In the early part of the 20th century, midwives assisted women in giving birth on the Canadian frontier—the lone country doctor was only sent for in cases with complications such as a breech position or preterm labour. The survival of the mother and baby rested solely in the hands of a midwife.
These unsung heroes supported mothers through their pregnancies and the "watchful waiting" period before the baby was born. The midwife regularly visited after the birth to weigh the baby and check its progress. This support was a lifeline to new mothers. It was considered medically necessary that mothers stay in bed for days after giving birth. If required, the midwife also cared for the other children in the home during the mother’s confinement.
Deliveries were done at the mother's home, or on occasion, the birth would take place at the midwives' house. The new mom and baby could stay and recuperate as long as needed. This was a welcome rest as mothers worked hard right up to their delivery date. They cared for their other children, did laundry, housework, and cooking, plus helped with the fieldwork and farm animals.
When a midwife went to the patient’s house for a birth, they would do whatever had to be done until the mother and baby were alright to be on their own. This included household tasks and even canning garden produce depending on the season. As a gesture of congratulations and support, neighbours sent gifts of food. This food was a great help to the midwife and the family.
The midwife's medical bag included: a thermometer, scissors, measuring tape, cord ties, gauze and forceps. A pocket scale was used to weigh the baby by hooking the scale to the baby's diaper and lifting it in the air. Boiling water was used to sterilize equipment. In years previous to this, the concept of sanitization wasn’t understood. When midwives and doctors started sterilizing instruments with boiling water, people didn’t understand the process, and it became a running joke. In all the old western movies, they always said “boil water” when a baby was coming. No one knew why they needed to boil water, but they did it anyway. Some thought that it was just said to give hovering family members something to do.
It was not customary at the time for fathers to be in the birthing room, and by birthing room, I mean their bedroom. Husbands made themselves scarce during labour and delivery. They stayed close to the house, though, listening anxiously for the sound of that first cry.
Healthcare was considered a commodity on the frontier—something you paid for in cash, goods or services. Money was often in short supply, so midwives usually did not get paid cash. Other arrangements were made to give the midwife something in exchange for her services. Mom said that midwives often received a food item such as a live chicken as payment. I replied that it must have been nice to receive a big, fat chicken, but Mom said that chickens in those days were tall and skinny and best made into soup. It was better than nothing, though. I can almost picture a midwife walking home after days of gruelling work with a chicken tucked under her arm.
The Hubs’ Great-Grandma, Susan, was born in 1891 in Orsent Miklos, Hungary. She lost her husband in World War I and eventually remarried. The family immigrated to Canada. In the late 1930s, she began serving as a midwife, delivering over 50 babies. At that time, women in their 40s were considered to be “older women."
Midwives often didn’t have formal medical training. They relied on the knowledge they had gained through their personal childbearing experiences. They provided their services more as a labour of love than for financial gain, a symbol of paying it forward in honour of the women who had helped them in their hour of need.
When a birth was imminent, a family member or friend went on foot or by horse to get the midwife. They did the best they could to get there in time, no matter what the weather.
For the most part, women could not go to the hospital. Even if they could have afforded to pay the bill, it was too far to travel by wagon on poor or at times impassable roads. It was safer to stay at home.
Birthing stories recounted to me from those days include:
- A woman in labour sending her older children to fetch the midwife. On the way, the kids spied plump Saskatoon berries and, unhurried, stopped to eat some. Luckily, the distance was only a mile and a half, and the midwife eventually got the message and made it on time.
- A couple on their way to stay with family realizing four of the sixteen miles into the journey that their baby was about to be born. They pulled into a nearby farmyard, and the lady of the house delivered the baby.
- No medical assistance arrived in time, so the husband delivered the baby. The other children were huddled in the corner of the living room, wide-eyed and fearful, wondering what was going on until they heard a baby cry.
Many of these young women came from cities to remote areas as teachers or war brides. The term war bride refers to women who met and married servicemen from other countries during the war. Following WWII, 48,000 women came to Canada as war brides, mostly from Britain, but a few were also from different European areas: France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. As a war bride, you joined a new family and adjusted to life in a different country. Other women became homesteaders when they followed their husbands on an adventure to start a new life.
Nurses also came from countries that had been decimated by the ravages of war. The male to female ratio in many European countries after the war was disproportionate, which was also a contributing factor in their decision. There was nothing left for them there. I had never thought about that before. I guess if your choice was to return to a bombed-out community or immigrate to the promised land, what would you have done?
England had more advanced medical practices, and the nurses who came from there brought valuable medical knowledge. It always created quite a stir when a single lady moved into a rural community. There was, of course, no social media at the time, but the news got around quickly just the same. These young ladies often married local farmers.
Pioneer life was a lonely and frightening experience for these women, many of whom were still teenagers. They left behind family, friends and security and found themselves in a life filled with uncertainty and hardship. Large families were typical, and women accepted that they would have as many children as they were meant to have.
Sadly, some mothers perished during or after childbirth due to various complications. Fathers were left with a newborn baby and other children to care for. With no financial safety net, the youngest children were sent away to be raised by relatives and friends. The sudden loss of their mother and the abrupt removal from their home to live with virtual strangers was a traumatic experience, to say the least.
In developed countries, there have been great leaps and bounds made in medicine over the past century. In underdeveloped, remote areas of the world, many women and babies still die from pregnancy and childbirth complications.
Births have gone from home to hospital to back home again. It is a personal choice that mothers have the freedom to make. Midwifery remains a common practice used around the world. These men and women provide support throughout a woman’s pregnancy and childbirth. Their compassion and empathy continue to give comfort to anxious mothers.
Midwives today are trained professionals who deliver babies of low-risk pregnancies at home or in a clinical setting. The profession is highly regulated and licensed. They collaborate with doctors and nurses to provide the best maternal care. In Canada, their salary no longer consists of a long-legged, skinny chicken.
Thanks for reading. Please like and share. Norma
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