OUR BABIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 186, 27 October 1927, Page 5

OUR BABIES

By

Hygeia.

Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society). “It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom."

A PLUNKET NURSE’S TALK TO MOTHERS.—(Concluded.) . THE TWELVE ESSENTIALS.— (Continued). 'B.—The Teeth.

"Our eighth point is that the teeth should be attended to as soon as possible. Without good teeth and thorough mastication the best of diet falls short of the ideal. The old idea that you must lose ‘a tooth for every baby* is absurd. The teeth are only affected if the mother fails to take enough of the right kind of food to supply the building materials for her baby’s body as well as her own—fresh fruit and vegetables, brown bread, milk, and so on. Decayed teeth and dirty mouths are dangerous. “Once the teeth have been attended to, they should be kept clean and sound by regular cleaning and the right food. A small piece of apple eaten at the end of meals helps to keep the teeth and mouth clean. 9. Clothing “All the garments should be loose and lights supported from the shoulders, with no constricting bands, no garters, and no prec :ure on the breasts. Ordinary corsets are injurious, but if support is needed a simple, speciallydesigned abdominal support gives comfort with safety. I have one here, which I shall be pleased to show to anyone interested. Brassieres are specially injurious, because they constrict the chest and flatten breasts and nipples. 'lO. Preparation for Nursing “The dream of every mother should be to nurse her baby. Preparation of the breasts beforehand greatly helps her to realise her dream. The whole breast should be toned up by regular daily sponging with cold water and brisk drying. If there has been difficulty in fully breast feeding before, the breasts may bo further stimulated by sponging with hot and cold water alternately, finishing with the cold. The nipples should be rubbed with a perfectly clean toothbrush kept for the purpose, and, if necessary, drawn out and formed. This greatly helps to prevent painful cracks and fissures later, and makes it easier to get baby established on his right and natural food. 11. Regularity of all Habits “Regular daily evacuation of the bowels is all-important, and should be secured without medicine, by taking a good, wholesome diet, plenty of water, and plenty of outdoor exercise. Tho special abdominal exercises also assist in preventing o,r curing a tendency to constipation, and about 10 to 15 drops of the best liquid extract of cascara may be used as a tonic laxative if required. No castor oil or purgatives should bo taken, nor should any drugs be continued without medical direction. If constipation persists always consult a doctor. “Regularity of all habits—meal times, bed time, rest time, and so on —helps toward health and freedom from strain. “The urine should bo tested by doctor or nurse at certain intervals. It is most important that the kidneys should function properly, and that any abnormality in the urine should bo detected at once. “With perfect regularity and attention to all the rules of health, there may be no tendency to ‘morning sickm ’ but if there is the matter is not ono for worry or anxiety, because the tendency usually passes off about the third or fourth month. Drinking a glass of water slowly on waking and staying in bed until after ' a light breakfast often proves an effective remedy. 12. Danger Signals “Without being preoccupied with ‘symptoms’ or in any way anticipating trouble, the expectant mother should know that certain conditions are not normal, and that these should bo reported to doctor or nurse at once. Early recognition of abnormalities means prompt treatment and cure. The things to report at once are these: Persistent vomiting, persistent constipation, persistent headaches, any blurring of sight, any swelling of tho face or hands or increased swelling of the ankles, any loss of blood or abdominal pain. “To sum up this little account cf the essentials, the main thing is for the mother-to-be to realise that bringing a baby into the world is a normal thing, and that all she needs to do is just to live sensibly, healthily and happily. In this she will be helped by attending an ante-natal clinic if she can, or by communicating regularly with the Plunket nurse in the district and carrying out the advice given. This advice will also bo found in the books I have here to show you, and of which you can obtain copies if you wish. “I shall be very pleased to answer questions if there are any points I have not made quite clear.”