Now is there not great need for a place where -a young mother could go and get advice and, if necessary, nourishment? -I was one who thought I could do a lot on a little a week, and when I -found out my mistake would do anything rather than let my friends know -their words had come true. I remember when carrying my baby to have to -wait for a loaf of bread until my husband came home at five with his -money, as I always paid down for all we had. I must tell you we have -been married fifteen years and are _very, very_ happy. - - _Wages 24s.; one child, one still-birth._ - - -121. NATURAL TIMES. - -During these times I have been well looked after, and had quite natural -times. - - _Wages 23s. to 45s.; three children._ - - -122. IRONING AND KNEADING IN BED. - -I was married one year and five months before my first boy was born. -I nearly lost my life. I was in labour from 1 o’clock in the morning -until 7.5 at night. Then the doctor used instruments. He stated I had -worked too hard, and not rested sufficiently, but I could not afford a -girl. My husband then was only getting £1 1s. per week, and 5s. rent -had to be paid out of it. The second baby came fifteen months after.... -I had no milk for either. I was in labour with the second from Monday -dinner-time until Tuesday night. Then the doctor gave me an injection -of warm water; as I was torn so badly before, he did not want to use -the instruments. Two years after I had a miscarriage.... I then had -to lie in bed for a whole month. I kept a small girl, and I used to -do my own ironing and knead my bread in bed unknown to the doctor. I -had a bed put down in the small parlour to save the girl and children -running upstairs. I feel sure that if I had had a maternity benefit -then to help me, I should not be suffering now inwardly. No mother -can stay in bed very comfortably knowing things are going on anyhow -while she is in bed. Then, again, during the time she is carrying the -child, her mind is troubled, and she becomes fretful, hence a fretful, -delicate child. The mother, when funds are low, goes without much food, -pleading headache, etc., so as to try and blind her husband. I think -an expectant mother should rest at least half an hour every day, and -especially towards the last should have no heavy work to do, such as -washing and ironing. The extra weight she is carrying naturally throws -the humours into her legs, the veins standing out like thick cords, -and at night she cannot sleep for cramps and aches. The child is the -asset of the nation, and the mother the backbone. Therefore, I think -the nation should help to feed and keep that mother, and so help to -strengthen the nation by her giving birth to strong boys and girls. -She does not require weaklings, and insufficient food and overwork and -worry is the root of this weakness, both in the case of mother and -child. I only hope that sick visitors should see that it is the mothers -that are getting the benefit of the maternity benefit, and not the -husband, and often the landlord. - - _Wages 20s. to 23s.; two children._ - - -123. TEA AND SUGAR PUT AWAY. - -My experience of child-bearing has been very painful, owing to an -inward growth. Each confinement was a very critical time--in fact, with -the last one I nearly lost my life, and was told by my doctor never -to run the risk again. Fortunately for us all, I have a thoughtful -husband, or, of course, it would have made the home very unhappy. -During the time of pregnancy I used to put a little away every week, -perhaps one week tea, another sugar, and so on, as my husband’s wages -were small, and I could not go out to work, not being strong. I am sure -the 30s. the mothers get now would have been a great boon in my case. -It would have saved a lot of worry as to ways and means. No one knows -what it means to a mother at such times, what contrivances she has to -make things eke out. I think myself half the suffering in after-life is -brought about by worrying to make ends meet at such times. In my own -case, how much I have to be thankful for with a good, steady husband! -I honestly think no woman should have less than £1 per week for -housekeeping purposes, and how many thousands have far less! I should -like to see all workers receiving a living wage, as then I think most -of the trouble would be met. - - _Wages 20s. to 30s.; three children._ - - -124. SIX TO FEED ON SIXTEEN SHILLINGS. - -I have only had four children, but I am pleased to say I have had what -we call comfortable times. But I must tell you, since I had my second -one, my husband has only earned 16s. a week. I have had a very hard -struggle to get through, but, thank the Lord, I have done it. If the -Maternity Benefit had been in force, then it would have made it much -better. I think the scheme is a beautiful thing, and I think the women -should have it. But we have not all got the same kind of husbands. -Mine is a very good husband. I was very queer after my last was born, -but what could you wonder at--that money to keep six of us? But we are -getting over the hardest place, I hope. My eldest is thirteen. - - _Wages 16s. to 22s.; four children._ - - -125. “WORKED TOO HARD AS A GIRL.” - -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._ - - -126. A STRONG WOMAN. - -I have not a word to say against any of my child-bearing or pregnancy -times, as I have been a strong woman, and have a very good husband. But -I always provide for such times. I always had a doctor and midwife, and -someone to look after my home, and always stop in bed a long time. I -have not had any use for instruments or chloroform. But one thing, I am -a life abstainer, and my mother before me, and my husband is also, and -I think this has a great deal to do with the difficulties of pregnancy. -I have always been able to do my home duties, with the exception of -washing, and I have not always done that. I was twenty-two years when -my first baby was born. My youngest is now eleven years, and I am in -my fifty-second year, and am enjoying splendid health, and am a busy -woman. - - _Wages 24s. to 40s.; seven children._ - - -127. WINE LODGES SHOULD BE CLOSED. - -I have not had or gone through so much pain and suffering as many poor -mothers have to go through. - -It was during pregnancy I did suffer through my own ignorance. I had -a most devoted mother, and was carefully brought up, but on this -subject she failed. I was the youngest of three girls, and not even my -sisters, who were both married before me, did I ever hear any mention -of this.... I was in my twenty-fourth year, so I was not too young to -be instructed. It would have been very much better for my health if I -had received some knowledge of this. I feel so glad you have given me -this opportunity to just say something on the subject. I have recently -visited one of our prisons, and find that the greatest number of women -and girls who have fallen through drink have commenced to form this -habit with it being given to them when young girls, and again when -they become mothers. Of course, we know it is a weakness, but when a -mother, nurse, or doctor could just as well give them many things which -would do far more good for them, and save them from this. If we could -only rise up in a body, we Guildwomen, and close the wine lodges, we -could save our young women! It is there where the White Slave traffic -often starts, and these women will tell you. I could give you several -accounts of these poor downcast creatures, but I am afraid I would be -going away from the subject you are anxious to gain all information. -I was in Mrs. R.’s Home for Infants yesterday, and I saw there quite -enough to know what kind of mothers and fathers those babies must -belong to. They do not get enough food or rest before these mites -come into the world. If we could have afternoon classes for our young -married women, and give them good instruction and knowledge for them -to be able to be quite prepared to carry out when the time comes! We -have had in our Guild this session some splendid evening lectures from -doctors and nurses; but when I call round before we have these lectures -and ask the young mothers to come to the meetings, they are busy with -the home duties or children, so I think afternoon classes for a short -time would do a great amount of good. - - _Wages 45s. 6d. to 60s.; one child._ - - -128. “OFTEN WENT SHORT OF FOOD.” - -It is so long ago since I had all these babies, that I almost forget, -but I was married young, and was always delicate on the chest, as I am -still. I had children very fast, seven one after another, not more than -a year and nine months between them, and in one case only one year and -two months. Then I lost a sweet little girl, aged four years and eight -months. She was ill a fortnight, and I nursed her night and day. I was -so done up with attending her and the grief, that I had a dreadful -miscarriage which nearly cost me my life. I had to work very hard to -do everything for my little family, and after that I never had any -more children to live. I either miscarried, or they were still-born. I -have had two miscarriages in a year, one in January and one in August. -My husband’s standing wage was 28s., but he made a little overtime -sometimes, which I always tried to put by for doctor and nurse. The -doctor’s fee was £1 1s., and I had no nurse under 1s. a day--viz., -7s. or 8s. per week, and their food, etc. I looked after my husband -and children well, but I often went short of food myself, although my -husband did not know it. He used to think my appetite was bad, and that -I could not eat. I never worried him. He was steady, and gave me all he -could. You may guess I was always scheming and planning to make ends -meet, which was not good for me or the unborn baby. But I always tried -to keep a bright face, and made the best of things, and all my doctors -have called me plucky. I wish I had had the 30s. the mothers have now; -it would have taken a load off anyhow.... - - _Wages 28s.; seven children, three still-births, four miscarriages._ - - -129. AN AGRICULTURAL LABOURER’S WIFE. - -I was married twenty-five years ago. My husband is an agricultural -labourer, and was then earning 10s. per week, an extra shilling because -he was the milkman, and went twice on Sundays. Could you afford more -children on that? _NO._ His wages are now 15s. per week, but we are now -forty-seven years old. I wish I could have had 30s. In my case it was -one year’s illness, nine months before and three months after. With my -last I had dropsy, and was quite unable to walk for three months before -baby was born. There was no money coming in, only barely enough to get -bread and a small piece of butter or dripping for the four of us. You -will perhaps understand we did not want any more family. We could not -afford it. We love children, both of us, and often say we wish we had -a larger grown-up family now we are getting into years. Our silver -wedding is next Christmas. - -I am by trade a leather-glove maker, my earnings helped to keep the -home. The labourer of to-day is not so well off as we were, although -they now get 16s., as food is so much dearer. - -With all good wishes for our nation’s welfare. - - _Wages 10s. to 15s.; three children._ - - -130. TEN SHILLINGS