New Life on Mars - Labour Wards of '73

[Bellbird]

I'm 41 weeks and Mum and MIL are again giving me advice based on their labour experiences in the 70's . They think it's soft wanting DH at the birth (he wants to be there - as he was with dd1!). They also say that they had everything done for their babies by the ward staff. I'd much rather have a modern hospital, where both parents are educated and mentored. Instead of going back to a 'Life on Mars' style Labour Ward where parents (especially Dads) are not-to-be-trusted. What do you reckon?

My mum had us 4 from 72-79 and said that what saddened her was that at first there was a graet supply of nappies/nighties/cream etc and by the time she had my brother the bedside cupboard was bare as it had all been nicked! I was her first and a c-section and there was no questionning a normal delivery after it she just got on with it. She got good BFing advice though and when she wobbled with my sis the MW let her weigh her before and after feed!
Dad missed us all but more 'cos he is a farmer and had to work. Mum says she really enjoyed the 10 days in hospital and obviously didn't miss us older ones too much! She does wish she had a homebirth though so is awaiting mine with interest....

No, you're right - I definitely didn't mean Ina May Gaskin - because she's a respected American midwife who's very pro-homebirth, pro-woman etc. What was I thinking?? I was having a brainfade.

Ina, Erna... it's definitely something like that though. You could be right, Snafu.

I'm going to have to rootle in the back bedroom until I find the bloody thing now, aren't I...?

I was born in 1973. My Dad wasn't at the birth. My Mum had a forceps delivery and I was taken away to a nursery for a week and she did not see me. She didn't breast fed and was given tablets to dry her milk up. I had a forceps delivery last year and spent 11 days in hospital, but with no help with looking after my baby (I could barely walk to the incubator to feed him). Even when I begged for help one night to change a nappy I was told to do it myself (felt so faint & in so much pain I was struggling to stand). Somewhere in between is probably a happy medium.

I think my mum must have had fairly unusual birth experiences for the time.

I was born in 1966 and my brother in 1969. Both of us were born at home (by choice) with my dad there for both births. She had only one midwife looking after her throughout each pregnancy and that midwife also attended the birth. She had entonox and pethidine.

Sounds pretty ideal to me.

i was born in 73 and mum had me at home!!!dad was there.my brrother was born in 69 and mum was asked to donate her milk to help feed other babies. i was pushed out of hospital after 6 hours of having ds2.

I was chatting to my mum about this thread and she said that when they transferred her to the 'big' hospital for c-section the co driver and nurse sat in the back with Mum and smoked all the way and never said a word to her!!