OUR BABIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 136, 26 February 1918, Page 3

OUR BABIES

fBY HTG2U.I

Published under the auspices of the Royal Now Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children. "It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom." PRE-NATAL CARE. The following extracts from an article entitled "When Docs Baby's Life Begin? by Mrs. Anna Steese Richardcon, which appeared in the "Pictorial Review, will interest many of our readers. In the United States of America, partioularly in Boston, a. &rcat work naß been carried on among prospective mothers with tho most encouraging results—both mothers and babies deriving much benefit, and the infant mortality rate being very considerably diminished where such work haß been undertaken. We hope that the American way of putting things will arrest the attention of some who may have given little heed to what has been written on tho subject in this column. MRS. RICHARDSON'S ARTICLE. "In travail ahalt thou bring forth children," cried an outraged Deity to the world's first mother. "In ignorance shalt thou attain motherhood," added' BOciety to the women who came after ier.. ■ Small wonder that, under thin double cutbo, civilised nations have steadily deteriorated.

The Divina edict weakened women through fear of pain, and society's ban of silence and mystery prevented any intelligent preparation for tho supremo event of their lives. Result: The present alarming rate of infant mortality, tho inexcusable waste- of mother-stTcngth in semi-invalidlsm, due largely to lack of self-care, and the, very Dommon belief that tho lifo of tho child and the responsibilities of tho mother «tart together the day on which the baby comes into the world. In reality, the baby's life begins in the houcpof conception, and the mother s responsibilities in the hour when fhe. realises that she is to bring a little child (nto tho world. Her baby'a health is erounded in pre-natal oaro. . . • Scienoe has developed marvellous preventive measures in dealing with the exDectant mother, and, fortunately for unborn ohildren, women aro beginning to learn of these measures and to demand them. ... A young wife who had been petted by parents and a doting husband exercised no solf-eonlrol nor will-power before her baby was born. She gavo up all exercise, all recreation, and spent her time in 1-ewuiiing her fat*, principally in bed or on a lounge, with a .novel or magazine for companion. Naturally she developed insomnia, lor Which a long-suffering family doctor, who was not permitted to discipline her. gave her soothine drugs. Her baby struggled feebly for life, but died within forty-eight hours of birth. The young mother is now a semi-invalid. By contrast here is tho testimony of a correspondent: "Thanks to your suggebtions for prenatal hygiene, I am better than I have ever been- In my life. As I wrote you, my life before marriage was spent in a. business office, and 1 I was in bad condition nervously and physically. But when t learned that my baby's health would de.pend upon mine, i determined to he well, and, for the first time in my life. I led a systematic, normal existence. I relieved indigestion by diet, exercise, and drinking water. I improved my circulation with regular exercises in the fresh air. I even slept outdoors in a little room we built, over the kitchen extension. "My baby is fine, and you'd never tninK I graduated from a neurotic office girl into a healthy mothor, just through prenatal care." Read this story of a young wife who fought and conquered tuberculosa through pre-natal care. She was always a delicate girl, but no one, herself • least of all, suspected tuberculosis. When it developedalmost simultaneously with the knowledge that she was to becomo a mother-she showed a strength of will and courage that few girls can boast. She induced her hußband to move to the highest suburb near the city where he had an office. There she took the outdoor cure. Her health improved steadily, her ohild was born normally, and in neither is there trace of the dreaded white plague. . If pre-natal care, hygienic living, correct diet, and the proper mental attitude can overcome Buch obstacles to safe, healthy motherhood as are described in thcßo cases, what can it not do for the normal mother and her unborn child? What should tho prospective mother do Place herself under the care oE, a. reputable phyoician. It is not economical to wait until the eleventh hour to engage or consult a physician. Prevention is true economy. It will cost less to prevent a complication than, to relieve it , We women know perfectly well wncthet wo are leading regular hygienic lives, or whether wo are defying the simplest laws of Nature. If you aro eating food that does not agreo with you, simply because yon like it, cut those items out of youi diet. Indigestion and *11 ailments or the intestinal tract increase the diecomfort of the expectant mother. If you have a tendency to overdo, to work or to exercise for pleasure until you are "dead tired," as bo many women will, now is your time >to cultivate the Habit of rest and repose. Sleep eight houre each night, take a regular rest if you cannot sleep in the mid-afternoon, and learn to sit down as much as possible ii your household taßks. Women can train themselves to wash dishes, prepare vegetables, and iron while seated on a chair or stool nroperly adjusted to sink or tabic. . P On the other hand, if you are sluggish and auathotic, now is the time to. rouse yourself, for the good of your circulation. Bathe once a dr.v and rnb. the flesh with a rough towel. Walk and work outdoors when the weather pcrmitß. The woman who has a small garden may count this as an asset in pre-natal care The woman who hafl no garden in which to work should take brisk walks, not for shopoing or visiting, but for exercise, for an hour or two each day. We Small continue Mrs. {Richardson s article next week.