COMING IN FOR TWELVE WEEKS. - -After my first-born, everything went on all right, but after my second, -I was very ill with my breasts, but, of course, I put that down to my -husband’s lack of work. He was thrown out for twelve weeks just as baby -was born, and, of course, it was a dreadful worry to me. Fancy 10s. -coming in for twelve weeks, 5s. 9d. for rent out of it, and a new baby. -I am not the only one, but I felt I could never have any more, as much -as I love children, and now, after eleven years, the thought of it -makes me feel ill. During the time of pregnancy I suffered dreadfully, -and my heart goes out to all my poorer sisters, and if there is -anything I can do to help in any way, I am at your service. Of course, -I am far from strong, but as long as I can, I am quite willing to help. - - _Wages 34s. to 38s.; two children._ - - -131. CONSOLED HERSELF WITH AN ORPHAN BOY. - -I have been married thirteen years and have no children. I have had -seven miscarriages, all under six months. My own opinion is that the -first was brought on by an unqualified midwife that I had to call in -to see me at a moment’s notice, for instead of letting me lie quiet, -she acted with me as though it was a full-time child. And all the -other miscarriages have followed as the result of the first. My mother -is a qualified midwife, but was too far away at the time. I have -suffered untold agonies through these miscarriages. My health is all -undermined. The doctor has told me that I would probably give birth to -a full-time child, but I should have to stay in bed for the first six -months. I am glad our Guild is taking up these things, for the woman’s -sake, for there is many a childless woman to-day through neglect. I -have consoled myself by adopting an orphan boy, who is the sunshine of -my life. - - _Wages 23s. to 28s.; no child, seven miscarriages._ - - -132. “THE TERRIBLE SUFFERING I ENDURED.” - -The first part of my life I spent in a screw factory from six in -the morning till five at night; and after tea used to do my washing -and cleaning. I only left two weeks and three weeks before my first -children were born. After that I took in lodgers and washing, and -always worked up till an hour or so before baby was born. The results -are that three of my girls suffer with their insides. None are able to -have a baby. One dear boy was born ruptured on account of my previous -hard work. Two of my lads, one married is a chronic sufferer, and -has three children; another, the one that was ruptured, has outgrown -that, but he is far from a robust lad. I can only look back now on -the terrible suffering I endured, that tells a tale now upon my -health. I could never afford a nurse, and so was a day or two after my -confinements obliged to sit up and wash and dress the others. - -My husband’s wages varied owing to either hot weather or some of the -other men not working. I have known him come home with £3 or £4, and I -have seen him come home with _nothing_; and when earning good money, as -much as 30s. has been paid away in drink. I had three little ones in -two years and five months, and he was out of work two years, and during -that time I took in washing and sewing, and have not been near a bed -for night after night. I was either at my sewing-machine or ironing -after the little ones had gone to bed. After being confined five days -I have had to do all for my little ones. I worked sometimes up till -a few moments before they were born. I do hope I have not done wrong -in relating so much of my past, and that it may be of some use in the -furthering of our scheme. - - _Wages £3 or £4 to nothing; ten children, two miscarriages._ - - -133. MATERNITY BENEFIT “INTENDED FOR THEMSELVES.” - -I was married when nineteen years of age, and my first baby was born -just nine months after, and that was before I was twenty. My second was -born two years afterwards, and, owing to ignorance, I got up too soon -after confinement, and it has left me with a weakness that I suffer -from now. I think that a woman is anxious to get about too soon, but -now that the Maternity Benefit provides for proper nursing, women -should be made to understand that the money is intended for themselves. -It is more knowledge and help that women need. - -I hope that you will get a great amount of information on this -important subject. - - _Wages 20s. and house; two children._ - - -134. AN AWFUL STRUGGLE. - -First child, very sick early period, and when labour set in kept it to -myself; baby born before doctor arrived. Got on well. - -Second, through reaching high shelf, child had to be turned, causing -good deal of suffering. Child died at three months, undergoing -operation for nerves. Doctor said caused by rick or strain at birth. -Miscarriage caused by fright. Did not understand it; got up next day, -went about usual duties. - -Third child, usual symptoms. Fourth ditto. Second miscarriage, hard -work and lifting bath of water, being very weak. Doctor said would -have been twins. Fifth child born on stairs, no ill-effects. Third -miscarriage, very ill. Sixth child very ill, caused by lifting out of -bed sick child. The bladder obstructing the way, and child could not -be born only by replacing it. Labour lasting from Thursday morn until -Saturday noon. Seventh and eighth child quite natural. - -When we were married, thirty-one years ago, my husband was a framework -knitter. Having learnt his trade thoroughly, he was capable of earning -from £2 to £3 weekly, but we had only been married a fortnight when, -through the introduction of machinery, he was out of work. In less -than two years his earnings was 11s. to 16s. weekly. Our rent was 5s. -3d., but I let the two front rooms. The third year he was out twelve -weeks, only earning 2s. 6d. the whole time. No one would employ him; he -looked pale, and his hands, owing to using silk and cotton, were soft -and clean. One man told him he was not the sort of man for field-work. -However, he got a job as rural postman, earning 15s. a week, leaving -home 5 a.m., returning 7 p.m. In order to supplement his earnings, he -hired a room and mended boots, but some people did not pay him, and he -had to give it up. Then a manufacturer found he could still do with a -little hand-work, but alas! things were no better; some weeks he earned -20s., some weeks less. - -There were five of us to keep, so I got some work from the factory, -and if I worked hard I could sometimes earn 8s. I would rise at 6 -a.m., get my housework done by 10 a.m., sending the two little ones to -school, and, except for meals or attending to my little ones, worked -till 12 p.m. I was then within a few weeks’ birth of my little one, -but--oh, how can I tell you!--one night on looking up from my work, my -husband was looking ghastly. But that looking up saved my life; he told -me after he was anticipating taking my life and my little ones’ and his -own. But he feared his courage would fail him before he finished. I -reached my Bible from the shelf (it was my custom to read every night) -and went to bed. But think of it!--a kinder, better man it would be -difficult to find. - -When I could not get shirt-finishing, I used to seam hose--2-3/4d. for -twelve pairs--and when my baby was born I had 5s.; I gave it to the -midwife. My husband had influenza, and we were both in bed ill. He had -earned 8s., and I gave that to nurse and dismissed her. The ninth day I -was downstairs doing some washing--sitting, of course--and I sent for -some work, but could not do much, my eyes were so weak. I never thought -to appeal to our friends to help us, but I wrote and told of the birth -and said work was very bad. - -A builder wanted a handyman, and sent for my husband, and gave him -work--20s. a week. My husband was so handy he kept him on as carpenter, -and he attended continuation classes with our elder son, and from that -he went to the Technical Institute, and about eight years after we came -to ----, he had learned the second trade of carpenter, and gets the -rate because he is trade unionist, and has been ever since he started -as carpenter. It was he who tried to instil co-operative principles -into me, but I think it was the “divi” had the greatest influence, and -the rest I learnt in the Guild room; and I say, God speed co-operation, -the greatest blessing possible for the people. We seldom ever refer -to our dark days, we are so happy now with our children. The baby No. -8--it was all right. I could draw a £2 divi--the most I ever had for -confinement. - - _Wages 11s. to £1; eight children, three miscarriages._ - - -135. RAG-SORTING. - -Her husband was a bricklayer’s labourer, and the woman did rag-sorting -to help with the living, and used to wheel sacks full of rags on a -sack-barrow to the warehouse. The wonder to me was that the babies -were born alive, though it was never stated that it was through this -that the children died soon after. My own impression was that it had -something to do with it. As a mother myself I would not have dared to -have attempted to do what that poor woman had to do, and I am thankful -to know that something is being done to try and alleviate these poor -women. As a Bible woman who visits in and out of the homes of the poor, -my heart aches as I see how some of these poor women have to work -during pregnancy, and how little comfort they have at the time, and how -soon they have to begin work again, before they are fit, and I believe -many poor women suffer for life through having to get about too soon. - - _Wages 23s._ - - -136. “I WONDER HOW I LIVED.” - -I do not know that my experience of child-bearing has differed much -from the women of my class. I was a factory girl, and an only child. I -was married at twenty, and the mother of three children by the time I -was twenty-three. I was totally ignorant of the needs of my children or -how to look after myself as I should do, and now I look back, I wonder -how I muddled through, for that is really what it was, a muddle all the -time, and it was more by fortune than wit that I have reared my first -two children to maturity. - -When I look back to that first three years of my married life, I wonder -how I lived through it. I was weak and ill, could not suckle my second -baby. And then a third baby coming along made my life a continual -drudgery, and to crown my misfortune my husband fell out of work, and -I had to do shirt work at home in order to keep a roof over our heads. -My third baby was very tiny and thin when born. I put this down to the -worry and the shortness of food which I had to put up with, and though -he lived till he was three years old and died from diphtheria. It was a -happy release to me, as he was an epileptic, and I thanked God, much as -I loved him, that he was taken from this life, where even sound people -have a difficulty to exist. - -I do not think I was very different in my pregnancies to others. I -always prepared myself to die, and I think this awful depression -is common to most at this time. And when bothered by several other -children, and not knowing how to make ends meet, death in some cases -would be welcome if it were not the dread of the children. “How would -they get on without their mother?” - -My husband was fortunate enough, just after the loss of my third child, -to