One thing I remember about my Grandpa was the story of his birth. It’s truly remarkable to imagine myself there as if it were happening.
Baby Birth Stories - My Grandpa
My Grandpa Evans was born at the beginning of the Great Depression in 1931, in a tiny town in Utah. I can only imagine what circumstances surrounded their family. When I look at pictures of him as a boy here in my scrapbook, he seems to have the same exact pair of overalls on every single time, showing the lack of means that they had at the time.
I don’t remember who told me the story, but it’s quite vivid to me. You see, my Grandpa was born on a kitchen table. Can you imagine? Here we have (sorta) soft beds in hospitals, or cozy birthing beds at home, or warm pools of water to float in.
Maybe they had my Great-Grandma on the table simply because the floor was dirt and not clean. At least they could clean the table. Or maybe it was a time when laying down had started to become the norm for deliveries, thus making the ‘catch’ of the baby easier for the attending.
Maybe she was just in such poor health or physical stamina that she couldn’t be upright or holding onto the edge of the table. I don’t know. But I DO know, he was born on the kitchen table.
Maybe they caught him in the cleanest blanket they had, maybe not. I don’t think newspapers would have been freshly available. I can imagine a variety of mothers and other women there to assist, with the men outdoors just waiting for the news of success.
The sad part about the story is forthcoming. When he was born, for some reason his mouth wouldn’t open and he couldn’t breathe right. I doubt the women there had a suction device to clear his nasal passages as they do so routinely now. But if the baby isn’t crying right away, no matter what time and place, it’s not a great sign.
Crying clears out those lungs and stimulates the first difficult set of inhalations the baby has. When this doesn’t happen, chances aren’t good. But for some reason, my Grandpa wouldn’t open his mouth. I don’t know if he had a few breaths after arriving, or if just keeping his cord attached to his mother prolonged him enough.
The story goes that he was left to die on that kitchen table. This is hard for me to picture in my mind’s eye. I see a darling baby boy, still covered in fluids and perhaps the blanket, alone……all by himself on an empty, poor table.
I’m sure many tried to do what they could, maybe pinching him or burping his backside to get him to cry, something. But I don’t know those details and there’s no one alive that can tell me. I DO believe though, that any mother, especially my own Great-Grandmother would have tried to do all they could to keep their child alive.
Was a local doctor there? I don’t know, but I highly doubt it. Times weren’t like that. In far off rural places, even if you could contact a doctor, it could take hours even without knowing if they could come at once or not.
The story continues on. By a miracle, divine inspiration or spiritual prompting, one of the women thought of something to try. I don’t know exactly who, but it was a sister or aunt present. She took a plain spoon and used it to pry open my Grandpa’s mouth-and it worked.
Imagine the glorious joy running through that household when the first cries of this baby were heard. Tears of thankful hearts must have flooded the faces of these women, especially my Great-Grandmother. Prayers spoken to heaven and in the hearts of all present were truly answered and then sent to heaven again in glad tidings.
Can you imagine such a moment? They aren’t commonplace in the world you and I live in. But such things STILL happen, everyday, everywhere across the world. Women birthing their children in humble circumstances and experiencing fullness of joy when everything is well.
I cannot imagine the fear or anxiety experienced by such and my Great-Grandmother too, for I have not experienced it. But it gets me all emotional now just thinking about it. How GRATEFUL I am for my children and how I’ve been able to bring them into this world! (Many people lately avoid having children and miss out on such joys.)
Our abilities to do so much and then feel such of the greatest reward is beyond words and comprehension. I don’t think our husbands can experience it like we can. I KNOW that when we bond together as women, no matter who we are, we have that ONE thing connecting us all.
Let us take pride in ourselves at what we’re blessed to experience and the children we are consecrated to have. Without our gifts as women, and without divinely appointed families, life would not go on in such a triumphantly sublime way.
Here’s to my pride and joy, and also to yours.
Hi Sarah,
Being a mother is one of my greatest blessings and I thank God for giving me the gift to experience it,many women don’t get to have this opportunity.
I can see the family resemblance between your grandfather and you, he was a very handsome boy/man. This is an amazing story, and similar to many in those days. I also remember my mother telling my auntie had all of her 7 children alone at home!
