Natural childbirth

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: 21 Oct 1992

From: Royal New Zealand Plunket Society Oral History Project

By: Thorpe, Joyce Elaine, 1917-

Reference: OHInt-0314/14

Description: Gives details of her family background, childhood days and schooling in Hataitai in the 1920s.Talks about the family's social life, the church in family life, Sunday School picnics and Hataitai as a new suburb in the 1920s and 1930s. Recalls the effects of the Depresssion, high school at Wellington East Girls' College, Commercial School (College), teenage social life and World War II. Comments on the effect of the presence of American servicemen during World War II. Talks about working for a film distribution company and the Wellington Automobile Association. Describes meeting `husband to be' Jack Thorpe, their six year courtship, his unavailability for military service during World War II for health reasons, the effect of this on him, and treatment for his tuberculosis at a Christchurch sanatorium. Mentions marrying Jack, the birth of Bill and first contact with Plunket. Talks about her interest in natural childbirth and the techniques of Grantly Dick-Read, the loss of a baby during pregnancy and her eventual family of eight children. Describes their move to Gisborne where her husband established the Columbine Hosiery factory along the lines of a `garden factory' with his two brothers. Talks about becoming pregnant at the age of forty-seven and her attitudes to contraception. Describes joining the Plunket Committee, fund-raising events, the Stamp Out Measles Campaign, local sub-branch issues, being President of the Gisborne branch for four years and the attitude of Maori women to Plunket. Comments on Neil Begg, David Geddis and Plunket Society national presidents including Joy Reid and Pat Seymour. Venue - Gisborne : 1992 Interviewer(s) - Jim Sullivan Venue - Gisborne Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-004831; OHC-004832; OHC-004833 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 878. Colour portrait photograph of Joyce Thorpe in 1992

Date: 30 Dec 1994

From: Birth stories oral history project

By: Archer, Christine Anne, 1955-

Reference: OHInt-0084/01

Description: Christine Archer was born in Palmerston North on Christmas Day 1955. Talks about her family and happy childhood. Describes studying music at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and marrying in 1977. Recalls becoming pregnant and some minor problems with the pregnancy. Details preparations, ante natal classes and the birth of her daughter at Hutt Hospital. Talks about the use of music therapy during labour. Describes breast feeding. Compares the pregnancy and birth of her son two years later. Talks about the positive and negative sides of parenting and her attitude to her own parents on becoming a parent. Mentions premenstrual tension. Talks about her work at the Wellington Early Intervention Trust and the Alexander Gillies Centre. Talks in depth about music therapy work and work with the disabled. Venue - Wellington : 1994 Interviewer(s) - Claire Loftus Nelson Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 1427.

Date: 31 Dec 1994

From: Birth stories oral history project

By: Devereux, Gwendoline Mabel, 1924-

Reference: OHInt-0084/02

Description: Gwendoline Devereux was born in Wellington on 12 April 1924. Gives details of her parents- her father was a staunch Labour supporter and friend of Peter Fraser. Recalls growing up off Aro Street and in Island Bay, her parent's greengrocery in Molesworth Street and the visit of Kingsford Smith. Talks about childhood games, teachers at the Island Bay school and Wellington East Girls' College. Describes her work for Brooker and Friend travelling around the country annotating statutes. Talks about her first husband Nickolai (Nick) Pogorevsky (later Podosky) and his life in Russia before his family escaped while he was a baby. Describes being sick while pregnant and Nick's death before the birth of the baby. Recalls the use of `twilight sleep' for the baby's birth at Bethany Hospital and having to stay in bed for ten days. Talks about being involved with Plunket and secretarial work for the Society for Closer Relations with Russia. Describes meeting and marrying `Dev' Devereux in 1950. Recalls being given the opportunity to travel to the Soviet Union in 1950-1951 with a group of trade unionists and Professor Bill Airey. Describes the trip and the speaking tour she did around New Zealand on her return while pregnant and sick. Talks about the baby's birth and a lengthy stay in hospital. Comments on domestic problems, cloth nappies and a wringer washing machine. Talks about involvement in Parents Centre, Playcentre and with Helen Brew and natural childbirth. Talks about delivery of her next two children by Diana Mason and differences in the birth. Comments on having had a fairly spread out family, the satisfaction brought by children and grandchildren, Dev Devereux' encouragement and her current activities. Venue - Wellington : 1994 Interviewer(s) - Claire Loftus Nelson Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-006259; OHC-006260; OHC-006261 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 1428. Search dates: 1994

Date: 20 Mar 1994

From: Birth stories oral history project

By: Brown, Erica, 1968-

Reference: OHInt-0084/06

Description: Erica Brown was born in Hampshire in England on 5 November 1968. She is one of the daughters of Anne Harris who is also part of this oral history project. Describe emigrating to New Zealand as a child and settling in Feilding. Talks about her parents' fish and chip shop, schooling, leaving school in the fifth form and working at McDonalds. Describes marrying Stephen Brown and becoming pregnant. Talks about attending antenatal classes with her husband. Describes her three births in some depth, commenting on different styles of midwifery and her growth of confidence and knowledge after each birth. Discusses the effect of her parents' relationship on her own perception of family life and comments on her positive feelings towards motherhood. Describes her husband's feelings towards the births. Discusses breastfeeding, hospital routines, being induced and episiotomy. Venue - Feilding : 1994 Interviewer(s) - Claire Loftus Nelson Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-006262; OHC-006263; OHC-006264 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2.20 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 1429.

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.

From: Australian Joint Copying Project : Miscellaneous Series microfilm

Reference: Micro-MS-Coll-20-2572

Description: Quantity: 1 microfilm reel(s). Finding Aids: Inventory available.

Date: [1930-1960]

From: New Zealand Family Planning Association : Records

Reference: 97-035-01/01

Description: Comprises reports, draft rules, annual reports, minutes, agendas, remits, financial reports, conference data (1953), correspondence and other papers including report of first meeting of women to discuss birth control clinics (1936); copy of letter re Indecent Publications Act (1910) from Martin Finlay; notes from a talk given by Dr Gallas (1948); notes on lectures, `The Life history of the threadworm' by Mrs Richardson, Miss Hursthouse, and Mrs Allum on temperature charts (properly identified speakers entered on database). Minutes include first and second meetings of Wellington FPA (28 Apr and 31 Aug 1936); also letter on letterhead from Women's Division Farmers Union, and one under letterhead of the Sex Hygiene and Birth Regulation Society. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Finding Aids: Inventory available.