More Info →Foxton Maternity Home 1942-1982 Page 13

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A Letter To: 'Dear Mrs Lash'

You will probably remember Beth (nee Shortall) working at Foxton Maternity Home in 1954-1955. After we got married we lived at Moutoa, and all our children were born at the Foxton Maternity Home and one of our granddaughters was the last baby born there. (Cara McErlean.)

Yours faithfully,

Paul McEriean

The Year 1958...

Woke early, something happening, not sure what! Husband left for work. No vehicle. Living in the country. Bus to town will be coming past at 9.15 am. Caught the bus. Stopped at Union St, went to Aunties. Explained what was happening. Off to the Doctors she said. Doctor took one look at me, and said, "Off to the Maternity!" Luckily had my bag packed, but left it at Aunties. About 2-3 hours had passed and my Aunty started to worry. She rang the doctor; he said they were in the Home. Was about midday, and as it turned out, no need to panic. After all the swear words under my breath as each labour got stronger, wondered why this damn baby still hadn't arrived three days later. The pain got worse as each minute passed. I was up and down like a yoyo. This was my first meeting with Sister Lash. I recommend her to anyone. You always felt at ease with her if the doctor wasn't around. Around six o'clock that night, a 61b baby boy was born. This was when all the fun started. Feeding him was a dreaded time for me. The Sister who was on duty would have to come and guide the nipple into the baby's mouth, 'cos I didn't have any nipples.

When I went home to see my Mum, I told her about the dramas I had feeding, and she told me that was her fault. She said you're supposed to massage your nipples during pregnancy with your first. This baby was the tiniest born, of the 12 children I had, and the most painful. However the pain is something you soon forget. Until the next one was due...

Ticking on.. .it didn't stop!

My memory of the theatre was one of that darn clock. Thile in labour, as time passed, the ticking of that clock got louder and louder. Many a time, I would have loved to have got hold of something, and thrown it at that clock.

With your first child they used to make you stay in the Home for two weeks. You were allowed to walk around for a bit, and then you were put onto a bed and wheeled into the ward. The pan was bought to you, but when it was time for a "Tutai", that was it, off to the toilet I went thank you very much.

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Identification

Date

2005