I had a home birth with my son and I loved the experience, it wasn’t an easy birth because I had symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD, it was painful. (Maybe you can do a post about this) Anyway, if i had another pregnancy I would do it again. Would you?
I’ve never had a home birth, but I’m fully supportive of mothers who do. Thank you for your kind words. I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for my children and the abilities my body has too.
Yes, I can see why my Grandma ran off with him when they were young, very handsome at that.
I DO have a new post HERE about SPD relief and what mothers can do that have it. Sorry it was so painful for you.
Thanks for your comment, Ana.
Amazing Sarah, what a beautiful story and the way you told it had my eyes glued to the screen - you’re a great writer! I think it’s fascinating to delve into history and even moreso when it’s your own family’s one.
Thank you for sharing
Family history is so fascinating, and important. I wish I knew more details as I said. But it’s sure captivating to imagine what things were like at the time. I encourage everyone to learn their own personal family histories, atleast up to their great-grandparents. Thanks Jolie!
hi Sarah
the birthing experience sure has changed over time! wow how it must have been difficult then! Hence why the death rate (for both baby and mom) was quite higher. It must have been stressful for everyone. But it’s also a miracle what the human body is capable of isn’t it?
I agree with everything you’ve shared, Emily. Our bodies are miracles in themselves. Thanks for your comment!
This was a great story Sarah. My Grandfather passed away a few years ago leaving behind a few great stories as well. He was 94. My grandmother is still here and soon will be 99. She still tells some great old stories of the years past. God Bless and keep up the great stories.
My Grandpa here passed away about four years ago and he’s the only Grandpa I’ve ever known. I wish I could have seen his face when I placed my own children in his arms, but he passed before I started having children. But I know he’s watching us from heaven and knows my children that way. God bless you too, Ken.
Hi Sarah,
What an amazing story you have to tell, just goes to show how times have changed. I wonder if they would have tried to use a spoon in todays world. I hoped they kept the spoon.
I don’t know if it’s a problem nowadays because baby’s noses are usually suctioned first hand, thus providing air even if the mouth was closed. It is an interesting story, thanks Mark!
Wow, I now understand the difficulties present with childbirth and how back in the olden days they were much harder. Well I am glad that you aunt found the spoon and your grandpa made it.
Interesting post.
Brandon
I’m glad too. Thanks for your comment Brandon.
WOW what a story! Your grandpa was born on a kitchen counter, sounds classic if you ask me! I think miracles were meant to happen all the time like that, and I would really hope/think someone tried to do something before she used the spoon?!
Thanks for sharing.
Matt TheDopestMatrix
I’m sure many things were tried to get his mouth open. I wish I could chat with someone who was there though, even my Grandpa has passed on and I can’t ask him. But it’s interesting to think about. Thanks for your comment, Matt.
Wow! What a story. I dont think we really realize how dangerous it actually is to have a baby. Both for the mother and the child. I lost a good friend to childbirth. Neither she or the baby survived. It hit our community like a wrecking ball.
I think sometimes it’s like walking the fencepost of life. When you’re trying to balance yourself and the baby coming into the world, you could fall either way. But the direction the baby is coming from pushes you towards the journey of eternal life. Just a metaphor…
Sorry to hear about your friend, Travis. Things can happen. But know that your friend AND her baby are at our Savior’s side in heaven, just waiting for their loved ones to come someday. Thanks for your comment.
Great post and I will share with others via social media. Glad to see that you are grounded in your values and beliefs. Great Job!
Thanks so much for sharing, Tony. I’ve never had such a compliment before and I thank you.
The story about your grandpa’s birth gave me chills - Very touching. I am a fan of all things natural and organic and now a fan of your site!
I beleive both expecting and expectant mothers will find it very useful and informative.
Thank you for bringing this to the internet
Kindest Regards,
Keely
Thank you, Keely. I’m glad that you’ve enjoyed your visit and look forward for more. Let me know if there’s ever anything that you need and I’ll be here to help. Best!
What a great read. I love reading stories about how things were done “back then” We do have many comforts to make childbirth as “painless” as possible. Thank you for sharing this story!
I love the old stories too, so I thought I should share. As I said, I know like three details total in this entire experience. But imagining and thinking about all the possibilities creates such a grandeur to life and experiences. Thanks for your comment, Angel.