History – Call the midwife

As one baby in particular has been in the news lately, I thought it appropriate to recall what childbearing was like for pioneer women. During the earliest days of the Albertland settlement, when a baby was due, neighbouring wives would rally round, taking care of the household. If there was no doctor in the area (often the case), these ladies would also deliver the infant.

Later, there were midwives who were contacted well in advance to make arrangements for baby’s arrival. Arriving a week or two before due date, the midwife would stay on for 6-8 weeks after delivery. Midwife Maggie Cramp wrote to an expectant mother in 1905, “If all is well at the time of your confinement, I am quite able to manage myself – but if complications arise I require a doctor. My reason for saying so is I have just come from a patient who had 11 children born before I went to her and never a doctor, but the one that was born [when I saw her] could not be born without a doctor. So many things occur to upset everybody’s calculation.”

Mrs Cramp advised that she couldn’t do heavy housework, “I find as a rule it is as much as I can do to attend to the patient and baby, do their washing and help with the light work – my charge is 10/- per week before confinement and £1 after – you would have to send a conveyance for me as I cannot ride on horseback.”  Mrs Cramp lived in Hoteo North, quite a distance from her Wharehine patient.

Midwive’s letters included the latest gossip. Elsie Grant wrote to Ella Farmer in 1907, “The world is not standing still by any means, what with babies that have come lately & are still to arrive yet.  Poor Mrs Percy Treadwell is in for it again, there will not be a year between the two – she was here the other day & she says she will look well next summer with two babies in her arms.  I told her she couldn’t have pleasure without pain. Also, Mrs Kruse expects again – isn’t that dreadful, five little boys now, almost babies. Whatever will she do with six!  She has engaged Mrs Cramp.”

Reading old correspondence, one thing shines through: Women considered their children a blessing.  Elsie Grant to Ella: “I must write to congratulate you and Mr Farmer on your little daughter. I am so pleased you have got safely over it. I can just imagine how proud you & Mr Farmer will be of the dear little mite – of course I know from experience what we felt like when we came in possession of our darling.”

Lyn Johnston, Albertland Museum
www.albertland.co.nz