Pregnancy in the 1970s

Flora thank you.
My girls came to me in 1976 and 1978 (each aged 6weeks).
for you and all foster mums.

Oh that has reminded me of neighbour's in the 60s who were adopting a baby. She arrived and we all went to see her and give gifts. 2 weeks later the baby disappeared as the birth mother decided not to go ahead with the adoption.

They dis adopt eventually but it was a hard time.

In the early 1970s I fostered babies who were to be adopted . The mothers could not sign them away until the babies were 6 weeks old and I filled the gap though it was never as short as 6 weeks . I was shocked by what good homes some of these babies came from . The girl's parents would not let them keep their babies and there was nowhere else to turn . Changed days indeed . One baby's mother was a teacher yet she could not see a way to keep her baby .

In 1974, we decided to try for our fourth child. I knew I had fallen the first month, and when I got something similar to flu a couple of weeks later I made hubbie telephone GP to ask how safe paracetamol was in first weeks of pregnancy. When I finally went to GP (had to wait then to miss second period), he did the test himself (I took in a urine sample with me). Whilst doing it he made sarcastic comments about me diagnosing the pregnancy before I fell pregnant, looked down at his testing strip and confirmed I was correct.
I went to him for a check when I was about 16 weeks pregnant. As my previous three pregnancies had been pretty close together, I knew this one was different. I felt baby movements both high up and low down in my uterus. I had also read that my local hospital was one of three on the country to have the new Scanning machine, GP confirmed I was 'big for dates' and asked what I wanted to do, and - with a sigh - sent me along to the hospital.
Appointment two weeks later with a consultant and he was most rude about GP's diagnosing multiple pregnancy at 16 weeks (although it was actually me that made that diagnosis), but he sent me on for this new scan thingie. Very exciting there, had to drink masses of water beforehand, then had Doctor and Nurse doing the scan. There they confirmed two babies, and gave me a polaroid photo of them, (which looks nothing like babies or anything). My twin babies were born three weeks early in April 1975.

My father was a GP and all my childhood ladies handed urine samples in if they had missed a period.

I honestly can't remember when it became possible to buy pregnancy tests, but I think it was the early to mid 1980s.

My second child (1979) was born so quickly I had him in the admissions room at about 1 am. The midwife complained that I had left it too late That was about 20 minutes after my first pain! She was drenched because my waters broke and baby came immediately. She was on her own as the other nurse had run out for a maternity pack and she also complained because I was nipping her with the toes on the one foot I had wrapped around her shoulder. I remember the other leg flapping about with nowhere to go! It all seems quite farcical when I look back!

I then had to wait a couple of hours before my GP came to stitch me (yes.. midwife had the time to do the cut as soon as her colleague arrived back). GP apologised and he explained he had been called out on a rape case. That was the only time I had gas and air and I remember having a discussion with him about the increasing weights of babies with my legs up in stirrups. He would not tell me how many stitches I had, only saying that he was known for how small and neat his stitches were. To be fair I had no problems with them. Looking back it was like some kind of surreal dream. I was home at the end of the next day!

I didn't get slapped by the sister when I was in labour but the woman who had been in the next bed to me did. I heard her screaming in the delivery suite and then a very loud slap. I was shocked. Surely that was an assault even then? Presumably it would definitely be classified as an assault now.

I remember being shaved by one of the nursing assistants. I protested that the curtains were slightly open at the corner. It was embarrassing. The nursing assistant told me not to be silly "We're all girls here together". This was while the ancillary staff were pushing trollies of hot drinks around the ward.

My whole 7-day stay in hospital (a former military hospital) - induced labour, delivery, stitches, after-care, etc, etc - was an absolute nightmare and I was so relieved to get out. I'm sure it damaged the relationship between myself and my daughter.

mine was obviously dragged out of bed; he wasn't very communicative

2am for me too, Jalima. But mine was suited and booted. It’d obviously been a good do!

Maggiemaybe the thing I remember about being stitched after DC2 was looking at the GP who had come in to do it and his pyjama bottoms were sticking out of the bottom of his trousers.
It was about 2 am.

I worked at a maternity hospital in the early 70s.

I do not recall tests at all. Just missed period, then wait until another missed and go and talk to the doc.

I had my first test in a hospital lab because I worked at the hospital and so did my OH, as a houseman. We got a special dispensation to send a test to the lab.

Yes, you could def. get a pregnancy test done in the chemist in the 70s. It was not instant, but possible.

When I’d just delivered DD1 in hospital the midwives said my GP was in the building for a function and might want to pop in to see us. And he did, red-faced and beaming, on a cloud of alcohol fumes. “I’ll do the stitching, Sister, he announced. Pass me your biggest needle because I might have trouble threading it...”. And he did. Fortunately I think the whisky breath anaesthetised me.

I had my first baby in December 1970 during the bread strike. We all spent a week in hospital being fed more toast and sandwiches than we could eat, while everyone outside was queuing for whatever bread they could find.

The second time I was induced. I was nervous anyway and it wasn't helped by a locum doctor sorting through the equipment and saying "I've never used this type before, how does it work?" I would rather one of us had known what we were doing! Afterwards the midwife told me that the doctor stitching me up did leather work as a hobby. I wasn't sure whether that was a good thing or not!

Oh yes I remember that enema and the rush to the toilet! Nothing could have saved me if it had been engaged. I also remember being shaved and the horribly prickly regrowth. (1977) Luckily with my second two they arrived too quickly for such niceties!!

