Giving birth in the 60s & 70s, what was it like?

Great Thread - Funnygran sorry you went through similar. It took mum many many years to recover, not only from the loss but from the way she was made to feel.
I’ve read every story - weird how it seems that the female nurses and midwives were cruel whereas the male dr’s showed more compassion.
But most of you ended the tale with your beautiful babies to take home, so it was worth it in the end!
I had 4 c-sections in 90’s and 2000’s - didn’t feel a thing but could have used a bit of support afterwards.

First baby 1979, baby induced day before due date as they didn't want me to go over. Waters broke at midnight, painful labour, failure to progress, emergency C-section the following evening under general anaesthetic. Didn't see baby till the next morning. Babies taken to nursery over night and brought in after breakfast I think. Midwives very strict. Was in hospital for a week.
Second baby completely different! Planned C-section in a military hospital abroad, planned date, room to myself, brilliant staff who had time for you. And I had her under epidural and DH was allowed to be present. I actually knew the surgeon and anaesthetist socially, which felt weird! Was allowed home after five days.

Forgot to mention the liquid paraffin and cascara "to open up your bowels dear", it was the vilest stuff I`ve ever had to swallow! After that, and with the next baby, if I was asked if I`d had a bowel movement, I said a resounding YES! I didn`t ever want that stuff again.

I had my first in 1977 at a local teaching hospital, after three miscarriages. Was in for over six months in the ante-natal ward with gestational diabetes and later, pre-eclampsia. Induced after shave and enema, minor tear, horrible midwife slapped me, and then my baby who was ‘floppy’. Whisked away to special care with breathing problems and got jaundice. I developed pueperal psychosis, transferred to psychiatric unit, didn't see my son for two months. Three more born at home in 78, 79 & 81, same wonderful midwife, who helped me have confidence in my body. During these years, I became a maternity services campaigner: to give more women choices in childbirth.

Both DDs early 1980s. First one - shaved, enema, no sympathy from midwife (I think she was a bank nurse judging by her uniform), in labour all night then epidural, forceps, stitches and then corrective surgery needed three months afterwards. In hospital for a week.

Second one - lovely midwife (met her a couple of years later through NCT when she had her baby), gas and air, no stitches, huge baby for me (8lb 13 and a half oz). What a difference.

Granless
I have a tummy like a backside as well!

Yep, virtually the same as everyone else on here. Had mine in 65, 66 and 70, all induced after caster oil and orange juice failed abysmally, shaves, enemas, stirrups (for the first ‘cos she was delivered with forceps), whipped away from you at night, salt baths every day and in there for over a week. Then midwife visited at home every day for a bit followed by the health visitor. I think the health visitor has been consigned to history which I think is a backward step in all this!

Some truly awful stories - but some really lovely ones too!

I didn't have my children until 1983 and 1987 and it was very different from everything on here.

Both born by Csection, the first, my son, an emergency. The second, my daughter, pre-planned.

I stayed in 10 days each time and it was bliss, I was really well looked after, plenty of help & support and fabulous food!

When my first grandson was born in 2012 my DIL only stayed in hospital for 5 hours. She looked fabulous, full make-up and beautifully styled hair!

They wanted her to stay overnight but she refused because I was at their home to look after them and I had promised to cook a roast chicken dinner for her !!

My two boys were born in 72 &74.Yes when you arrived at the hospita out came the shaving foam and the enema.Both of them were born in the early hours of the morning,so my husband never got to see either of them until evening visiting as he was working as a reporte r at a football match in the afternoon.If the baby dared to cry during visiting,the nurse came and whisked them away.Woe betide anyone sitting on the bed,you were asked to leave.The one good thing was that the babies slept in the nursery at night so you could catch up on your sleep.The worst thing I recall were the salt baths.Great when you had thirty stitches.

My first born was in 1973, second 1980. Vertical caesarean both times - now left with what looks like a backside at the front!
With my first the hospital overlooked that it had to be an elective caesarean (which I didn’t know at the time is done at 38 weeks). I was overdue by 4 days. The Consultant was doing his morning rounds, read my notes, then ...... threw them up the ward ..... shouting ‘ has no one read this lady’s notes ..... paper everywhere - no exaggeration! Needless to say a caesarean was organised fairly rapidly. Added to this the laundry were on strike - your visitors had to bring in clean bedding. That’s what it was like in 1973.

I am with you Blinko

I had both of mine by c section 1969 and 1972. Both done by the classical or vertical cut
I get the same reaction now from younger doctors.A midline incision is officially called a laparotomy scar.Associated with major abdominal surgery.
Both under GA then and I did not see either of my babies until they were two days old which was usual then
I wonder how many would still request a c section now if this was still usual.Skin to skin and photos taken in theatre were unheard of then. Also parters being present.

My Daughter was born in 1969 she will be fifty in a few weeks,I moved to Sweden after marrying a Swede.I had a realtively easy labour but my Daughter was two weeks overdue,they had to start me off and hours later she arrived,I remember having only been in this Country a year and didnt know the language so well most people couldnt speak English then, so the communication wasnt good, but thanks to my Husband we all managed.I remember having my Daughter beside me all the time and I think I stayed in Hospital for a week, honestly cant remember.My Son born 1974, everything was different, he was also two weeks overdue, but the labour was shorter I had gas and air,and the after care was much better,I only stayed in Hospital a few days.Both biths my Husband was present they had just started to allow Husbands to attend the birth.I had gas and air both times, not very effective!

despite all my problems the staff and treatment I had were mainly excellent ,I had no complaints about nursing or medical staff at all .The problems were mine ,my body didn't "do" pregnancy well

