Childbirth at home

Date: 1994-1999

By: Harte, Helen Mountain, active 1999

Reference: OHColl-0471

Description: Interviews women from the Bay of Islands area about their childbirth experiences. Interviews Miria Shortland, Taurangi Clendon, Wainu Hoori, Ida Packer, Florence Pita, Mihiterena Wells, Ngareta Wharerau and Harriet Brown Simeon, Atareiria Haika, Morini Katene, Hera Paratene, Erana Prime, Mabel Waititi, Akanihi Tiatoa and Lucy De Thierry Kiwikiwi. Interviewer(s) - Helen Harte Quantity: 14 C90 cassette(s). 14 printed abstract(s) (Summaries and 4 transcripts). 14 interview(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - other Short summaries and 4 transcripts.

Date: 12 May-28 Jul 1998 - 12 May 1998 - 28 Jul 1998

From: Neonatal Nursing Oral History Project

By: Harison, Christopher Stratford, 1929-

Reference: OHInt-0131/20

Description: Christopher Harison was born and raised in South Africa where he trained as a doctor. Describes working in hospitals as an obstetrician in Great Britain and South Africa, including time in a mission hospital in South Africa. Also describes being in private practice there. Recalls his feelings about Sharpeville. Describes the decision to come to New Zealand and his work as the first obstetrician in Thames. Discusses his attitudes to home birth and abortion and involvement with SPUC. Talks about National Women's Hospital and the `unfortunate experiment'. Describes appearing before the Medical Council. Comments that his career has encompassed major developments in obstetrics and midwifery, the growth of the home birth movement and feminism and the restructuring of the health services. Discusses his approach to teamwork in obstetrics, the development of screening tests in pregnancy, the identification of high risk, the reorganisation of obstetric services on the Coromandel, medical and midwifery education and changes in nursing education. Interviewer(s) - Penelope Dunkley Quantity: 7 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s) - in 3 folders. 1 Electronic document(s) - abstract. 2 interview(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-1742, OHDL-000833.

Date: 26 Nov 1995 - 26 Jan 1995

From: Birth stories oral history project

By: McCallum, Moira Jane, 1962-

Reference: OHInt-0084/04

Description: Moira McCallum was born in Coromandel on 10 September 1962. Outlines her family background which included a number of shifts because her father was a Presbyterian minister. Recalls childhood activities, teenage years at Hutt Valley High School and the effects of having been pushed ahead at school. Describes attending Wellington Polytechnic, Youth for Christ rallies, riding motorbikes and drinking alcohol. Talks about her boyfriend, getting married and becoming pregnant. Describes attending antenatal classes at Elderslea (Upper Hutt maternity hospital) and becoming political because it was under threat of closure. Talks about her interest in an active birth. Describes being induced (in labour)and an episiotomy. Comments on hospital facilities,lack of support for breastfeeding and rivalry between hospital and independent midwives. Describes post natal depression. Compares her subsequent pregnancy with home birth delivery by a midwife. Describes involvement as a consumer representative on a midwifery review panel for the College of Midwives. Talks about involvement with Parents Centre, La Leche League and the Early Intervention Trust. Comments on social perceptions of her role as a mother. Venue - Lower Hutt : 1995 Interviewer(s) - Claire Loftus Nelson Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-006268; OHC-006269; OHC-006270 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 1431.

Date: 24 Jan 1995

From: Birth stories oral history project

By: Pantall, Maureen, 1951-

Reference: OHInt-0084/07

Description: Maureen Pantall was born in Durban in South Africa on 29 June 1951. Outlines her family background including being related to James Watt Stevenson. Gives details of growing up in South Africa on her family's chicken farm where her mother was chief chicken sexer. Describes meeting New Zealander Grant Mitchell and coming to New Zealand with him in 1971. Talks about marriage, studying at university and becoming pregnant. Talks about wanting to avoid interference during the birth, using breathing learnt at ante natal classes and describes the birth as exhausting but positive. Describes two subsequent normal pregnancies, one of which involved induction. Discusses the relationship between birth and early childhood and the rest of a child's life. Talks about a fourth pregnancy, amniocentesis, home birth and being an older mother. Comments on the difficulty of finding fulltime work as an older women with four children. Venue - Wellington : 1995 Interviewer(s) - Claire Loftus Nelson Venue - Eastbourne Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-006271; OHC-006272; OHC-006273; OHC-006274 Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 1432.

