OUR BABIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 140, 2 March 1918, Page 5

OUR BABIES

[Br HyciiA.l

Published under the auspices of the Hoyal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children. "It is wiser to put uu a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain au ambulance at the bottom." PRK-XATAL CAKK. Last week we made some extracts from an article by Mrs. Anna S. Richardson on "When Does liaby's Lift , Begin?" We now give the remainder of her reuiaiks ou the subject. MliS. RICJT.AUDSON'S AUTICI/E. (Concluded.) Maternal luiprepsione. Hundreds of women write u> me about au-iiiuuls, aliucks, sigliu, au-j go wwi ivhkli they fear may mark the unborn child. Science has long since proved that ths formation cf the child—and by tr.u.!/ 1 msaii what ;i mother might mill Hi anatomical structure—is. battled pnict" ,, - ally in the hour cf conception. A child is not marked or malformed later by any chock suffered by the mother. If such a ead thing happens, it ia a coincidence, not the result of the shock t« tho mother. On the other hand, many more women write that they ure hysterical and nervous, irritable and Imirful, and they lay these conditions to yirunjifcetive motherhood, not to their lacu of self-control, which will work serious damage 1o the unborn chilli. The nervous, hysterical woman docs not digest her food properly, and indigestion in the mother means lack of nourishment tar the ohi)d Nervousness uml hysteria ■are more dangerous to the unborn child than shock or fright. We Must Interest Prospective Mothers, This article has dot been written to explain in detail the various steps in prenatal care. Jt aims only to interest prospective lnothoro in the marvellous powcf of prevention which lips behind that | phraeo, pre-natal care. . The. right wrt ! of ca-re lor tho. mother means, health for. the baby, and that is why the eecond great day in a baby's existence is the one on which the woman learns that | she is to bear a child, and her responsibilities begin. American phyeicinnß are fight.ing to safefhiard babies by various methods. Heforms, however, can come only with cooperation between progressive physicians and earnest, intelligent, women. This will bs given by women directly they understand the possibilities, the heauty, the optimism of motherhood, through better prenatal oare. And beforp understanding niusl como information, lutellicently, enthusiastically given, a .. campaign being cavried on by public health officers in many States. At a recent gathering of medical men a. prominent physician was quoted as de. tbo pr-onnt-'lay pvfitem of public h°alth eduction through Dublic health ofnoiala, welfare- workers, the lay Press, and qo forth. All such work, he explain- <■".. s'inuld be controlled by graduate phy6icians.. Women's flights. Ine average physician intelligent enough to conduct any sort of a public health education campaign Is too busy with private practice and teaching work in the nearest medical school. Health officials, and welfare workers are merely passing, on* to the public the truths of sane, safe living which doctors have been urging on their private patients. It is now too late for any physician or medical body to stem the rising desire for knowledge on the part of girls and women who will some day become mothers. They demand the right to safeguard themselves and their unborn children, and the higher their standards of pre-natal care and ljygienic living, the more will they appreciate higher standards of medical service. Superstition flies out of the window when intelligence comes in at tbo door. For generations motherhood has been shrouded in superstition, tradition, signs, and omens, to the detriment of both mother and child. But the age of dark magic in motherhood and iu all medical practice has paesed. If you want a healthy baby, study prenatal care, and live what you learn. Bear In mind that it is less expensive to guard your health and your baby's before your baby comes into the world than to employ high-priced specialists to correct defects or reduce ailments that might never have como if preventive measures had been taken.

THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT BOOK FOR MOTHEBB. '"The Expectant Mother and Baby's First Month." propnred by the society and iesucd by the Public Health Department free of chargr,, can be obtained on application (including l!d. for postage) from the Matron, Karitane-Harria Hospital; the Plunket nurses, tho honorary secretaries of the branches, and the Registrars in the principal towns. The society is specially anxious that every prospective mother should receive a copy of this little hook Ion? before the birth of her baby, and wo feel sure that if thie is done very prent benefit will accrue to mother and child, and much trouble and sickness will be prevented. Our readers will do a good service if they draw the attention of any of their friends, who would be benefited by the book, to the fact that Jt may be had on application. I The Plunket Nnrsee will he irlad to see expectant mothers either at the eocietyls room or in their own homoß The nurses' services are free.