As we all know, being a parent and taking care of a baby has greatly changed over the years. If you don’t believe me, just look at this list of instructions for new mothers written by a hospital in 1968. The interesting and at times hilarious list of rules quickly went viral among mothers.
Many of the items on this list just don’t apply anymore. Some of the rules just don’t even make sense. Look at the photo below and see if you have ever seen anything like it. You may have even gotten the same one back in the day!
See the list for yourself
Along with the photo, Micala Gabrielle Henson wrote, “My mom was going through her things and we saw this, its rules in regards to just having a baby. It gave me a chuckle. How things have changed! This is from 1968! How cool! Thank goodness things have changed, I can’t imagine! Feel free to share!”
The set of rules from 1968 given to new mothers outlines a few things. One is nursing your baby. It says that moms should only nurse their new babies for five minutes only during the first 24 hours. One of the reasons is that the nipples will get sore if the baby nurses for too long… well, duh!
These days, mothers are encouraged to nurse more to make sure the baby is getting enough nutrients. Strange to think they limited this kind of thing back in the day. It is a wonder we all survived!
Another strange rule… a list of foods the new mother should not eat. There isn’t an explanation. Can anyone tell us why new moms were told to avoid this random list of foods including chocolate candy, raw apples, cabbage, nuts, strawberries, cherries, onions, or green coconut cake?
Moms were also advised not to smoke while the baby was in the room. However, they could smoke in the hospital otherwise. How crazy is that?
In addition, there were strict rules on when the new mother could see the baby and rules on visitors. Even the father wasn’t allowed in the room at certain times. Boy, times sure have changed.
Do you remember what it was like in the hospital when you had your child? Did you get a similar list to this at the hospital? Do you still have it somewhere?
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When breast feeding some foods can effect mothers milk and give baby a stomach ache. That is why it was suggested the foods be avoided . Also, if you limit nursing anyone knows to supplement feeding.
Pretty much the directions given with my babies. I did not breast-feed, so no worries on what I could or couldn’t eat. We were confined in the hospital for 3 days with each birth and if you had insurance, it covered three days. I was completely happy with the rules, regulations and treatment I received during the births of my children in the early ‘ 60’s.
I had my baby in 1970 and there were no such rules or at least I was not given any such rules.
I had my baby in 1967 and certainly saw no rules such as this. My baby roomed in with me in the daytime and visitors were allowed any time I wanted them there.
Maybe different hospitals had different rules. most likely.
I had both of my boys in the 60s, I’ve always felt like they acted like it was disease, no father in the room during birth, no one even family members allowed except certain hours. You can imagine my surprise when my daughter-in-law ask me to hold her hand during the delivery, how magical, my son’s smiling face, her so proud to having a son!
They food they told them not to eat would give babies stomach ache
I had one child in 1959 and another in 1960. Back then mothers were pretty much required to stay in the hospital for 5 days after giving birth, even if they had no medical insurance (which averaged $2.38/week and deducted from paychecks). My first child had many serious medical issues, NONE of which were noticed by hospital doctors. When they discharged you from the hospital they made a point to show you that your baby had 5 fingers on each hand & 5 toes on each foot. The fact that my child had a hole in its heart, a curved spine, & was somewhat blue did not concern them. Babies are wiggly they told me & some turn blue when they cry, they added. So some things have changed for the better today, though the price of medical insurance costs at least 100 times more now.