General Relief Society President Clarissa Smith Williams, who served from 1921 to 1928, became concerned early in her administration by the rates of infant and maternal mortality in the Church. As a result, maternal care became one of the hallmarks of the Relief Society in that era. Where Church population and finances permitted, Relief Societies opened maternity hospitals; all Societies were asked to prepare “maternity chests” (stocks of supplies and equipment) and “maternity bundles” (individual kits used in delivery or provided to mothers as a “starter”) for home births.

The cost of these supplies was paid for in part by the Relief Society’s “wheat interest”: When the Relief Society’s stored wheat was sold to the U.S. Government near the end of World War I, the money received was held and managed by the Church. Every year – through 1978! – the Relief Society received the interest on that money, divided among individual Relief Societies according to their proportionate share of the wheat that had been sold. Sometimes the payments were very small – amounts of less than $1 were typically paid through the sending of postage stamps – but in many other cases the amounts were large enough to make the maternity program feasible.

In 1923, the General Board provided the following information to ward and stake Relief Societies, to guide them in the assembly of maternity chests and bundles. Beyond an indication of the concern of the Relief Society for the lives of mothers and infants, these recommendations give an insight into birth practices of a century ago.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF GENERAL BOARD
Regarding
MATERNITY AND HEALTH

The General Board recommends:

I. That the wheat interest be reserved for maternity and health purposes.

II. (That as a first step in maternity and health work, something in the nature of a maternity chest or maternity bundles be established in each ward, or in each local community, whichever plan seems best for the community. (Where several wards are located in one town, these wards might join together in this work, if desired; or where all the wards in a stake are located in one city, or its suburbs, the work might be undertaken as a stake, with the wards pooling their funds in the stake board. The Pioneer Stake in Salt Lake City operates a large loan cupboard or chest for the whole stake, under the direction of the stake board.(See October conference minutes, Relief Society Magazine, December, 1923.)

III. That previous to the establishment of a maternity chest or maternity bundles, the needs of the community in this respect be carefully studied;

IV. That where chests and bundles are provided, arrangements be such that articles may be sold, rented where people are able to pay rent, loaned when necessary, or given to the needy;

V. That wherever possible, a nurse be asked to assist the presidency, or the committee, in the care and supervision of the maternity chests and bundles.

Care of Chests and Bundles: It will readily be understood that all articles must have proper care and be kept absolutely clean and sanitary. In one locality where there is a maternity chest established, the local hospital makes room for the chest and sterilizes materials used in connection therewith. Where sanitary pads for immediate use after the birth cannot be procured or purchased, cloths, etc.,which may be used, should be sterilized by baking thoroughly for at least one hour, or if used the same day, by ironing with hot iron. It is suggested that those in charge of this work consult local doctors and nurses or hospitals with regard to the sterilizing and preparing of various articles, and their proper care when not in use.

SUGGESTIONS

1. Maternity Chest containing all sorts of articles for the mother and new baby; also accessories such as syringes, bedpan, hot water bags, etc. (From such a chest articles might be selected for various needs.)

2. Ready-to-use Maternity Bundles.

3. First baby necessities (shirt, band, gown, diaper, blanket.)

4. Layette, ready to use.

Note: As a beginning, a ward or community might start on a small scale and gradually add those things most needed. Some might prefer to have a general stock in the maternity chest, with no ready-made bundles; others might prefer to have ready-made maternity bundles, first baby necessities, and layettes prepared, wrapped and ready for use.

SUGGESTIONS

Note: A large number of articles are listed below from which may be selected those most needed in each locality.

MATERNITY CHEST

1 bedpan
2 hot water bag
1 ice bag
1 enema can (all attachments: nose, rectal, douche points, rubber tubing, clamps)
1 catheter – rubber and glass
1 rectal tube
1 pitcher – 1-quart size
1 slop bucket
1 electric pad

Surgical Supplies

Absorbent cotton
Bandages and gauze
Boracic Acid
Lysol
Argyrol tablets, 1-grain
Glycerine
Olive oil
Vaseline tubes
Iodine
Umbilical cord
Medicine droppers – 1/2 dozen
Measuring glasses – 1/2 dozen
Soap – toilet and laundry
Witch hazel
Applicators (tooth picks wrapped with cotton)
Thermometers

Emergency Supplies

All types of infants’ apparel– used, repaired and new
Mother’s apparel – underwear and gowns.

Bedding

Pillow cases
Sheets
Spreads
Towels, wash cloths
Tray covers
Quilts, blankets, etc.

MATERNITY BUNDLES

I

1 yard white oilcloth
3 sanitary packs (to be used after birth)
safety pins
olive oil
talcum powder
boracic acid, prepared solution
Lysol
Medicated cotton
gauze
1 bar soap

II

1 yard white oilcloth
1 white sheet
1 pad, 1-yard square
1 gown
2 large perineal pads
12 large sponges
1 binder for breast, with pins
1 binder for abdomen, with pins
1 pair long hip stockings, made of outing flannel, supplied with safety pins
6 towels
1 pair rubber gloves
1 receiving blanket
1 cord tie and cord dressing
1 baby band
4 sponges
1 diaper
piece of absorbent cotton

FIRST BABY NECESSITIES: Shirt, band, gown, diaper, blanket
LAYETTE: 6 dresses, 4 skirts, 3 shirts, 3 strips flannel, 3 dozen diapers, 4 nightgowns, 1 blanket
Note: Baby clothes should be simple and comfortable and not longer than 24 inches.

-oooOooo-

For further reading, see: Jill Mulvay Derr, Janath Russell Cannon, and Maureen Ursenbach Beecher, Women of Covenant: The Story of Relief Society (1992), 232–40.