Date: 01 Dec 2000

From: Nursing biographies - Wellington Polytechnic, 1973-1998

By: White, Gillian, active 1951-2000

Reference: OHInt-0599/18

Description: Professor Gillian (Gill) White talks about personal experiences and motivation for choosing midwifery as a career. Recalls motivation to help unmarried mothers. Describes her training in midwifery in Dover, Southern England; a Clinical Educators Course at the Royal College of Midwives in London; study for a Midwifery Tutors Diploma at a university in Guildford, Surrey, and becoming a teaching district midwife for a couple of years before coming to New Zealand in 1975. Explains that despite having a Midwifery Teaching Diploma, there was little opportunity for use of these skills in New Zealand and could only practice under the direct supervision of a doctor or nurse, so was jobless for six months. Talks about circumstances leading to position as teacher in undergraduate programme [St Helen's Hospital] and refers to Glenda Simpson, a senior New Zealand midwife at National Women's Hospital, Auckland and meeting with Judith Christensen. Mentions that St Helen's Hospital used the Public Hospital for gynaecological experience and for the neo natal experience for students. Refers to closure of St Helen's. Discusses involvememt with the midwives section of the New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNA) becoming president of the Wellington section for midwives and national president for two years. Talks about her push for midwifery education to be brought into the tertiary sector and for a separation of Midwifery from Nursing. Moved to Auckland to the Auckland Institute of Technology (ATI) and talks about situation there. Refers to the Home Birth Association who were lobbying for midwifery independence. Mentions the commencement of the College of Midwives in 1990. Continues the theme of own education and move into research, completing her PhD in 1991. Refers to the 1979 Amendment of the Nurses' Act. Talks about the withdrawal of GPs from obstetric practice. Also talks about own experience as a midwife in community practice doing home births. Discusses the benefits to her personally of wearing a uniform. Refers to MA thesis, `Towards Autonomy: An Examination of Midwifery Education in New Zealand 1990' and PhD thesis, `Social and Sexual Boundaries in Doctor Patient Relationships'. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Interviewer(s) - Yvonne Langridge Venue - Massey University Wellington, Wellington Campus Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-009776 Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3255.

Date: 18 Oct 1990

From: Maori Women's Welfare League: Interviews

By: Herbert, Alma Grace, 1906-1997; Szaszy, Mira, 1921-2001

Reference: OHInt-0602-05

Description: Alma Herbert nee Enright, born 1906 in Waiuku. Briefly describes family background and mentions eldest brother being mustard gassed. Recalls mother winning land in a ballot in 1914, family moving north and farming the land. Recalls early schooling, leaving at 14, working at the Silver Grid in Kaitaia and housemaiding. Talks about going to basket socials on horseback, dancing to the fiddle and accordian. Describes marriage to Ree Herepete, known as Ray Herbert from Te Rarawa, and talks about their 16 children, many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Discusses experiences of home birth. Compares modern life to earlier times - mentions shopping, use of drugs by young people. Describes joining the Pawarenga branch of the Maori Women's Welfare League in 1951 or 1952, encouraged by Mere Paitai. Talks briefly about branch activities and work undertaken by the League. Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 Hours Duration. Search dates: 1990

Date: 1970 - 1999

Reference: Eph-A-BIRTH-1900s

Description: Partial contents include: 1970s: Child & Youth Development Trust. Your pregnancy is important [1970s?]. Booklet 1975: Auckland Hospital Board. Antenatal booklet & attendance card. March 1975 1981: Birth and beyond; a parent resource and out-of-hospital Birth Centre for Wellington (2 copies) 1983/1985: Wellington Branch, New Zealand Home Birth Association pamphlets 1985?: NZ Dept of Health. Ante-natal clinic. [Appointments card. 1985?] Parents Centre. Caesarean Support. How will I feel after a Caesarean birth? [ca 1985] Parents Centre. Caesarean Support. What if I have a Caesarean birth? [ca 1985] 1988: "Conceivable alternatives", a review of new birth technologies and alternative options. Public Seminar, 24 September 1988, hosted by the Wellington Infertility Society Inc. ca 1992: Home Birth Association. Home Birth Midwives Collective; specialising in birth at home: Sian Burgess, Rhonda Jackson, Heather Waugh, Ann Becker. 1993: Birth & babies in the 21st century; Te Whanautanga i te ao hou. Conference 5-7 November 1993. Registration pamphlet; [and] Programme 1994: Maternity Services (Auckland). Choices for childbirth (2 copies) Wellington Home Birth Association. Home birth; your choice (2 copies) 1995: Hillary Commission. Pregnancy and exercise. 1995 Health Waikato. Welcome to Waikato Women's Hospital. pregnancy information handbook ca 1996: Matpro; Wellington maternity project [ca 1996] Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Offset prints, photomechanical prints, sizes varying up to 240 mm.