Bina Northcott celebrates 101 years since extraordinary homebirth
Bina Northcott was born premature at home 101 years ago, long before intensive care existed for babies. But her handy mum’s ingenious plan kept her alive and thriving for more than a century.
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It’s 101 years today since Bina Northcott entered the world in extraordinary circumstances.
Her mother gave birth alone in her kitchen, long before the baby was due.
Bina was born extremely prematurely — almost three months early, she says. In that era, the prospects of survival for such early premmies were dismal.
By luck, Bina’s mother worked as a nurse in a doctor’s surgery, where she’d no doubt picked up a few tips that came in handy that day.
After giving birth, Bina’s mother, whose husband was away for work, placed the tiny preterm baby in a pie dish — and kept her warm next to the bread in or on the oven.
Bina’s niece, Anne Arnold, says the remarkable story has been shared around the family many times.
“Bina tells everyone about the pie dish and the oven!” Anne says.
“She was born in the kitchen, and the pie dish was just there, so the baby was put in the pie dish, put in cotton wool, I believe, and put in the oven or on the hob to keep the baby warm.
“It would have been a very old oven, and they had hobs on the side, and you used to keep things on the side to keep them warm.”
Somehow Bina not only survived, but thrived, and went on to lead a wonderful life.
Born in Boort, 250km northwest of Melbourne, Bina survived the tough years of the Depression and World War II, trained as a seamstress, ran a fashion business in Melbourne, enjoyed a long and happy marriage, and travelled the world in retirement.
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These days, she lives in a nursing home in Echuca, and is still an avid reader and knitter for her many nieces and nephews and their families.
“She’s a real character,” Anne says.
“Her big thing now is knitting koalas for babies — anyone who has a baby gets a koala.
“She’s a remarkable woman, an amazing role model and a real legend, and we’re all really, really proud of her and love her to bits.”
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