Monthly Nurse ? - Genealogists' Forum

vallee · #1 13-09-09, 21:23

in 1881 I have a woman described as a monthly nurse ??? what does that mean thanks

Olde Crone · #2 13-09-09, 21:24

A monthly nurse was a woman who went to look after mother and baby for the first month after birth.

OC

Merry · #3 13-09-09, 21:26

Or in my gran's case the monthly nurse arrived three weeks before the birth, but gran talked so much she couldn't get away - they had a lovely time!

Olde Crone · #4 13-09-09, 21:29

Merry

Haha!

Amazing isn't it..my daughter was out of bed in hours after a caesarian, and home in two days to get on with it herself! How times have changed.

OC

vallee · #5 13-09-09, 21:29

oh so would they have had any qualifications ??

Olde Crone · #6 13-09-09, 21:30

Not necessarily any professional qualifications, just good practical proven experience unless they worked for some posh agency like Norlands.

OC

vallee · #7 13-09-09, 21:44

thanks OC

Merry · #8 13-09-09, 22:02

Here's what one looked like in 1920. This is the lady that liked to listen lol, but she is with my auntie this time. I have a photo of her with mum too.

vallee · #9 13-09-09, 22:08

oh you are lucky Merry wish I had a photo like that
I am wondering if she was brought in to attend her husbands first wife who died having a baby because she married him within 2 years of that one dying

Merry · #10 13-09-09, 22:12

I think in theory they were supposed to arrive as the midwife left, so to speak. I suppose if the poor mum had died, but the child lived then they would need the nurse more than ever?

I used to think that all babies who lost their mum's needed a wet nurse in the past, but I think alternative milk was available much earlier than I previously imagined, though what it consisted of I don't know.