05/09/2024
40 years ago I was living in Crown Mines Johannesburg I was pregnant with my first child and my partner Kurt Egelhof was in London performing. We were sharing a house with Moira. Sue Dinner and Moira took me to Mary Mount and it was the saddest moment when they were not allowed to come with me. This Maternity Home was run by the nuns. They heard I was a performer and shared that Brenda Fassie also gave birth at the Mary Mount.
I had no idea as to the pain I was going to endure or the time that I will be in labour. I sat in the holding area where all the couples were. Partners/husbands massaging the back of their wives. Later I asked the nurse if I could go lie down. I was shown to the labour room. I was wheeled in and out several times to hand over the space to moms who was minutes away from welcoming their newborn into the world. I was in labour but the baby did not want to "drop" eventually she arrived in the early hours of the morning with the umbilical chord around her neck. She notified the world that she is alive and well. I was wheeled to my room with my baby girl in my arms. Dr Jean Sharpe was my doctor. Judy Richardson referred me to her when we were busy with Barnum.. Because she knew that I was in the Entertainment Industry she gave me a discount on my visits plus delivering the baby. She would attend the musicals that I performed in and she introduced me to her daughter after one show.
Peter Holden stepped in for Kurt while I was in labour. He told me that the nurses called him Mr Da Rocha and they allowed him to visit me after the birth. Peter showed me the cigar he smoked while I was in Labour π₯°π₯°
The next morning I sent him to buy some toiletries which I had forgotten to pack.
As a first time mom, the breast feeding did not happen easily and the blues set in on the 3rd
day. With an engorged breast and the blues I was not in a good space. Dr Jean Sharpe advised me to stay. "Stay one more day. We have nurses that will look after your baby so that you can rest"
I took her advice and stayed one more day.
Moira and Sue fetched me from the hospital.
The first night I slept with her in the bed, I stayed awake the entire evening...making sure that I do not smother my newborn baby.
Talia Alexis you taught me lessons that I would carry for the rest of my life.
Tomorrow you will be 40. You have carved your own journey. You are a mother now. We know being a parent is not easy. As parents we do life day by day. NO 2 days are the same. May you be Blessed with Health Love, Joy and Happiness
Natalia Da Rocha