Giving birth in any decade has its challenges, but spare a thought for the mums who gave birth at this hospital in the 1940s. According to a list of instructions shared online, these new mums weren’t allowed to eat lollies or fruit, drink milk shakes, or handle their baby. Ouch!

The list of Instructions For New Mothers was uploaded to reddit, with the poster revealing it’s a list of rules for new mums at a hospital maternity ward in the 1940s. And the 20 rules have left everyone scratching their heads – and thankful they didn’t give birth at that hospital.

The rules cover everything from now smoking for one hour prior to breastfeeding, to being banned from handling books, magazines, papers, combs, cosmetics and telephones while their baby is in their room.

The hospital appeared to have strict nursing times when babies were breastfed by their mothers, and woe betide anyone who put the schedule out of whack.

Rule 3: A bell sounds to allow the mother time to prepare for her baby. Be sure to be ready when the baby arrives. A few minutes delay with one mother may mean several babies thrown off schedule with feeding.

And speaking of feeding, the breastfeeding rules seem unusually harsh.

Rule 8: Allow the baby to nurse only three minutes the first three days, gradually increasing to 15 minutes.
Rule 9: Never let the baby’s nursing period exceed 20 minutes at any time.

Those poor babies!

The rules also stipulate that nobody is allowed in the room with mum while she’s feeding her baby. And babies aren’t to be handled.

Rule 12: The baby is wrapped in a sterile wrapper when taken to the breast. The mother is ASKED NEVER TO UNWRAP OR HANDLE HER BABY.

The use of caps is especially unnerving.

Mothers are also asked to name their babies as soon as possible, and when it comes to snacks:

Rule 19: Please do not eat candy, fresh fruit or milk shakes. It may affect your baby.

What do you think of these rules? Did you have anything similar when you gave birth? Let us know in the comments below.

 

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