Having a baby?? Don't forget your...um.. .jam jar?

[Isabel H]

Well folks, the mystery is solved! I happened to bump into two retired midwives this morning, and took the opportunity to ask about the jam jar. Without a second's hesitation they both replied "It's for the nailbrush!".  It was  to contain an orangey-coloured antiseptic solution used to ensure the midwife's fingernails were scrupulously clean. 

[Pamela.Ebrey]

Tha nail brush!!! Well I would never have come up with that! Thanks Isabel H for solving one of the mysteries of my universe!
Pamela

[mrs.tenacious]

I'll take bets there's an awful lot of new mothers would be pleased to see their partner's certain appendage in a 2lb jam jar just after giving birth 

well done IsabelH!  (Although I still think my suggestion had some merit)

[suzard]

...but what was the biscuit tin for?

Home birth 1964 - midwife reminded us not to forget the biscuit tin - and then specified it must be empty!! She then went on to tell the tale how she had delivered one baby and when she came to open the tin it was full of biscuits (the parents thought the midwife liked to eat biscuits when "delivering")
We never thought to ask what the biscuit tin would be used for- just got one in stock - but due to complications the birth took place in hospital - so we never did discover what the tin was for???

Suz

[rancegal]

  When my daughter was born at home in 1975 the midwife told my husband to go and bury the placenta in the garden. It was very frosty and he had difficulty digging a large enough hole!
  I didn't have to provide a biscuit tin though.

[Jill on the A272]

My granny talked to me when I was expecting my first baby about how she had attended her sisters when they gave birth in the 1920s (and helped out when one miscarried), The biscuit tin was to put anything that might be used as a sanitary dressing in, then it would go in the oven to be baked to sterilize the contents.

Mother in law's first child was born in 1951, she had to take in  a long strip of cotton sheeting and lots of safety pins for a breast binder - no nursing bras in those days!

[suzard]

I suppose that makes sense -re biscuit tin

Suz

[alllegs]

My first baby is due in just over 5 weeks, I must remember to pack a jam jar and a biscuit tin in my hospital bag!!!

[suzard]

Don't forget to eat the biscuits first!!!

Suz