Oh, how the landscape of childbirth has transformed! A recent social media post has gone viral, shedding light on just how different things were for new mothers in the late 1960s. One woman’s discovery of her mother’s hospital instructions from 1968 reveals some truly astonishing guidelines for new moms and their infants.
Jessica Mitchell shared that while her mother was decluttering her belongings, she came across the hospital pamphlet from over 50 years ago. “I had to laugh,” she commented. “It’s amazing how far we’ve come! This is from 1968! I can’t imagine being subjected to these rules!”
Limited Visitation Hours
The instructions specify limited visitation hours for parents. Newborns were only visible in the nursery window from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. and again from 7:00 to 7:45 p.m. “Please refrain from asking to see the baby at other times.” Really?
Feeding Periods
Next, the “feeding periods” outlined are almost unfathomable for a breastfeeding newborn. Not only were fathers barred from the hospital room during nursing sessions, but the guidelines were strict about how long babies could nurse. “During the first 24 hours, allow the baby to nurse for only 5 minutes.” Is that five minutes total? Or five minutes at a time? Either way, it’s shocking! As the days progressed, infants were allowed to nurse for 7 minutes on days two and three, and an impressive 10-15 minutes by days four and five. “If the baby nurses longer, it may cause the nipples to become sore.” Oh, really?
Hospital Stays
Given how these instructions seem to apply solely to the hospital, it’s astonishing to consider that new mothers were expected to stay there for so long, unlike today’s quick discharges. While it’s nice to return home, the care and rest provided by a hospital for several days must have been a welcome relief.
Prohibited Foods
The list of prohibited foods for nursing mothers is equally amusing. Back in 1968, new moms were advised against consuming chocolate candy, raw apples, cabbage, nuts, strawberries, cherries, onions, or even green coconut cake. But regular brown coconut cake? That was probably fine, LOL.
Bottle Feeding
As for bottle feeding, nurses were always prepared with formula, which was likely a necessity given that five minutes of breastfeeding wouldn’t suffice for a growing baby! “I just thought it was a fascinating piece of history,” Mitchell remarked. The original form was distributed by a hospital in Concord, North Carolina. “It’s both hilarious and ludicrous!”
It’s clear that times have evolved — likely for the better.
Further Reading
For more insights into modern parenting, check out this post on home insemination kits. And if you’re curious about children’s behaviors, here’s a comprehensive look at why toddlers might pull their own hair. For additional information on pregnancy, explore this excellent resource from the NIH: pregnancy topics.
In summary, the outdated instructions from 1968 serve as a stark reminder of how much childbirth practices have progressed. The strict guidelines for breastfeeding and visitation highlight a past that seems almost comical today. As we benefit from modern knowledge and practices, it’s important to appreciate the evolution of maternal care.