Monthly Nurse

[suey]

Hi goldy,

With respect, I've never come across such a usage (at any date).

The site you quote is great fun and has some great cartoons.
But not, I fear, to be relied upon in this instance   

JAP

I'm not sure I agree with you on this one, goldy's explanation may have some relevance - I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that 'ladies of quality' regularly took to their beds at certain times of the month.  I can quite see that they might employ someone to take care of them.

Suey

[goldy]

   I maybe wrong as I'm new to this.   no offence taken.

But I think it could be fesable, escpecialy if they sufered like I do. I have a condition called Endometriousis that renders me incapable of moving some months. I have a very understanding family but in those days a Woman of standing would have a nursemaid. posibly.

[JAP]

Hi suey and goldy,

Obviously it's up to you to make your own interpretations of the occupation.  However, I do think it's necessary to draw a distinction between, on the one hand, situations which may have occurred and, on the other hand, the standard accepted meaning of 'Monthly Nurse'.   The accepted meaning used by genealogists is that the formal occupation Monthly Nurse in a census refers to a nurse employed for the month after the birth of a baby.  It's also the dictionary definition - I've just checked it out in my old (1960-ish) 2v SOED.

Here, at
http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/LONDON/2000-12/0976257496
is a rather nice down-to-earth description of what a Monthly Nurse might do:
"She cared for a new mother and infant and also the rest of the family,
while the mother recovered. It was a tougher business having babies
then, in insanitary conditions, with semi-skilled help, and the mother
would 'lie in' for a couple of weeks and take it easy for a couple more,
apart from feeding the baby.
The nurse was often a practical local woman, herself a mother of
umpteen, who coped with all the domestic problems (hungry husbands,
rackety siblings, housework, etc). She might help out with the
confinement though she was not normally a trained midwife.
She lived in, and often you will find the husband a few doors away,
presumably clamourting for his food to be got as well. The monthly nurse
usually was engaged by the slightly better off families who did not have
normal live in staff, or only a general servant or 'girl for the rough'.
(small farmers, tradesmen etc) The upper class had a panoply of nanies
and nursery maids who coped instead. The poorer people tried to get Gran
or a sister in to help.
--
Eve McLaughlin
Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians
Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society"

Regards,

JAP

[suey]

Hi Jap -  Yes I agree

The accepted meaning used by genealogists is that the formal occupation Monthly Nurse in a census refers to a nurse employed for the month after the birth of a baby.  It's also the dictionary definition - I've just checked it out in my old (1960-ish) 2v SOED.

I was just pointing out for interest that there was an alternative meaning, as was goldy.

Suey

[JAP]

I was just pointing out for interest that there was an alternative meaning, as was goldy.
Suey

To be pedantic (  ), I don't think that there is any alternative meaning.  In this instance, I think that suggesting some other interpretation (per the cartoon site) is positively misleading.

Anyway, I guess we've taken this discussion as far as it can go.

All the very best,

JAP
PS: Nevertheless, I always stand willing to be corrected and will always then willingly apologise and happily push the proverbial peanut round the room with my nose ...   

[bluesky]

Thanks, everyone!

Very enlightening and very entertaining, too.

Brilliant links, you lot!

Bluesky x