|
Henry
|
 |
« : April 18, 2010, 09:04:02 AM » |
|
Well, our youngest daughter turns 40 years old tomorrow and I well remember that birth 40 years ago. At that time she was born in what was called The Mary Fletcher Hospital. I remember waiting downstairs in the entrance to the hospital where there were chairs and newspapers for 47 hours, watching Fathers and expectant mothers arriving and then watching new Fathers leaving while I waited and watched the door, where someone came out and called a name and congratulated the new Father, each time expecting it would be me they were looking for as I had no idea what was going on upstairs.
Apparently there were a lot more births back then, or it was a busy time a year, as there were a number of births during those 47 hours I was there.
New Fathers were not allowed to go up to the floor where their wives were in labor and I know that Maryann insisted that she talk to me quite a ways into the labor, so in order to be able to talk to her, I took the elevator up to the floor, was not allowed to get off the elevator and was able to talk to Maryann who had been wheeled to the elevator. Now, it was a long time for me, but I am sure it seemed much longer for Maryann. I pretty much lived on Dunkin Donuts and Coffee purchased from the little Dunkin Donuts place at the Rotary on Shelburne Road which was open 24 hours a day.
It also made for some long tense hours of waiting for Maryann's and my parents here in Fairfax who were waiting for word and were watching over the two older girls.
Things sure have changed over the years, not only in the way births occur, but how long the mother stays in the hospital. A mother is in and out in no time.
Now this is a brief description of a birth from a Father's viewpoint 40 years ago. I am sure Maryann could write several pages on this.
|
