Hospital birth 1944

[mirrin]

Why would a first time mother who lived in a small country village be taken over 20 miles to a city maternity hospital to give birth when it was usual to have home births. NHS services started in 1948.

Thank you

[rosie99]

Maybe she was in the locality when she went into labour  . 

It was not uncommon to give birth in hospital prior to the NHS, I have a few examples in my close family

[jaywit]

I was born in a hospital 15 miles away from where my parents lived in 1944.

The reason? My mother was 39 and I was her first child. She was considered an 'older mother' and needed to give birth in hospital.

[mirrin]

Thanks for input. In this case mother was younger and don’t think she would be in area when due to give birth. Maybe it was for health reasons. Just curious and interested in other views. Thanks

[rosie99]

It was at the end of the war, people were all over the place  .   

I doubt that you would be able to establish that she was admitted due to health reasons though it could be an option.

[Glen in Tinsel Kni]

Knowing where might help, many women from Hull were sent to a village in Lincolnshire where a country house was used as a makeshift maternity home during WWII, it was safer than being near the docks, airfields and other military/storage/production facilities that were deemed a target.

[Jebber]

There are a number of reasons a woman would need to give birth in hospital instead of at home, not necessarily age related. The need for  C-section or she could have been severely anaemic and at risk of a haemorrhage at birth so needing a blood transfusion to name just two.

[dowdstree]

I was born in 1946 to a first time mum who was aged 28.

It should have been a home birth but after 2 days in labour with no sign of me making an appearance mum was taken to the Maternity Hospital where she had a forceps delivery. Dad always complained that I was expensive as he had to pay half a crown (2/6d in old money)

Dorrie