get regular work, and I never bore another child under such awful -conditions. But I believe that I felt the effects of it in all my other -pregnancies. - -After the first three living children, I had three still-born children. -I was six months advanced when I fell downstairs over a stair-rod, -which killed the child, which was born after forty-eight hours’ labour, -and perhaps it seems wicked to you, but I was glad, because it left my -hands free for a time to look after the other two, for I was fearfully -weak and ill. After a lapse of two years I had another seven-months -baby born dead, and again, after another two years, a five-months -still-born child, all three still-born children being boys. I had a -miscarriage after this of two months, and when I was thirty-five years -old had my last baby, who is now living, nine years old. - -I do hope you will not feel that this letter is morbid, and that I -delight in writing horrors, for I do not, and had you not asked for -information I should never have written this all down. It is strictly -true, and when I look back to my early married life I could cry for the -girl who endured so much for life that was wasted. I am fairly healthy -now myself and have much to thank God for--a loving helpmeet and -dutiful children--so please do not think I am miserable, for I am not, -for I believe--in fact, I know--that there is a brighter day dawning -for the mother and child of the future. - - _Wages 21s. to 30s.; four children, three still-births, one - miscarriage._ - - -137. FIVE STILL-BIRTHS. - -Mine is rather an exceptional case. Through being left without a mother -when a baby--father was a very large farmer and girls were expected to -do men’s work--I, at the age of sixteen, lifted weights that deformed -the pelvis bones, therefore making confinement a very difficult case. -I have five fine healthy girls, but the boys have all had to have the -skull-bones taken away to get them past the pelvis. Always a case for -two or three doctors, so you will know I have suffered something. I -wish more could be done to train young girls to be more careful. Over -my first baby I was eleven months before I could walk again. A woman -ought, in my opinion, to be treated more or less as an invalid during -pregnancy. I suffered most with sickness and swollen legs, terrible -bad carryings. You cannot follow up with work as you ought to do. -I suffered with a terrible bearing-down pain all through carrying. -I often wonder how some poor women do that have such very fast -confinements every twelve months and no care at all bestowed on them. - - _Wages 20s. to 22s. 6d.; five children and five still-births._ - - -138. A WEAVER. - -My first baby was born before I was twenty. I was a weaver, and worked -hard until after the eighth month. I had a very hard labour, and cannot -tell you very much, as I was unconscious before the baby was born. The -first thing I knew was my mother standing over me trying to keep me -awake. The doctor said I was not to go to sleep for two hours, or I -should not waken again. The child was a big boy, and was crushed with -being born and obstruction. Then inflammation took place, and he only -lived four days. I was soon downstairs again and at work. I was seven -years before I had another--a girl; then I had another boy. The two -are now grown up, and I have said good-bye to weaving. I hope my two -children will have a better time than I have had. - - _Wages 19s. to 23s.; three children._ - - -139. DRUGS. - -I know personally of many mothers who have had very dreadful times -of sickness all through the time, and others who have not been able -to have the necessary food to strengthen them--some through having -bad or careless husbands, others through shortness of work; and, I -am sorry to say, those who have felt they would not carry children, -some because of bad husbands, others because they felt they could not -properly feed and clothe those they had. There are three who lost -their lives, and another who has already had seven. These all took -some kind of drug, and of course did the work they wanted it to do. -The doctor felt sorry for this woman and could not blame her. She has -had difficulty in rearing these seven. When she was able to get out, I -saw her and talked seriously to her, but she said: “Mrs. ----, I will -not have any more by him, and I should not have cared if I had died.” -She loved her children, and has had months of sleepless nights with -each of the seven. It seems to me, had Government awakened to its duty -years ago, seeing to it that the mothers and children should have what -was necessary, mothers would not have minded having the children, had -they known each little one would be provided for. We should now have a -stronger and healthier race of men and women. One does not wonder at -the sickly boys and girls one meets in the streets, especially when one -knows under what circumstances they were born, and how and what their -mothers had to bear before they came. - - -140. GOT UP THE FIFTH DAY. - -I feel that we women ought to discuss this question, because working -women often suffer terribly at these times with having to get up soon -after confinement: I myself being a great sufferer with bad legs -through getting up on the fifth day, although I had a doctor and -midwife to attend me. But I lived in a place where the women and girls -went to work in the mills, and could not get a woman to stay in the -home, and I was often left without for many hours. When the midwife -came, she advised me to have a bottle of stout and biscuits beside the -bed; but I refused, because I had never taken stout, and I thought no -food better than that. And I have trouble to this day with my legs. -Although well cared for during the last two confinements, it has never -remedied the unfortunate position of the first confinement. - - _Wages 30s.; three children._ - - -141. A FAMILY OF FIFTEEN. - -I have had a very large family (fifteen). Out of all these confinements -I have only had my husband in work at the time twice. Several times he -was sick, and other times it was hard winters, and as he was in the -building trade, he could not work if very frosty or very wet, so you -will see that I have known what it was to be often very short. With -this result, that when my sixth child was born, my health failed, which -would not have been the case if I had not had to go short. I also had -so much worry, and was unable at the time of carrying the child to have -any help, however poorly I felt. For a number of years I was in a very -weak state of health, which the doctor said was the result of not being -properly looked after. - - _Wages 24s. and upwards; fifteen children._ - - -142. “MUCH DEPENDS ON THE HUSBAND.” - -I had my children several years apart. I must say that I was much -better in health during pregnancy, and up to the time of the birth of -the child was able to do most of my work. Kneeling, I found, was the -worst thing, which I was careful to avoid, but a certain amount of -exercise did me good. But it was after confinement that I had to be -very careful. I could never sit up in bed for a fortnight, and it was -a month or five weeks before I could come downstairs. That was the -time I wanted all the nourishment I could get. Of course, there is a -difference amongst women, as I know of some that suffer for months -before with dropsy and various other things, then as a rule they are -much better afterwards. Much depends on what kind of a husband the -wife has. Worry must be a great drawback to a woman in that state. I -am thankful to say my experience has not been a bad one, as all my -children were healthy and strong. A woman cannot possibly get on if she -has a bad, worrying husband. I think that makes a lot of difference. - - _Wages 36s.; four children._ - - -143. PROBLEM OF HOUSEWORK. - -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. - - -144. BAD MEDICAL ATTENDANCE. - -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._ - - -145. ILLNESS COSTING NEARLY £20. - -I have only had one child, a girl, and I had a most fearful time, which -nearly cost me my life. I got up and tried to get about, as I had only -engaged my nurse for three weeks, and I thought I must try, as time was -going on, and I was in agonies all the time. The doctor had left me, -and the nurse I had assured me it would pass off as I got stronger, -and instead I grew worse and worse, until my husband would call in the -doctor again. I had a fearful time. The womb had got twisted, and -was lying on the back passage, and inflammation set in. It was worse -than a confinement. What I went through! I was in bed ten weeks, and -it was more than three months before I could even lift my baby or do -anything. I had to be sat with day and night, and have nourishment -every fifteen minutes. The woman I had to nurse me, who was recommended -to me by the doctor, swarmed me with vermin, and there I was helpless. -Only my husband and a neighbour to attend to my head, until the doctor -sent the district nurse, and she saved my life. She was so good, and -kind, and clever, one of Queen Alexandra’s Nurses she was. I am so glad -the Certificated Midwives are doing such grand work. We have one here -in the town, and I may say she has all the cases now, and is always -very busy, and is so good, and clean, and careful in the home. What -we working women want to-day is a friend in the time of need, not a -nuisance, the same as I had. It cost me nearly £20, my illness. Had it -not been for our little nest-egg invested in our Co-operative Society, -where should I have been? What a blessing this Maternity Benefit is! I -trust I shall never require it. - - _Wages 27s.; one child._ - - -146. SPECIALIST’S ADVICE NEEDED. - -My case was rather an extraordinary one, and emphasises that the -National Care of Maternity ought to be brought into force at once. -Through no fault of my own, I suffered from St. Vitus’s dance, caused -through pregnancy, and was under three local doctors, and also engaged -a trained nurse, but at the last moment they decided I must go into -hospital, as my case was so bad. The physician said that in a case -like mine local doctors were not worth six a penny, and if I had gone -to hospital at the commencement, I would never have got to the state -in which I unfortunately was. The local doctors told me I could not -be cured until the child was born, but the physician in hospital said -it was ridiculous. If I had gone four months earlier, I could have -been cured, and come home for the child to be born. I had no mother to -give me advice, and the same makes me very strongly in favour of Moral -Hygiene being taught in schools, so as not to leave girls ignorant of -the functions of pregnancy and motherhood. Cases like mine should be -brought to light in order that some poor souls in the future will be -saved from going through the same as I did. - - _Wages 27s. 6d.; one child._ - - -147. A SMALL PRIVATE INCOME. - -I really did not suffer much during that time, and always had good -confinements. I am one of the few working men’s wives who have a small -private income, so I am thankful to say I have never felt the pinch. - - -148. “NINE MONTHS OF MISERY.” - -I wish to give you a little on the sufferings of