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The Story behind the Midwife’s Bag
In the 1960s, Mrs Moffat worked as a busy midwife, helping deliver new-born babies across East Belfast. Decades later, her family found her midwives’ bag in an attic where it had been left untouched. The bag still contained Mrs Moffat’s midwifery tools.
The bag was recently donated to EastSide Partnership and the Epidemic Belfast helped understand its unique contents.
In this story, we recreate the work life of Mrs Moffat through her work belongings, video content and original short posts on the history of midwifery in Belfast.
Developed by Ian Miller, Rhianne Morgan, Rebecca Watterson and Caitlin Smith (Ulster University) with Lisa Rea Currie and Sam Guthrie (EastSide Partnership).
What’s in the Bag?
(1) Until the mid-20th century, most births took place at home and were usually attended by a midwife. Like many midwives, Moffat carried her essential tools around in a pigskin leather bag.
(2) Midwives carried stitching needles around with them in case minor surgery needed to be performed such as an episiotomy.
(3) A notepad would have been essential to help Moffat record names, addresses and other important information while doing her rounds.
(4) Dilators would sometimes have been used to help the birth progress smoothly.
(5) Umbilical pads.
(6) Southall’s Linen Thread would have been used with the needles for minor surgery.
(7) Ergometrine Maleate. This was highly toxic if inhaled or swallowed. Chemically similar to LSD, ergometrine was used medicinally in child-birth to stimulate the smooth muscle of the uterus and encourage the passing of the placenta.
(8) A razor would have been used if shaving was considered necessary during childbirth.
(9) A metal and glass syringe used to inject substances such as the ergometrine maleate.
(10) A baby spring balance was used to record the weight of new-born babies. it could measure up to 16oz (7.2kg). When the child was placed in the hammock, the spring and measurement was read.
Video
The Ulster Hospital for Women and Sick Children was founded in 1872 and located in Chichester Street. It moved to Mountpottinger Road but suffered significant damage during the Belfast Blitz. The hospital then moved to Templemore Avenue until 1962.
The Ulster Hospital was formed in 1962, and these shots show nurses taking care of some of the babies. Filming took place at the opening ceremony performed by Dr Robert Marshall. The ward was named after Templemore Avenue Hospital where Marshall once worked.
Courtesy of Northern Ireland Screen: Digital Film Archive.
Articles
Alternatively, listen to our podcast interview.
By Caitlin Smith, PhD researcher at Ulster University.
Exploring oral history accounts of Northern Irish women’s experiences of pregnancy and childbirth.
By Ian Miller, Senior Lecturer in Medical History, Ulster University.
Event
In February 2023, the Epidemic Belfast team hosted a memories event relating to Ulster Women and Children Hospital (Templemore Avenue) at EastSide Visitor Centre.
Have you any memories, photographs or videos of the Disinfecting Station at Laganbank Road? We would love to hear, see and share them! Please get in touch via email engage@epidemic-belfast.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or using our contact form