Call the Midwife –

First Register of Midwives on the
Goldfields of Western Australia

In the early days of Goldfield’s, pregnancy and birth were a dangerous time for both mother and baby. Most often women would rely on the help of other women in the area, if indeed there were any. Others may have had to have the assistance of a husband and some would have to give birth alone. Only in deliveries where there were complications would a doctor be called. Even in towns that had a hospital, most babies were either born at home or in a ‘Lying In’ nursing home where usually a trained nurse whould take in mothers in their own homes for the birth of the baby.