The Longest Shortest Time

EPISODE #7: Nurse, Get the Handcuffs

When my mom saw my breast pump, she said something about how sleek and petite it looked compared to the monstrous pump she had to use back when she had me. I thought it would be fun to interview her about the differences in childbirth and its aftermath between now and then. It didn’t take long for the conversation to turn way more emotional than I’d expected. And I learned some kind of shocking things about hospital conventions in the 70s.

My dad snapped a bunch of shots with his contraband camera

My dad snapped a bunch of shots with his contraband camera

After my mom's arms were untied

My mom’s arms were tied down while she was in labor

And the nurses begrudgingly allowed her to nurse me in the NICU

The nurses begrudgingly allowed my mom to nurse me at the NICU

What kinds of things did YOUR mom experience that you couldn’t imagine happening today?
Tell us in the comments.

Photos: Richard Frank

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