mothers in pregnancy. -I myself might say it is a matter of nine months misery for me while I -am in that condition. I might say I was married twelve months when I -had my first--a little girl--and four years after we got a little boy, -a fine child, born. But I had contracted a severe chill, and it was -all on my chest; and having baby on the breast, it drew the cold from -me, and with that took ill of catarrh of the stomach, and died at four -months. Being in a weak state myself, I again found myself pregnant; -but at the eight months the child was born dead, it being the second -boy. Two years after I had another girl, but it was when work was -slack, and my husband could get very little work, and it became so bad -that we had to sell part of our home to keep ourselves, and the time I -should have had extras and somebody in to look after me this was out of -the question. Now, two years after, again I had another girl (my last, -I hope). I might say that, although sick and ill all the time I was -pregnant, I soon got over it when the time was up. I have known some -poor souls go days and weeks in their labour, and then have to have -instruments and chloroform, and after nearly coming to death’s door -have had to be stitched and syringed and doctored for months. - - _Wages 20s. to 22s. 6d.; five children, one still-born._ - - -149. EVERY HELP. - -I have been in the fortunate position of being able to have every help -at those times, added to which my youngest child is turned twenty-six -years, and time has obliterated much that I suffered at those times. My -husband was earning 9d. an hour. We afterwards started in business for -ourselves. - - _Two children, one miscarriage._ - - -150. “SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAD CHILDREN.” - -I have not got one healthy child among my five, not because I did -not get well looked after, but they are suffering through the past -generation. My first child is now a man of twenty-seven, married, but -has had a paralysed arm from two years old (a milder form of which was -a family trouble). The second one died. My third, a daughter, is almost -an invalid, through nerves, and has developed a state of “catalepsy” -whenever she is overdone. She was trained to be a shorthand typist, -but is unable to follow out same, as it excites her nerves. She is -now a waitress, half time, and teaches music, to enable her to keep -herself. The fourth suffers from congenital heart, and is always ailing -more or less. She is a dressmaker. The fifth is now nine years old, and -suffers from malnutrition, and is always ailing, but a clever child -for her years. We have always been able to provide everything required -to keep them in good health. But in the light of the knowledge I have -got since I was able to grasp what things are, I have often said I was -one of the women who should never have had children, as from a girl I -was always ill, right through my married life till now. I have done -child-bearing, and am now in better health than I can remember. I was -married when I was twenty. - - _Wages 35s. to 45s.; five children._ - - -151. SYSTEMATIC PREPARATION. - -I am glad you are trying to emphasise the need for _knowledge_ on -the part of the mother, as my own experience has proved that, given -knowledge as to health and the care of the body generally before -childbirth, much of the evil which now accompanies this perfectly -natural thing might be avoided. In my own case, having always suffered -considerably at every monthly period, and not being of a particularly -robust type, I made up my mind to go into training before bringing -children into the world, in order not to have to pass out at the same -time, and leave them to the tender mercies of others. Accordingly, I -adopted a vigorous system in order to harden the body, and soften the -hip and abdomen muscles, etc. This consisted of cold sponge baths, -followed by certain exercises while lying flat on a mattress. Then a -rubbing of the body in sweet oil. The whole was done in ten or fifteen -minutes every morning. Vegetarian diet was strictly adhered to, as -this produces a cleaner, healthier child. My nurse, who laughed at all -my “fads,” remarked on the fact that the child had not the grease, -etc., on it at birth which most babies have. A month before the time -of birth, I left off all bone-making food such as bread, so that the -birth should be easier, through the absence of very hard bones in the -child. As I did not do my own housework, for exercise I walked twelve -miles every day in rain, snow, etc. The baby was born in January, and -the day before I took a ten-mile walk, had my cold bath, etc., and that -day fortnight was out walking again, testifying plainly to the fact -that a little care and attention and knowledge will work wonders, and -the birth was a perfectly natural one. - -Women make a great mistake in feeding overmuch at this time, and -bringing fat big babies into the world. Mine were designedly small, -but they made up for it after birth, and will compare favourably with -any now. From the first month after birth they had cold baths, sun -baths, wore one garment, only wear two coverings even in winter, sleep -winter and summer in the open, never wear hats or stockings. Shoes are -only worn occasionally, as they are barefooted in house and school. -The eldest is in her tenth year, and neither have had anything but -whooping-cough and measles when there was an epidemic of these, and -they had them lightly. - -Women should be taught to give up corsets, which, besides all the -other evils laid to their charge, damage the nipples. I nursed both my -children, and my doctor remarked on the splendid nipples I had for the -purpose. This was due to the absence of corsets, and to washing them -every morning in cold water, and then rubbing the breasts with oil. I -have seen women with scarcely any nipples trying to feed babies, and -have pitied both. - - _Wages of husband and wife £3 10s. to £4; two children._ - - -152. “HAD TO GO OUT TO CLEAN AND PAPER.” - -My husband’s wages have been as high as £5 a week and as low as 7s. in -the winter, as they cannot work either in the rain, frost, or snow. -So it means saving in summer to tide over winter. My hardest time of -child-bearing was when my last one was born, it being the sixth child, -all living. My husband had been out of work for eighteen weeks when -there was such depression. I had to go out to clean and paper when I -was six months pregnant, and I am suffering with varicose veins to-day -as the result. - -In reference to myself during pregnancy and confinements, I suffered -mostly with morning sickness, swollen, aching legs, and a dragging at -the left side, which has always resulted in the after-birth growing to -my side, and has brought on a flooding before it could be removed, but -in all my confinements I have had a qualified doctor, or I am afraid my -life would have been lost. - - _Wages 7s. to £5; six children._ - - -153. “A TROUBLESOME LIFE.” - -When I was married some forty to forty-five years ago, there was no -consideration as to the future conditions of wifehood and motherhood. - -In business myself, after the death of my dear father, I married a -business man, widower with four children. I told him when I married I -would not come into the business; however, he gave me no rest until I -came back. I had to care for an invalid mother, that was why I longed -for a home again. I soon found out what a mistake I had made. I had -my children fast. One year and five months between, and one year and -seven months, and much about the same with five children. My husband -was exacting as regards his children, but careless of me. I had a very -happy childhood; my father was a good man, my mother a gentle creature. -I lost her, and then nervous debility set in through overstrain and -persecution. I lost a little girl from consumption of the bowels. I -was then a wreck. I began to recover for my children’s sake, but I -separated from my husband, and took my four children with me, and began -to make a living for myself. He provided 5s. a week for each child -whilst he remained in England. He went abroad, made money, left me to -struggle, and when he died, left me nothing; the money was willed to -each of his and my children. By that time there were only two of mine -left out of five, and four of his who received their full share. I have -had a troublesome life. - - _In business; five children._ - - -154. CASES OF LABOURERS’ WIVES. - -(_a_) Husband, labourer, but when at work spends most of his earnings -in drink. Now four children under six years. The last one born died, -aged five months, of consumption. Mother consumptive. I should say all -the children are consumptive. Mother is, and I should say always has -been, in a starved condition. A woman that would give the food to the -children and starve herself, having always practically two babies in -arms, and unable to go out to work, if she could obtain it, to bring -a little money in the home. It would also be wrong to give her work, -even her home duties being too much for her strength. No help wanted -for the man in this case. He’s too artful to starve, but wicked enough -to live to continue a cause for anxiety. Nothing but food or death of -husband or wife will alter this case. A sad case; a hard problem to -solve. - -(_b_) Husband, builder’s labourer. Wife employed at laundry. Five -children under eleven years of age. Husband out of work ten weeks -previous to wife’s confinement. During the time the home depending -solely upon the wife’s earnings. Wife, owing to lack of nourishment, -in a very low, weak condition, and suffering much from varicose veins. -Fourteen days prior to birth of child, being practically unable to -stand, gave up her duties at laundry. The following day a vein burst; a -very serious case. None of the previous children are very strong; but -what about the last one, with the mother practically starved prior to -its birth? - -(_c_) A very similar case. Husband a labourer; work uncertain. All -money he earned goes into the home. Eight children under eleven years. -Woman always much underfed, owing to insufficient money coming into the -home. She is never well. - - -155. FORTY-SEVEN NIECES AND NEPHEWS. - -I may say that I have been fortunate in being able to have good care -and a good doctor. Had I not been able to have it, I should have -certainly lost my life when my still-born child was born. I was very -ill for six weeks after, and I know what an expensive time it was. When -I tell you that I am aunt to forty-seven nieces and nephews, all of the -poor working class, you will understand that I have seen something of -the struggle with poverty at such times, some having to get out and -attend to the home before the child was eight days old. Knowing all -this, I am out to help do all I can to hasten the day when every man, -woman, and child shall have all the good things of life which is theirs -by right. - - _Wages average £1; three children, one still-born._ - - -156. “A LAW TO STAY IN BED TEN DAYS.” - -I think there is a good deal of room for improving a mother’s condition -during pregnancy and after childbirth. I myself have had nothing to -complain of, only ignorance in things which made me suffer