Elaine Farrell > Quotes

“the admission process in the Rotunda began when a pregnant woman requested an admission ticket from the porter at the hospital lodge. Her name and address were recorded, after which she sought recommendation for admission from a clergyman, hospital governor or ‘responsible citizen’.22 With a recommendation secured, the woman attended the hospital dispensary on the following day to have her admission ticket countersigned by the assistant master on duty.”
― Elaine Farrell, 'She said she was in the family way': Pregnancy and infancy in modern Ireland

“This desire was also manifest in the occasional exasperated religiously inspired ejaculation to the effect that the failure of the law to capture and punish those responsible for infanticide was a ‘disgrace to humanity’, and that those who ‘escape[d] punishment in this life … may be sure of meeting their reward hereafter’, because they not only offended the ‘laws of nature and God’ but also ‘add[ed] the horrid sin of murder to that of incontinence’.”
― Elaine Farrell, 'She said she was in the family way': Pregnancy and infancy in modern Ireland

“pregnant woman applying to the Coombe for intern midwifery care was required to present a recommendation to the resident medical officer signed by a patron, patroness, vice-patron, vice-patroness, governor, subscriber, collector or clergyman.”
― Elaine Farrell, 'She said she was in the family way': Pregnancy and infancy in modern Ireland

“With no sinks and no running water in the wards of the Rotunda until 1877, there was no facility for optimal hand washing before or after examining a woman.33 Instead of hand washing before examining a woman vaginally, the doctor, midwife or pupil lubricated his/her fingers in a communal pot of hog’s lard.34 Afterwards the examiner wiped his/her fingers with a napkin and went on to examine the next woman.”
― Elaine Farrell, 'She said she was in the family way': Pregnancy and infancy in modern Ireland

“it was held that labour pains could be eased by a husband lying alongside his wife during her labour.44”
― Elaine Farrell, 'She said she was in the family way': Pregnancy and infancy in modern Ireland

“In 1926, child adoption was legalized in England and Wales. This did not occur in Ireland until 1952, after being continually blocked by the Catholic hierarchy, yet before this, thousands of babies had been adopted illegally.”
― Elaine Farrell, 'She said she was in the family way': Pregnancy and infancy in modern Ireland

“husband traditionally stood at his wife’s back, placed his hands on her shoulders and supported her in a kneeling position while she gave birth.43 His presence was thought to lend moral support and to protect his wife from being taken by the fairies.”
― Elaine Farrell, 'She said she was in the family way': Pregnancy and infancy in modern Ireland