My daughter born 1968: shaved, enema, etc. after arriving by ambulance (we had no transport), baby arrived at 11.30 the following morning. Had been to NCT classes, so no meds or gas & air, hard work (I hadn't expected back pain!!), but worth it, a wonderful moment when she was born. Kept in hospital for a week, baby removed at night (bliss) and as I had a haemorrhage on second day, the right place for me. Son was late (and has been ever since!) in 1973, induced, quick but tough, only in for 48 hours this time. I was much more relaxed about him, tried breast feeding but no success, very little in the way of support from district nurse or midwife, luckily Mum was close at hand. I believe women should have longer in hospital and more help when they come home, but services are so stretched this isn't possible.

mine were born 77 78 and 88 all very different,Baby one was the survivor of twins ,the first lost at 2 months .They refused to believe I was still pregnant as I'd had a miscarriage and it was well into the pregnancy when they realised I was right.I developed pre eclampsia quite early on,around 5 months and spent weeks in hospital on bedrest .Went into labour early 32 weeks aFriday morning just after midnight and as it was so early they tried to stop the labour which meant I was still inlabour at 7pm on the Saturday night when my consultant arrived in after a day off.he was not amused and told the junior doctor I should have neen delivered hours earlier.It was a high forceps delivery and like a previous poster I had a multitude of stitches .I was sent home early so I wouldn't upset the other mothers in the prenatal ward as my baby was expected to die.I never saw her and also like the previous post its my only regret in my whole life .She died at 4 days..they told me over the phone when I was home alone .

Baby 2 was 16 months later ,she arrived on her due date exactly 16 months to the day her sister had been born,and at the same time.I was so stressed and sure she would die at 4 days that my milk didn't come in.We went home when she was a week old.Shes 41 now a mum of 3.
Baby 3 was born 11 weeks and 4 days early ,10 years after his sister ,I was already in hospital with pre eclampsia when my organs started to fail and they decided to section me.He weighed just over 2 pounds and spent 11 weeks in hospital half of them in an incubator.He came home in time for his dads birthday weighing 4 Pounds 12 ounces,only because the Irish nurse Mary put coins in his nappy to make him the 5pounds he should have been.He's 31 father of a 10 year old and expecting a new baby late this month .When he was born I was told another pregnancy would kill me .It took 9 attepmts to have the two that lived .They are my world .I would love to have had more but now with the 5th GC expected I have plenty of little people around and its brilliant

Methadone would have been nice!!!!!

I’ve only read a few and had to stop, it all sounds so barbaric.
Typical of Male Drs back then, women were put in position for their benefit and not the Mothers comfort. I’m shocked about the nurses though

My mil had her babies around the 30s and 40s, 7 in all, she used to tell me about having a rope wrapped around her to help force the baby down

Ps yes, enema and shave all 3 times

1968 single mother, Cottage Hospital with my own Dr attending, natural birth with gas and air. Not bad at all but went on to have horrendous adoption experience ( but that’s another story). 1977, awful, in hospital, long labour, spine block which didn’t work, episiotomy with no local anaesthetic, after pains which no one took seriously. Then maternity home for a week, baby in nursery and had post natal depression ( not really recognised then). 1979 hospital but better experience but still in hospital nearly a week with baby in nursery at night.

After first birth, in hospital, normal was to be in 10 days but I discharged myself after 6 as husband due to go back to sea soon. Second time home birth so much better. Hospital bathrooms were horrible, not clean.

I had 3 babies, born in 1971, 1973 and 1980, in Scotland, they were the greatest moments in my life, never have felt so elated in all my life, I know I have been lucky with no problems, I went into a NHS baby unit, it was wonderful, plenty of help, stayed for a week with the first 2 born in the 70s, the care could not have been better, by 1980 it had changed, nurses had no time, glad I was a third time mother, as, the young first time mothers that I was in with then, were left, no fault of the nurses they were just too busy, now it is just in and out as quick as possible

First daughter in 1973 was induced at 10 days. They did 9-5 inductions then as more convenient for Drs but she wasn't ready. They began at 8.a.m with drip and the contractions very hard and hurt and went on until 1.a.m next morning when she finally arrived. No food allowed and I had been told nothing before in the morning so was starving. Kitchen closed! I finally given bread and butter and cuppa. I wanted to breast feed but the gave her a bottle before I got to do so . Episiotomy and badly stitched. Later pain. Later feeding problems too. And I think she was premature.

For second child, 1975, decided to have home birth. GP not keen. Finally had to change GP to have it and the midwives were shared by all GPs in district. One very anti too. Baby 10 days over due again. I had long cycle but they said tomorrow will induce, so will be in hospital! I started in the night.

Called midwife and the anti one came with 2 students as so few home births in district. It all stopped! She gave me an enema, but nothing, so gave me sleeping pills and went. Then it began again. Husband said he'd seen the film in (medical training as navy officer) and phoned midwife again but by the time they came back I was pushing and they were just in time to catch second daughter. Much better experience at home but stress as they were urging induction. No problem breast-feeding until nearly 1 yr old. Older sister able to see baby at once. She'd been put in high chair with cereal by dad while he helped me and cornflakes all over the kitchen. Grandma came to take her off for the day, after holding new baby.

That second daughter had her baby 41 years later, home birth, birthing pool, dad in there too, lots of photos taken by the 3 lovely midwives, lots of photos to grandma . Happy mum, happy baby boy, successful breast-feeding. Interestingly older daughter is stressy and a bit difficult and younger one is easier. Birth differnces? Breast-feeding ones?

Same here, first Daughter 1971 Vertical Caesarean scar, second Daughter 1974
Same. Horrible experience both times!
Two lovely Daughters though as a reward ??

P.S. Doctor only present in the 70's.