Densho Digital Repository - Yae Wada Interview (Densho ID: ddr-densho-1000-476-9)

[Correct spelling of certain names, words and terms used in this interview have not been verified.]

<Begin Segment 9>

PW: So when you were in Topaz, you told me that you actually became pregnant again, and you had a baby?

YW: Yes.

PW: Tell me about it.

YW: I was still sick. I was so sick that I didn't have milk. I think when... the mothers that I know, the mothers that I know all wanted to breastfeed, because then they would be assured that their babies would get milk. The milk that the -- and this is what I was told -- and I always asked about these things because I couldn't breastfeed, I didn't have enough milk, and one of it was because I was in such poor health. They did tell me that the milk that they had first went to little children that were in camp, and I guess about two or three year olds and younger. They were first choice, and then also the next was the people that were sick in the hospitals. So those of us who had babies were expected to breastfeed, but because I wasn't able to, I was able to get into this group where we came after the little children and after the people in the hospital. Then if you needed milk for the baby, and I needed formula for the baby, we kind of had to wait in line, we were next. So that meant getting up early in the morning so you would get your five bottles of formula. So I think the mothers in camp had a hard time.

PW: Did you give birth in the hospital?

YW: Yes, I did.

PW: How long did you stay? Do you remember anything about that?

YW: No, and because I was sick, I had a complication, so I did stay... I think they said not quite two weeks. I kind of lost track of time again because we had no calendars, no way of knowing, so I did lose track of time.

PW: And the baby was a girl?

YW: Baby was a girl. And she was born with a weak heart, she had heart murmur, so they did tell me that (...) I should never get her into things like active sports. When she got tired, she would probably just sit down or lay down, which she did. And also, we didn't tell her, I didn't tell her, because then she would be too tired to do things like make the bed and wash the dishes. She wasn't sick that way, if she got tired, she would sit down. She didn't miss very much, but she did love sports, but she just couldn't participate. She was (...) great at supporting the teams. But for herself, she couldn't participate, but that was all right. I made sure she had her other fun activities.