OMG, reading this it's just amazing how times have changed. Had to go to the Brook Street clinic in the late 60s to get the pill, and oh the questioning, just like the third degree. However, met DH, married early 70s, and still even then to get the pill once engaged and before marriage was still a problem. Didn't try for a family till mid 70s; had two miscarriages, but can't honestly remember anything about pregnancy tests. Anyway third time, 1978, remember taking a sample bottle to the doctor, and ringing up for the result about a week later. DS arrived in 79. And funnily enough I remember even less about DD who was born in 1983!

Whenever I was given an enema in hospital, the nurse waited alongside with a bedpan at the ready, no rushing to the toilet!

Thank you all for sharing your personal experiences. I very much appreciate it.

Anja - thank you for your very helpful suggestion about joining a writer’s group - something I had never considered.

I’ve never given birth and to hear what you’ve all been through is so enlightening. The trauma, the fear, the stress, the pain and the indignities some of you must have gone through is unimaginable. An enema with one toilet!! Smoking in the day room! I’m now getting a clearer picture of how it was like.

But, Oh, the joy you all must have felt to finally hold your precious little bundle of joy! All worth it in the end.

My middle step daughter had a horrific birth 13 years ago - had an emergency Caesarean - so I suppose, although medical technology has moved on, complications still do occur. In my opinion, she left hospital far too soon, and could have done with a few more days to recuperate, but I suppose they needed the bed. In the 1970s, the stay in hospital was longer, which I think was probably not such a bad thing.

I certainly do remember 1976 being the long hot summer. I wasn’t pregnant (never have been) but I was very overweight at the time! It was the first holiday my boyfriend (soon to be husband - now ex) went on together and the heat (for me) was completely unbearable - we were in a caravan!! The heatwave of that year is also going to be mentioned in the story line, as my poor heroine struggles with pregnancy, along with a lot of other woes.

Again, thanks for all your replies. I really appreciate it.

I was 29 in 1970; stopped the pill'; missed two periods. Therefore went and told my doctor in Nairobi I was pregnant! No tests done, she prodded a bit and agreed with me! Back in England, had DS1 in Exeter. As we had moved around, pre-natal care was a bit patchy, but BP checks proved OK. Waters broke at 5am and very strong contractions started immediately, going on until 4pm when the baby and I were both showing signs of exhaustion and the forceps were brought out!
Second time around, I don't think any tests were done. I just knew I was pregnant and moreover knew to the minute exactly when conception took place - need I say more?

My eldest was born in February 1976. I had to take a urine sample to the doctor, not over the counter tests then. I had the dreaded enema too [ not something I had been warned about ]. I had an awful experience of giving birth. Nursing staff weren't very caring. I was made to lay in bed the whole labour and wasn't allowed to walk around.
In those days you had to stay in hospital for a week. My son was born just after midday, which meant I ended staying in hospital for 8 days as that was how they determined the stay.
We were taught how to care for the baby, and bath them etc. Smoking was still very much allowed in the day room [ I never smoked and hated this even then ]. No disposable nappies then, so we were taught how to put toweling nappies onto the baby, trying to avoid catching the safety pin on the baby
1976 was the very hot summer which was draining.

My second child was born in 1978 and again pregnancy was via a urine sample at the doctors. I had a home birth for this one due to the experience I had in hospital.

With my first (1977) I went to see my lovely GP when my period was late and when he asked how he could help me I said
" missed period, probably pregnant" . He examined me internally and told me I was right as he could feel the uterine artery and said he would see me at the antenatal clinic the following week. No pregnancy test.
With my second (1980) I waited a little longer before going to the GP and saw another doctor who sent a test away and when I phoned for the result he said it was negative. No internal examination was carried out but I felt pregnant. I felt quite indignant when he said to wait a month before he would do another test. I think over the counter tests were available but were expensive so I just went to BPAS as they offered free tests. The ladies were very kind, did the test and confirmed I was indeed pregnant and were taken aback when I smiled happily as they were more used to girls seeking tests as a prelude to wanting terminations. I think it made their day as well as mine!

In 1971 when I was pregnant, you were able to ring a telephone number and they sent a specimen bottle in the post. You put your sample in the padded envelope and included a postal order, after a week or so you could ring the phone number and they would tell you if you were pregnant or not. By the time I got the results I had signs of early pregnancy anyway, waste of money really.
Struggling to recall where I found the information for the test, can only assume it was in the parenting magazine I bought every month.

Freeandeasy good on you for checking your facts. Too many books are spelled through sloppy research.

Suggest you join a Writers Group or start one yourself. This is a great way of bouncing your work off others and you’ll get hints about finding an agent, presenting your book, etc.

Best of luck.

I had forgotten about the dreaded enema ?
I remember being in an old fashioned hospital with only one toilet in the ward
There were six of us waiting for an enema. Everyone thought I was very brave, offering to go first.
However, as this was my second baby, I knew exactly what was ahead and wanted to ensure I had access to the one an only toilet.

Granny23, what an unpleasant experience you have had. Enough to put anyone off having babies! My first was born in hospital, the other two were home births (much nicer but not as safe). This was late 60's early 70's. Like the others here, I went to the doctor as soon as I suspected I was pregnant. I knew there were pregnancy tests, but I was married and the babies were planned, so there was no urgency to get it confirmed.