1. Choice to have “rooming in” or not, meaning Nurses would look after your baby in the Nursery unless you preferred to have them with you in room.

2. The Le Boyer technique was a popular method of childbirth to enhance bonding of mother and child and avoid a harsh, shocking entry into the world .The lights in the delivery room were dimmed and music would be playing softly in the background as baby arrived into the world. Sometimes baby would be placed in a warm water bath.

3. Stay in hospital was up to a week.

4. Epidurals were available but so was laughing gas for pain control during delivery.

5. Fathers had to gown to participate in delivery of baby (this was very new 30 yrs ago)

6. Babies were generally born in a delivery room (preferred by Docs in case there was a problem) to which mom was transferred to from her labor room.

7. Babies were placed on their tummies to sleep and turned from side to side using a rolled up receiving blanket to hold them in place.

8. Mom could not leave hospital until she had watched and demonstrated her ability to bathe her baby for the Nurse.

9. Babies who were bottle fed were allowed rice cereal in their before bedtime bottle to encourage them to sleep through the night at one mth of age.

10. Enemas and shaving of the genitalia were practices commonly used prior to birth of baby.

11. Fathers were not permitted in the delivery room if baby was born by C-section.

12. Walkers were allowed for baby to scoot around the house in by 6 mths of age.

13. Car seats were not lawfully enforced. Baby could be transported on parents’ knees in car or in car bed in back seat of vehicle.

14. Nipple shields were available but usually only offered to women with inverted nipples.

15. Circumcision of little boys was still performed at request of mother but was not encouraged. A form had to be signed by mother agreeing circumcision was not required before baby left hospital.

Can you think of any others?  If so, please leave a message. 

‘Til Next Time,
Nurse Sue, RN.

Disclaimer: My responses are only based on my 35 years of nursing experience and are in no way meant to substitue the diagnoses of a trusted physician. I strongly recommend that you visit a doctor to recieve an accurate in-person diagnoses.