There is a tendency for people to think that anything worthwhile must be of recent times and that modern birthing methods were unknown 50-odd years ago.
It is sad to think one of the pioneers of recent birthing, Dr Grantly Dick-Read, is almost unheard of nowadays. I would like to pay tribute to him and his wife, who changed many lives over the years.
I am now a woman of 76 who, at the age of 15, read the abbreviated version of Dr Read's book, Childbirth without Fear, and decided there and then that I would have my children that way one day.
Imagine my delight, when I was pregnant in 1952, to see that Dr Read was in South Africa to train doctors and staff in his methods.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, so at the age of 20 I headed off by train from Randfontein to Joburg to beard the lion in his own den. I was terrified as he was world-renowned and I wasn't sure whether I could afford his fees or whether he was taking on new patients.
On entering his consulting room, however, I met the most wonderful, sincere, warm and loving man who was going to change my life forever.
He was willing to take me on as a patient - I'm sure my enthusiasm and excitement were apparent to him - and he adjusted his fees to the income of his patients.
Once a week I travelled through to attend antenatal classes conducted by Mrs Read and followed their advice to the letter. I knew that Dr Read was right in saying that birth should be one of the most wonderful times in one's life.
My husband John went along with these beliefs and encouraged me every step of the way. After an uneventful nine months, during which I exercised and gained the correct amount of weight, I had my bag packed, ready to go. I thought I would be safe in packing one of my honeymoon dresses to wear when I came out of hospital - a tailored, tight-fitting linen dress.
At 2pm on February 12 1952, my water broke. I phoned John, who brought the light delivery van home (we didn't have a car of our own) and off we went to the Marymount Maternity Home.
During the journey, because of the poor suspension and cramped space, I began to think that it was not going to be the easy experience I had come to believe it would be. But I kept at my deep breathing, even through my arrival at the hospital and the preparation that followed (enema, shaving, etc).
John was a star, rubbing my back and encouraging the deep breathing, and the staff were in and out regularly. I was aware that I could ask for pain relief at any time and it would not be regarded as an admission of failure but at no time did I feel that I was not coping.
When the time came to push I was put into the correct position and got into the rhythm of pushing with the contractions and relaxing in between them.
At about 8.45pm I gave birth to a daughter weighing 3,4kg. I was so happy to know that Dr Read had been correct in saying that it was a natural procedure and not one to be associated with agony.
I was taken back to the ward. On being told that I had come straight from labour, the others were astounded as I was not exhausted. I proceeded to sit up in bed and put my hair into pin curls, ready for visitors in the morning.
We were kept in hospital longer in those days but, on being discharged, I zipped up my dress and sallied forth, so grateful for all I had learnt.
Fourteen months after Kathleen was born, I had my second baby at home in Welkom. It took two hours.
We then moved to Ghana and I found that I was expecting again so I sent for my "bible", Dr Read's book. The doctor up there knew very little about this method and asked me to give classes to the other expectant mothers.
I had never taught in my life but had the mothers over for coffee once a week and showed them what I was doing and why. They all benefited and had good birthing experiences.
On my return to South Africa, I wrote to Dr Read and asked whether I could continue as I had so enjoyed passing my experience onto others.
He said that since I had a nursing background and had learnt his methods I would be a better teacher than someone teaching from a textbook.
At the time, 1958, we were living in Springs and I visited the local maternity home and wrote letters to all the doctors telling them about my antenatal classes. Then the phone calls started coming in.
I continued giving classes until we moved to Carletonville in 1961, when I again introduced myself to the hospital and doctors. It was there I had my fourth child, Frank.
I gave antenatal classes for 30 years, assisting many hundreds of mothers and babies. It was one of the most rewarding things I could have done.
The fact that I wanted to be a full-time mother and not go out to work also made it ideal. In fact, my little ones heard my talks so often that I would find them practising their breathing and saying: "Now push".
I lost my husband of 54 years 18 months ago and now lead a full life with my three daughters and sons-in-law - my son and his wife live in Dubai - and have four super grandsons and four beautiful granddaughters. The operative word in that sentence is "grand" as I have been so blessed all my life.