more than -I had any need to while I was carrying my children, being young and -away from all my friends; and my mother, being one of the “old school,” -thought it wrong to talk to her girls of such things, and it always -made us feel shy of asking her anything. But my youngest is now in his -twelfth year. But I must say I have got a good husband, and we made -that condition years ago, that as the boy grew up he would enlighten -him, and I was to do the same by our girl, who is now fourteen years -old. And one thing I think should be imposed on mothers is to have a -doctor at confinements, and not to trust to midwives. I have seen a -lot of neglect here with different people I have been with at those -times. Certainly the midwife washes the mother after the birth of the -child, but not again is the mother washed until she can do it herself. -I think, myself, if there could be a law to make every mother have a -doctor, and to stay in bed for at least ten days, and to be treated as -an invalid for another fourteen days, it would save a lot of suffering. -The women would get stronger, and not so liable to have children so -quickly. A case in point only two doors away from me; the mother was -confined on the 21st; on the 26th she was getting about her work as -usual. Would a doctor have allowed that? The person is only about -twenty-three years of age, and her last baby is only thirteen months -old. Another case I was called in to some years ago. I did not know the -person, only by sight. Her husband came and called me in the middle of -the night. When I got there the child was born. No preparation had been -made for either mother or child. From what I gathered, both parents had -gone to bed drunk overnight. Isn’t it awful, a woman getting in that -state, knowing at any time she might give birth to an innocent little -baby? It was not poverty that had brought them to that state, as the -man’s earnings were £2 a week, but all the man and woman had thought of -was drink. - - _Wages 36s. to £1; two children._ - - -157. “THOUGHT WE MUST PUT UP WITH IT.” - -I must say I have been more fortunate than some of our dear sisters. -My husband always saw that I was attended to and did not want for -anything. I had very bad times before and after, and was obliged to -have help in for several months, and after each turn it left me with -something or other. Once I lost the use of one of my hands, and the -doctor said it would never get better, but however, I went to another -doctor, and he cured me in a few weeks. He said it was the nerves. Our -savings in the Stores have been a blessing to us, and helped us over -the stile more than once. I often wondered how women could go out to -work at those times, when I could not do my own. I firmly believe that -if we could get better medical advice beforehand, there would not be -so much suffering, and no doubt if I could have got better advice, it -would have been better for me. But, of course, I thought we must put -up with it, and they would only laugh at me. But however, times have -altered, but too late for me. - - _Wages 20s. and upwards; seven children, one miscarriage._ - - -158. STRIKES, OUT-OF-WORK, SHORT TIME. - -I have had nine children. I was two years between my first three -babies. I suffered least from these three, but for about six weeks -before birth, and six after, I could scarcely get about--pains all -over, with a very bad back, and very much swollen legs and feet. Being -a little, light-made woman, my confinements were very severe. - -My fourth baby died when six weeks old--a cross-birth. Was much torn -in consequence, so had to be stitched a good deal; was bad, and could -scarcely get about at two months after. Neither before for weeks, nor -after, could I have offered to have washed, baked, or done any work -of any moment. Every confinement after this I got worse and worse. -The same thing happened. Very sick for three or four months before -confinement, pains all over, very bad back, legs and feet very much -swollen; could not lie in bed long at a time, could get very little -rest or sleep; impossible to wash, bake, or do much housework. But -had a very good husband, who helped me all he could, and some sisters -who came in turn and did as much as they could in my home for me. My -husband’s wages were very small at times, sometimes only 18s. a week, -other times £1 a week, and up to 30s. In my husband’s trade wages is -very much up and down. Then we had a strike of eleven weeks, then short -time for five months, then out of work fifteen weeks; and when one of -my children was born three weeks, then over two years working four days -per week. So you see there was not much money to get nourishment with. -That all happened during the time I was having my children, so of -course I was pretty put to sometimes. I could not have afforded to get -anyone in the house if I had had to pay them all the time that I needed -them, but had to prepare for a nurse each time, as I had to have one -for a month at least, and after that month my sisters help. We had to -do the best we could. - -My last two confinements I was not able to come downstairs for about -three and four months--no strength to walk, no appetite, and with being -so much torn had then to come downstairs for a long time on my hips -(slide down, as it were). When able to get about, could scarcely walk -owing to my condition. - - _Wages 18s. to 30s.; nine children._ - - -159. REST AND GOOD FOOD. - -I have been one of those fortunate individuals who, during pregnancy, -have very good health. My greatest suffering was caused by varicose -veins, which, of course, are very painful at such times. - -I was blessed with a good mother, who gave me good advice on the -necessity of taking care of myself during this period, and having also -the best of attention at confinement, and plenty of rest and good food, -neither of these being lacking. I can only imagine a woman’s feelings -under different conditions. - -My confinements (five) were, however, hard, bad times, brought about by -some obstruction. This I have always put down to the fact that at the -age of thirteen I began to learn dressmaking, which entailed sitting -long hours at a stretch, at a time when the bones were in rather a soft -state. A midwife whom I had engaged as nurse during my last confinement -quite agreed that this was most likely. I could not say whether this is -common among dressmakers or not. - -After confinement always seemed to me to be one’s weak time, and -especially with nursing mothers with fine, healthy babies. I nursed -four, the last being still-born, and always found that about three -months after their birth my strength failed, and doctor’s advice had to -be sought, when with tonics he managed to bring me right. - -You see my experience will not be of much use to you, but this is -exactly how I have felt during these times; in fact, during pregnancy -it was much harder for me to be still than to work hard physical work. - - _Wages just under £2; four children, one still-born._ - - -160. “EIGHT TO KEEP ON ELEVEN SHILLINGS AND THREEPENCE.” - -In the first place, being short of money is one cause of suffering. I -am the mother of five children, three girls and two boys. I have not -had a doctor to any of my confinements, but nearly lost my life and -child’s through the first one. The midwife was a qualified woman, but -addicted to drink (which I found out afterwards). I was confined on a -Thursday at 2.30 p.m., after many hours of suffering, and she never -came near me again until late on Saturday night. Fancy me! Oh, the -horror of it makes me shiver when I think about it. We were almost -strangers where we were living. I had my mother staying with me, but -the night before baby was born, she chopped the end of her finger -right off, which made her feel very bad. She was in pain herself, and -I was ignorant of the danger I was in, not being properly attended to. -Mother was afraid of blood-poisoning. My husband was working nights at -the time. We, like many more, had not got a very good start. He fell -out of work about two months after we were married, and was out for -a long time. I had to go to my home and he his, for from the first -months of pregnancy I suffered greatly. When he started and worked -again, I had to part with my machine (which I had paid for before I was -married) to pay for rent; it was hard lines. Then he got work back, -so we had to move back again--another expense. So you will see we had -our trouble when baby was born. I had hardly got enough of anything, -let alone doctor’s money. I paid the nurse 7s. 6d. I had only been -confined barely three weeks when my husband was out of work again. The -first Saturday night I went out shopping after baby was born, I had -1s. 7-1/2d. to get meat, grocery, and all else to live on till some -kind friend came along, which was my mother, her home being near. She -brought me a little rent, and a few shillings to carry us on for a week -or two. I was afraid to spend any till my husband got work, which was -after many tramps from place to place. I managed to get some work to -do, but caught a cold and chill, which caused me to have a gathered -breast, which nearly killed me. I did not know my own for days. They -took me over from ---- to ----, and thought I should die on the way -there. My father soon had a doctor to see me. He told them it would be -a struggle to pull me through, but after a time I gained strength to -go back to ----, and as my husband had got work again, he needed me -at home. Then after a year and ten months, my baby girl was born. I -should tell you I was twenty-eight years old when I was married, and -I had been married eleven months when my first baby was born, and I -can truthfully say I was ignorant of anything concerning married life -or motherhood when I was married. In fact, when the midwife came to -me when I was in such pain, I had not the slightest idea where or how -the child would come into the world. And another thing, I was not even -told what to expect when I was leaving girlhood--I mean the monthly -courses. I often wonder I got along as well as I have. I will say here -that I do not intend my daughters to be so innocent of natural courses. -I feel it is unkind of parents to leave girls to find these things out. -It causes unnecessary suffering. I often wonder, when I hear some of -our women grumbling about the trouble and bother of signing and getting -the papers filled in for the 30s., how they would have been in my -place, and how thankful I should have been for it. - -When my girlie was eighteen months, I had a baby boy. I did think I had -a handful; they seemed three babies. A friend of mine had the little -girl till I got up again, which was generally ten days. Oh, what rest -is there for a woman when money is so scarce? They say, “Don’t worry.” -Well, what can you do? Well, I got over No. 3 fairly well, as I had a -young woman to look after me for _one_ week. I forgot to tell you, the -day after No. 2 was born, my husband was sent away to work, so I did -not see him again till she was ten days old, and I had to borrow money -to get along with till he did come back. When No. 4 was born, I had -a trying time. Six weeks before she was born, my three children were -down with scarlet fever; two had it very badly, but the one only very -slightly; they came downstairs on the Sunday for the first time. Then -my baby was born the following Tuesday. The children were not allowed -to see me, but the father had to look after them a good deal, as I had -his young sister to look after me. I got up on the tenth day, and then -my husband had the fever. We were both ill in bed together. Then I had -another gathered breast. The doctor lanced it, and it ran for fourteen -weeks after. Then I had a whitlow on my right thumb. During the time -my husband was ill, my young sister, though she was married, came to -help to look after us all. I only had 11s. 3d. a week to keep eight of -us on; can you wonder a woman’s strength gives way? I must also say my -husband was not in a doctor’s club, so we had a bill to pay for him. I -and the children are in a friendly sisters’ club, but the doctor does -not attend confinements; that is a separate item. So you see I have -known a bit of trouble. When No. 5 was born my oldest girl and boy -had to look after me. The other two were sent away, one to ----, the -other to ----. I had 26s. a week to keep and clothe, pay rent, fire and -light, and clubs for seven of us, till my oldest started work. - -I think if I had been able to have a doctor at the first I might not -have suffered as I have, and do at present, as I had occasion to -be examined once, and my doctor told me I had been neglected at my -confinement. Oh, I do feel sometimes, if I could only tell some of the -young girls things they ought to know, how much better some might be; -but we have got such a class to deal with. The young girls who have -babies, they only laugh at us if we say anything. I do feel one cannot -be too careful about one’s thoughts and actions during pregnancy; -therefore, if one has not enough to live on, and get necessary life -comforts, it naturally tells on the child and mother’s life, as -child-bearing is such a strain, especially when they come so close to -one another. What can a woman do but worry, when she knows there is so -little to live on. I hope you do not think ill of my husband through me -complaining. He has given me all the money he earned, and I have done -my best--at least, I think so. I have had to fare hard and work hard; I -don’t know what the reward will be. ---- is not like a town. There is -nothing here but the pits for the boys, and the girls have to go away -from home to earn a living. - -I think if it had not been for the Women’s Guild I should have been in -the asylum. It has helped me along. I was the first member made after -the Committee was formed. I was secretary for over four years. Home -duties were the cause of my resigning, but I never miss a meeting. I -have only missed four times since I joined. I would not miss my Guild -for anything but illness. I am pleased we are to have Moral Hygiene -Classes. We are having a speaker on the subject a fortnight to-morrow. - -I hope I have not taken too much of your valuable time in reading this. -I am suffering to-day through my first being not properly attended -to--at least, I think so; but that was because I had no means of paying -a doctor, as they expect their fee, whether anything else is paid or -not. I thank Lloyd George for maternity benefit, but I do wish the wife -and mother could have been insured. Who works harder than us mothers? I -often say we work twenty out of twenty-four hours very often. Some days -I don’t sit down hardly to snatch a mouthful of food. There seems no -time for women, but the men make time. If we did, we should have to be -a day behind, and we don’t get much Sunday rest. I am forty-eight now, -so I hope I’ll have no more. - - _Wages 17s. to 25s.; five children._ - -[Illustration: BRADFORD MUNICIPAL INFANT HOSPITAL. - -(_Reproduced by kind permission of the Bradford Health Committee._)] - - - - -METHOD OF INQUIRY - - -The following questions, with a short letter, were sent to about 600 -members who were, or had been, officials of the Women’s Co-operative -Guild, of whose family histories nothing was previously known. The -letter asked these members to bring out in their replies what they -“have felt about the difficulty of taking care, the ignorance that has -prevailed on the conditions of pregnancy, and how these conditions -result in lack of health and energy, meaning that a woman cannot do -justice to herself or give her best to her husband and children.” - -The questions asked were: - -1. How many children have you had? - -2. How soon after each other were they born? - -3. Did any die under five years old, and if so, at what ages and from -what causes? - -4. Were any still-born, and if so how many? - -5. Have you had any miscarriages, and if so how many? - -Replies were received from 386 Guild members, covering 400 cases, a few -of which were not those of members of the Guild. - -A second letter was sent later, asking for particulars of wages and the -occupation of the husband. The wages given at the end of the letters -represent as far as possible the actual amount received, not the rate -of wages. - -Of these letters, 160 are published. The remainder describe similar -conditions. - -Out of the total number of the cases, at least two-thirds indicate -conditions of maternity which are not normal and healthy. - - -OCCUPATIONS OF HUSBANDS - - Agricultural labourer. - Asylum attendant. - - Baker. - Blacksmith. - Boat-builder. - Boiler-maker. - Boot operative. - Blast-furnace man. - Brass finisher. - Bricklayer. - Brush finisher. - - Cabinet-maker. - Carpenter and joiner. - Carpet weaver. - Cartwright. - Carriage-maker. - Chef. - Civil servant. - Clerk. - Cloth puller. - Coachman. - Colliery workers: - Banksman. - Coal-tipper. - Engineer. - Joiner. - Machine clerk. - Miner. - Official. - Cooper. - Cotton-spinner. - Cycle-maker. - - Diamond worker. - Dyeing and cleaning worker. - - Electrician. - Electro-plate worker. - Engineer. - Engineer’s fitter. - Engine-fitter. - - Foundry worker. - Framework-knitter. - - Gardener. - - Insurance agent. - Iron-miner. - Iron-moulder. - Iron worker. - - Jewel-case maker. - - Labourer. - Laundry manager. - Leather worker. - Lift-man. - Lithographer. - Loom-mender. - - Machine-fitter. - Motor mechanic. - Municipal fireman. - - Naval artificer. - Naval schoolmaster. - Naval seaman. - Navvy. - Nurseryman. - - Painter. - Paperhanger. - Plasterer. - Plumber. - Plumber’s labourer. - Policeman. - Postal employé. - Potter. - Printer. - - Quarryman. - - Railway workers: - Engine-driver. - Porter. - Signalman. - Telegraph clerk. - Road foreman. - Rope-maker. - - Sailor. - Scientific instrument-maker. - Screw-maker. - Shaper. - Sheet-metal worker. - Shipwright. - Shipyard-plater. - Shop assistant. - Shopkeeper. - Silk worker. - Silversmith. - Stoker. - Stonemason. - Stonemason’s labourer. - - Tailor. - Tape-sizer. - Teacher. - Telegraph labourer. - Timberyard worker. - Tin-box maker. - Tinplate worker. - Tool-maker. - - Waggon-builder. - Warehouseman. - Watchmaker. - Weaver. - Whitesmith. - Wood-cutting machinist. - Wood-turner. - - - - -FIGURES BEARING ON INFANT MORTALITY - - -_Still-births and Miscarriages._ - -In collecting the letters, the object was not to obtain accurate -statistics, but a general picture of the conditions of life during -the period of maternity. It is, however, possible to give fairly -accurate figures showing the proportions of the number of still-births, -miscarriages, and deaths from pre-natal causes and injuries at birth, -to the number of live births. - -Of the 400 cases, 26 were childless, and 26 did not give definite -figures. The number of families to which the following figures refer is -therefore 348. - - Total number of live births, 1,396. - - Number of miscarriages, 218 (15·6 per 100 live births). - - Number of still-births, 83 (5·9 per 100 live births). - - Total of still-births and miscarriages, 301 (21·5 per 100 live - births). - -Of the 348 mothers, 148 (42·4 per cent.) had still-births or -miscarriages. Twenty-two had both still-births and miscarriages, -37 had still-births, 89 had miscarriages. Of the 111 women who had -miscarriages (including 22 who had still-births also)-- - - 2 women had 10 miscarriages each. - 1 woman had 8 miscarriages. - 1 woman had 7 miscarriages. - 3 women had 6 miscarriages each. - 2 women had 5 miscarriages each. - 6 women had 4 miscarriages each. - 9 women had 3 miscarriages each. - 17 women had 2 miscarriages each. - 70 women had 1 miscarriage each. - -Of the 52 women who had still-births (including 22 who had miscarriages -also)-- - - 1 woman had 5 still-births. - 1 woman had 4 still-births. - 3 women had 3 still-births each. - 9 women had 2 still-births each. - 45 women had 1 still-birth each. - -_Infant Deaths._ - - Total number of live births, 1,396. - - Total number of deaths under 1 year, 122 (8·7 per 100 live births). - -Of the 122 deaths, 26 took place in the first week of life, 12 between -the first week and first month, and 23 later, owing to ante-natal -causes or injury at birth. - -Thus, 50 per cent. of the deaths occurred either within the first month -or from ante-natal or natal causes after the first month. - -Of the 348 mothers, 86 (24·7 per cent.) lost children in the first year -of life. - - - - -LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD MEMORANDUM - -MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE - - -A complete scheme would comprise the following elements, each of -which will, in this connection, be organised in its direct bearing on -infantile health: - -1. Arrangements for the local supervision of Midwives. - -2. Arrangements for-- - - { (1) An ante-natal clinic for expectant mothers. - { (2) The home visiting of expectant mothers. - _Ante-Natal._ { (3) A maternity hospital or beds at a hospital, - { in which complicated cases of pregnancy - { can receive treatment. - -3. Arrangements for-- - - { (1) Such assistance as may be needed to ensure - { the mother having skilled and prompt attendance - { during confinement at home. - _Natal._ { (2) The confinement of sick women, including - { women having contracted pelvis or suffering - { from any other condition involving danger - { to the mother or infant, at a hospital. - -4. Arrangements for-- - - { (1) The treatment in a hospital of complications - { arising after parturition, whether in the - { mother or in the infant. - { (2) The provision of systematic advice and treatment - { for infants at a baby clinic or infant - { dispensary. - _Post-Natal._ {(3) The continuance of these clinics and dispensaries, - { so as to be available for children - { up to the age when they are entered on a - { school register--_i.e._, the register of a public - { elementary school, nursery school, crèche, - { day nursery, school for mothers or other - { school. - { (4) The systematic home visitation of infants - { and of children not on a school register as - { above defined. - - -LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD, WHITEHALL, S.W. - -_July, 1914._ - - - - -SUMMARY OF THE NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS (EXTENSION) ACT, 1915 - - -The main provisions of the Act having reference to England and Wales -are: - -1. That the notification of births and still-births is made compulsory -in all cases. - -2. That the powers of Sanitary Authorities for dealing with maternity -and infancy are extended to County Councils. - -3. That a Committee or Committees may be set up for exercising these -powers, which must include women and may include other than members of -the Authority. - -The clause referring to this committee reads as follows: “Any such -powers may be exercised in such manner as the Authority direct by a -committee or committees, which shall include women, and may comprise, -if it is thought fit, persons who are not members of the Authority. -Any such committee may be empowered by the Authority by which it is -appointed to incur expenses up to a limit for the time being fixed by -the Authority, and, if so empowered, shall report any expenditure by -them to the Authority in such manner and at such times as the Authority -may direct. A committee appointed for the purposes of this section -shall hold office for such period, not exceeding three years, as the -Authority by which it is appointed may determine.” - -As regards Scotland and Ireland, the powers conferred are considerably -larger, as the Local Authority “within the meaning of the principal -Act may make such arrangements as they think fit, and as may be -sanctioned by the Local Government Board for Scotland (or Ireland), for -attending to the health of expectant mothers and nursing mothers, and -of children under five years of age within the meaning of Section 7 of -the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908.” - -The clause as regards administration by committees including women -applies also to Scotland and Ireland. - - - - -NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS (EXTENSION) ACT, 1915 - - LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD, - WHITEHALL, S.W. - _July 29, 1915._ - -SIR, - -I am directed by the Local Government Board to bring to the notice of -the Council the provisions of the Notification of Births (Extension) -Act, 1915, which has recently been passed. - -The objects of this Act are to make universal throughout the country -the system of the Notification of Births Act, 1907, under which early -information concerning all births is required to be given to the -medical officer of health, and also to enable local authorities to make -arrangements for the care of mothers, including expectant mothers, and -young children. - -At a time like the present the urgent need for taking all possible -steps to secure the health of mothers and children and to diminish -ante-natal and post-natal infant mortality is obvious, and the Board -are confident that they can rely upon local authorities making the -fullest use of the powers conferred on them. - - -_Notification of Births Act, 1907, to extend to every District._ - -The Act provides that on and after the first of September next the -Notification of Births Act, 1907, described as the principal Act, shall -extend to and take effect in every area in which it is not already in -force. - -In the case of a county district the principal Act will come into -operation as if it had been adopted by the Council of the urban or -rural district. - -The principal Act provides that in the case of every child born within -the district it is the duty of the father of the child, if he is -actually residing in the house where the birth takes place at the time -of its occurrence, and of any person in attendance upon the mother at -the time of, or within six hours after, the birth, to give notice in -writing of the birth to the medical officer of health of the district. -This notice must be given in the case of every child which has issued -forth from its mother after the expiration of the twenty-eighth week of -pregnancy whether alive or dead. - -The notice is to be given by prepaid letter or postcard addressed to -the medical officer of health, giving the necessary information of -the birth within thirty-six hours after the birth, or by delivering a -written notice of the birth at the office or residence of the medical -officer within the same time. The local authority is required to supply -without charge addressed and stamped postcards containing the form of -notice to any medical practitioner or midwife residing or practising in -their area who applies for the same. - -The Act also provides for penalties for failure to notify a birth in -accordance with the Act. - -It will be the duty of every local authority in whose area the -principal Act comes into force by virtue of the new Act to bring -the provisions of the principal Act to the attention of all medical -practitioners and midwives practising in the area [Section 1 (3)]. - -The Board wish especially to call attention to Section 1 (2) of the new -Act, under which the medical officer of a county district, for which -the principal Act had not previously been adopted, will be required -to send duplicates of any notices of birth he receives to the county -medical officer of health as soon as may be after they are received. -The early receipt of these duplicate notices is important, particularly -in facilitating the inspection of midwives, and the Board trust that -arrangements will be made under which the duplicates are as a matter of -routine immediately transmitted to the county medical officer. - - -_Administrative Arrangements under the Act._ - -Section 2 of the Act provides that for the purpose of following up the -information obtained under the powers of the principal Act and for -facilitating arrangements for the care of expectant mothers, nursing -mothers and young children, all the powers of the Public Health Acts -may be exercised. These powers will be available not only to all -sanitary authorities, but also to all County Councils other than the -London County Council. In London the powers of the Public Health -(London) Act, 1891, will be available for work undertaken in regard to -the care of mothers and young children by Metropolitan Borough Councils. - -It will be seen, therefore, that the Act definitely contemplates that -the powers of sanitary authorities will be used to promote the care of -mothers and young children. - -The Board are anxious to insist on the importance of linking up this -work with the other medical and sanitary services provided by local -authorities under the Public Health and other Acts. They have already -in their circular letter of the 30th July, 1914, on the subject of -Maternity and Infant Welfare, indicated generally the scope of the work -which they consider should be undertaken, and an additional copy of -that letter is enclosed. - -As indicated above, the Act contemplates that arrangements for -attending to mothers and young children may be made either by County -Councils or by sanitary authorities. The Board recognise that the -organisation must vary to some extent with local conditions, and -that a considerable degree of elasticity is necessary. They are, -however, of opinion that it will generally be desirable to formulate -comprehensive schemes for counties and county boroughs, although in -some cases portions of the services may be undertaken by the larger -District Councils with advantage. The councils of counties and county -boroughs are the local supervising authorities under the Midwives Act, -1902, and they are also entrusted with the initiation and execution of -schemes for the treatment of tuberculosis; if the organisation of a -maternity and infant welfare scheme is also undertaken by them, it will -be practicable to secure the unification of home visiting for a number -of different purposes. - -In all cases, however, in which a general scheme is organised for the -county, the work should be carried on in close co-operation with the -sanitary authority, and any insanitary conditions found by health -visitors should at once be reported to the sanitary authority. Although -the Board consider that general schemes should be organised for the -county as a whole, and that the County Council should, as a general -rule, provide for health visiting, they are prepared, in suitable -cases, to recognise the sanitary district as a proper area for a scheme. - - -_Co-operation with Medical Practitioners and Voluntary Agencies._ - -In the development of general schemes the Board desire that the -services of hospitals and other efficient voluntary agencies should be -fully utilised. They are also anxious that the co-operation of medical -practitioners should be secured. The value of a Maternity Centre -will be much increased by obtaining the co-operation of the medical -practitioners in the area to be served by it, and in organising the -arrangements it is desirable that they should be consulted. - - -_London._ - -In London the Act contemplates that schemes should be organised by -the Metropolitan Borough Councils. Many of the services required -can be provided by the various London hospitals and the numerous -voluntary agencies now at work, and in some cases the chief need is to -secure that such services are properly linked up with the work of the -Borough Council. In other areas existing medical services will require -supplementing and extending, and it will be for the Borough Councils to -consider how this can best be done. - - -_Grants in Aid of Local Expenditure._ - -The Government have agreed to provide, by means of annual grants to be -distributed by the Board, one-half the cost of the whole or any part -of schemes for maternity and child welfare approved by the Board. The -regulations under which these grants will be paid, together with forms -of application for grants, have already been distributed to local -authorities. A further copy of the regulations is enclosed. - - -_Interim Schemes._ - -Many local authorities have already prepared and submitted to the -Board schemes for Maternity and Infant Welfare, embracing some or all -of the items included in the Board’s memorandum of 30th July, 1914. -The initiation of a complete scheme, however, involves time, and the -Board do not desire that work should be delayed until a complete -scheme can be formulated. They trust that those local authorities who -have not already taken steps in this matter will do so before the -onset of the hot weather, which brings with it special dangers to -infants and children. The Board are of opinion that the local authority -should in the first instance carefully consider whether the existing -arrangements for home visitation are adequate. After the provision of -health visitors the next step should be to arrange in populous centres -for a Maternity Centre at which medical advice and treatment may be -provided for mothers, including expectant mothers, and for children, -whether ailing or not. Arrangements should also be made for defraying -in necessitous cases the cost of providing the services of a midwife -and of a doctor. The Board will be prepared to sanction such provision -under Section 133 of the Public Health Act, 1875. - - -_Present Need for Maternity and Infant Welfare Work._ - -The importance of conserving the infant life of the population makes it -desirable that steps should be taken in the directions indicated even -at the present time when strict economy is required in the expenditure -both of public bodies and of private individuals. It is not, however, -intended that any large outlay should be involved in the provision -of the services mentioned. No capital expenditure is needed, and the -maintenance expenditure need not be heavy. The health visitors and many -of the doctors required to work such a scheme will be women, and no -labour need be employed which is required for the more direct purposes -of the war. - - -_Committees._ - -The Act provides that the powers of a local authority may be exercised -in such manner as the authority direct by a committee or committees, -which shall include women, and may comprise, if it is thought fit, -persons who are not members of the authority. - -In any such committee it will be desirable to include working women, -who might with advantage be representative of women’s organisations. -Where no local women’s organisation exists, some central organisation -might possibly assist by suggesting suitable women. - -The Board consider that on any committee appointed for the purposes of -the Act there should be a majority of direct representatives of the -Council. - - I am, Sir, - Your obedient Servant, - H. C. MONRO, - _Secretary_. - - - - -ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES - - -The powers of County Councils[C] and Sanitary Authorities--_i.e._, -County Borough and Borough Councils, Urban and Rural District -Councils--for maternity and infancy work are derived from the following -Acts: - - 1. Public Health Acts, 1875-1907. 