Birth: Tony

On March 25, 1928, I was getting pains. It was time for my second baby. I went to Overlook Hospital in Summit, N.J., because of the bleeding I had for my first baby. I got to the hospital at 3:33 a.m. When I got to the hospital everything stopped. One day later on March 26, my pains started again but still no birth. The doctor decided he would give me one more day. Then he would have to do something to bring it along. On March 27, 1928, at 3:33 a.m. my baby was born. We had another son.

My husband and I decided to call him Frank, after my father. Then my husband changed his mind because he was afraid that we wouldn't have any more sons, and he wanted one named for himself. I felt bad about it for a while, until one of the nurses talked to me and she said, “Mrs. Lupardi, I think your husband is right. It shouldn't upset you that much.” How true that was, because then we had three daughters.

In those days we were kept in the hospital for 10 days. The doctor charged $50.00 and the hospital $100.00. They gave us good meals and a lot of attention. If we complained about anything, the nurses would take care of it. The nurses were really good to the patients.

When my son was born, there was another delivery going on at the same time, in the next delivery room. The other lady kept yelling. The doctor said to me, “Don't let it scare you; she is just a baby.”

My sister-in-law Rose took care of our son John at her house. She also cooked for my husband. I was still wearing black on account of my mother's death. In those days we wore black for two years for a mother or father. My sister-in-law Rose talked to me and made me understand that my mother surely would be happy for me if I made myself happier for my husband's sake. So, when she sent me clothes to wear home from the hospital she sent me a black and white dress I had. It made me look pretty. I thanked her for being so concerned.

We now had a 19-month-old son and a newborn. We were very happy. My husband was thrilled to be the father of two boys. My husband made all our sweet drinks, such as creme de menthe. When our friends and family came to see the new baby, they would bring a gift. We would give them a drink and then coffee and cake. Of course my husband gave out the cigars.

I found it hard with two small babies. My son John was a very good baby by now. When I first came home from the hospital John wouldn't have anything to do with me. He kept following his father all around the house. He wouldn't let me feed him. Tony used to feed him and show him that he loved him. Tony also was a big help around the house. He was a good father and husband.

Eventually John took to me again. I would put diapers and baby clothes in lower drawers so that John could reach them. When I needed them I would call John and say, “John, please help Mommy get a diaper for your baby brother.” Sometimes I would sit him on the couch and put the baby in his arms and tell him to hold his brother. It made John very happy because he felt he was important being older and helping Mommy.

Sometimes John would find hairpins on the floor and he would come to me and say, “Mommy, I got pinny.” Then he would stick them in my hair. Sometimes he pushed them in too far and they would sting me.

When I found it too difficult, my mother-in-law would come to help me for a few days. Then she wanted to go back. It was too quiet for her; she wanted to go back and talk to all her friends on South Street. They all had a great respect for her because she was a midwife.

I had no mother since I was 21. I missed her very much. I had no one to tell my problems to. I got very close with my oldest sister Cora. She was now living on the second floor of my father's house. She cooked for my father and two brothers. She also washed their clothes.