2. Midwives Act, 1902. - 3. Notification of Births Acts, 1907-1915.[C] - 4. The Milk and Dairies (Consolidation) Act, 1915. (This Act will not - come into force till after the war.) - -The following Maternity and Infancy work (with the exception of the -supervision of midwives) may be carried out by special Maternity -Sub-Committees (which must include women) of the above authorities:-- - - -_Notification of Births._[C] - -Every birth has to be notified in every area to the Medical Officer -of Health for that area by the father of the child or the medical -practitioner or midwife within thirty-six hours of the birth. - - -_Women Sanitary Inspectors and Health Visitors._ - -Properly trained and qualified women may be appointed to visit the -homes and give advice on the care of mothers and infants. - -[C] See summary of the Notification of Births (Extension) Act, 1915, -on p. 198. - - -_Maternity Centres._ - -Skilled advice and minor treatment for the preservation of health may -be given at Maternity Centres to expectant and nursing mothers and -children up to school age. - - -_Supervision of Midwives._ - -County Councils and County Borough Councils alone carry out the -supervision of midwives, through the Medical Officer of Health, who -almost invariably has under him a fully qualified woman. - - -_Professional Attendance at Confinements._ - -A doctor or midwife may be provided to attend necessitous cases. The -fee of a doctor called in under the Midwives Act may be paid. - - -_Maternity Hospitals for Complicated Cases and Infant Hospitals._ - -Hospitals may be maintained or beds paid for in existing hospitals or -wards. - - -_Milk Depots._ - -After the war, depots may be set up by Sanitary Authorities (only) for -the sale of milk for infants at cost price. (The Government grant is -not available for these depots.) - - -GOVERNMENT GRANTS. - -Government grants for maternity and child welfare work are now made, -and half the cost of the whole or any part of schemes, approved by the -Local Government Board, is now paid. - -A sum of £50,000 has been voted this year (1915) for England and Wales, -and no doubt corresponding sums will be available for Scotland and -Ireland. - - - - -NATIONAL SCHEME - -PROPOSED BY THE WOMEN’S CO-OPERATIVE GUILD - - -To insure effective care of Maternity and Infancy, it would be -necessary to combine the administration of benefits under the Insurance -Act with the services organised by the Public Health Authority. - -_Maternity and Pregnancy Sickness Benefits._--These should be taken -out of the Insurance Act, extended to all women (under the income-tax -limit), and increased in amount. In addition to the 30s. maternity -benefit, every mother should receive £3 10s. in weekly payments of 10s. -for three weeks before and four weeks after confinement (or for longer -periods if she prefers smaller weekly payments). During pregnancy she -should be entitled to benefit varying according to her condition, from -2s. 6d. to 7s. 6d. a week, if her health requires it, subject to the -recommendation of a maternity centre or a doctor. - -Public Health Authorities should be empowered to administer these -benefits through women health officers and maternity centres. - -_Notification of Births._--Notification of births and still-births -is now compulsory throughout the country, and in order to make it -effective, an adequate number of Health Visitors should be appointed in -every area. - -_Women Health Officers._--The status of Health Visitors should be -raised, their salaries being increased, and three qualifications being -required--_i.e._, midwifery, sanitary, and nursing certificates. - -_Midwifery and Nursing._--These services should be organised by -the Public Health Authorities, which already supervise midwives. -Longer training for midwives should be required, and an adequate -salary secured to them by the Public Health Authorities. A charge -of 10s. might be made to mothers employing them, to be remitted if -the circumstances require it. This is the only method of meeting the -present shortage of midwives, which is particularly serious in rural -districts. It is also the only way of securing skilled attention for -the women at a charge within their reach, and at the same time of -securing adequate payment for midwives. Municipal midwives could be -employed with a doctor. - -The administration of the Treasury grant for nursing should also be -placed under the Public Health Authority. - -_Maternity and Infant Centres._--These centres should be places where -expectant and nursing mothers and children up to school age can come -for advice and treatment, so that they may be kept well and made well. -Their organisation will depend on local circumstances, but it will be -found desirable in most cases to open several centres, so that they may -be near the people’s homes and serve the different classes of women in -different localities. - -Advice to expectant mothers might be given either at local maternity -centres or at centres at hospitals. - -It is important that treatment of a simple nature should be given with -advice at maternity centres. Nourishment being often the treatment -mothers most need, provision should be made for dinners for expectant -and nursing mothers when ordered by the doctor. Simple talks on -personal hygiene, infants’ clothing, etc., should be arranged, and -saving-clubs organised. - -_Medical Service._--It is desirable to appoint women doctors as -municipal officers of the centres, but local practitioners may in some -cases be advantageously worked into a municipal scheme. The provision -of a doctor called in under the Midwives Act should be part of the -scheme. - -_Maternity Hospitals or Beds._--The dearth of such hospitals for -abnormal cases is calamitous. The need for their existence is also -pressing from the point of view of research, and they could be used as -training schools for doctors and midwives. - -_Maternity Homes._--These are required for normal cases. The few -voluntary homes in existence in England are most valuable, and the -experience of New Zealand shows that municipal homes could be made -self-supporting. Private doctors might attend their patients in the -homes. - -_Milk Depots._--The difficulties of securing pure milk make it -desirable to establish municipal depots for the supply of milk to -expectant and nursing mothers and children. While every precaution -should be taken not to undermine the practice of breast-feeding, there -are cases where specially prescribed bottles would be useful. - -_Household Helps._--The need for help in the home before, at, and after -confinement is urgent, but in order to prevent untrained women doing -midwifery work, careful supervision and an organised service under the -public health authority are necessary. The experiments made by relief -committees show the value of such a service. - -_Women as Councillors._--Working women should be elected on to councils -and serve on public health committees. - -_Public Health Maternity Sub-Committees._--These committees should -be largely composed of representatives of the women concerned. -Such representation should be secured whenever possible through the -following industrial women’s organisations: the Women’s Co-operative -Guild, Women’s Trade Unions, the Women’s Labour League, and the Railway -Women’s Guild. - -Any parts of this scheme not at first taken over by Public Health -Committees--_e.g._, Dinners, Household Helps--might be organised -experimentally by the sub-committees with a view to ultimate inclusion -in a municipal scheme. - -_Ministry of Health._--In the future it will probably be advantageous -to establish a Ministry of Health, with a Maternity and Infant Life -Department, partly staffed by women. - - * * * * * - -It is essential that Government departments and Public Health -Committees should be in constant communication with organised -working-women, and be ready to welcome their co-operation, so that -their needs and wishes may be freely consulted. It is by a partnership -between the women who are themselves concerned, the medical profession, -and the State that the best results of democratic government can be -secured for the mothers and infants of the country. - - * * * * * - - To be obtained from the Women’s Co-operative Guild, 28, Church Row, - Hampstead, London, N.W.: - - _The National Care of Maternity_ (leaflets for town and country), - 1/2d. each, or 3s. a hundred. - - _Hints to Expectant Mothers_, by Dr. J. W. Ballantyne, price 1d., or - 6s. a hundred. - - _Household Helps_, 1/2d. each, or 3s. a hundred. - - -BILLING AND SONS, LTD., PRINTERS, GUILDFORD, ENGLAND - - - - -Transcriber's Note - - -The following apparent errors have been corrected: - -p. 27 "condiditions" changed to "conditions" - -p. 163 "on stairs" changed to "on stairs," - -p. 185 "nine children" changed to "nine children." - -p. 197 "infan s" changed to "infants" - -p. 210 "etc," changed to "etc.," - - -Punctuation in the list of Occupations of Husbands has been regularised. - -On pages 194 and 195, dittos have been replaced with the relevant words. - - -The following are used inconsistently in the text: - -afterbirth and after-birth - -afterpain and after-pain - -childbearing and child-bearing - -childbirth and child-birth - -Illustrations have been moved and may not match the locations given in -the List of Illustrations and Facsimiles. - - -The following possible error has been left as printed: - -p. 2 husband’s trades - - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Maternity, by Various - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MATERNITY *** - -***** This file should be named 50077-0.txt or 50077-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/0/7/50077/ - -Produced by Henry Flower and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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