OUR BABIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 February 1941, Page 8

OUR BABIES

Published tinder tne auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society). j "It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance I (it the bottom.'’ WISE MOTHERHOOD. I Motherhood is woman’s exclusive II profession, the highest of all callings f for which a woman may qualify; yet how little thought of preparation or , training is considered necessary for it. j The general idea seems to be that a woman is endowed with instinct that will guide her in fulfilling her duties ’ as a mother. However, we know that with the complexities of our presentday civilisation instinct alone is not . sufficient. Knowledge is also necessary ) for safe guidance. Knowledge of the i laws that govern the health of the body and mind are necessary for good motherhood. These laws are very . simple when once they are appreciat- . ed. and they should become part of the . customary daily life without producing I an irksome sense of duty in performing . them. ; To the highest and the lowest in the land Nature is equally bountiful as far . as the essentials of life are concerned. Therefore to all is given equal possi- ; bility of producing what is finest and best, and the responsibility of motherhood accepted in this spirit will be what it is intended to be —one of infinite joy. T raining for motherhood should be i part of every young girl's education. As a potential mother of the future, she should be taught regarding the structure of the body and it functions, and learn how the health of the body can best be preserved to enable her to develop to the highest standard of physical fitness. Iler mind should be prepared with the right knowledge presented in the right way. so that she may learn to reverence the sanctity of the body and the glory of mother- [ hood. Such knowledge will be her surest safeguard against all future fears and misunderstandings. Having prepared the way, the young ' mother should have no unnatural or j ignorant fears concerning herself or 1 , her baby in the natural fulfilment of i Nature’s wonderful plan of creation. The expectant mother should be radiantly healthy, happy, and uplifted. During the time a mother is carrying her baby (known as the ante-natal period) life for the mother should run a natural course, providing she has I always kept herself fit; but, even so, she should be under the supervision of her doctor, not only to lighten her responsibilities, but more particularly that he may detect any slight symptom before it develops into a condition more serious, thus endangering in any way the well-being of mother and baby. For this reason it is wise for the mother to consult her doctor as soon as she is aware that she is preg-1 mint. She will also be greatly helped | by visiting an ante-natal clinic or. as j it is called by the Plunket Society, the "Ante-natal Section.” < In all the big centres in New Zea- i land there is an ante-natal section attached to the Plunket rooms, with a . Hilly qualified nurse in charge, wnose ’ duty it is to give advice on the health . of the mother during this period and the preparation of necessary garments ! . and articles for baby's coming. She . will y’vjw the mother the best mater-, ials and the method of making them. 1 ■ and the best typo of cot, mattresses, i 1 bedding, and pram to buy. If a mother ’ does not live within distance of an 1 ante-natal section she can obtain simi- ' lar help from the nearest Plunket 1 nurse. Briefly, let us summarise good health > as follows:— i ( 1. Good circulation • meaning an active. healthy blood stream) supplied with sufficient fluid for the baby’s ■ ( m eds and those elements our food supplies for building new tissues and • repairing old ones. ■ ‘ ! borough elimination, this being necessary to maintain the purity of the I blood by the removal of impurities t from the body through the lungs, skin. 1 the kidneys, and the bowels. 3. A sound and responsive nervousl system, which is dependent upon sensory stinmkitmn by cool, fresh air. hot ; and cold bathing, active exercise, and a happy environment; also sufficient < ! rest and sleep. i ; To ensure purity of the blood stream I t ilio first essential is fresh air to breathe > for 24 hours of the day. To make sure,. t tile lungs tire being rid of poisonous : . substances and the blood is being re- ( plenished with new supplies of oxygen, , deep breathing is necessary. A pienit- ' ful supply of fresh air to breathe ne- ' '• ee-siiates living out of doors as much c as possible and keeping the house well ; 1 ventilated-—windows open ail the time i., and no obstruction to the air current;.., also an exit for used-up. impure air. i which means there is an ever-changing air in the room. The next great need is fluid to Hush ' out the system. Water is best--at least ’ l six to eight glasses daily. Thus im- " purities are removed from the system - of mother and baby mid eliminated <„ through the mother's kidneys. Water ■ is also ;m aid to the functioning of the' ~ skin mid bowels Through the port**; ■ > 1* the skm the body get- rid of poisonous matter by means of perspiration. Tin ' bring-, u. to another point To ’ keep the skm actively fimcliuning mid m healthy. clean, ecmditu a it requires > frequent washing warm bath-, several !' times a week for cleansing purposes • and to keep open the pure Warm < btith'i are best taken at bedtime. A .. C‘ 1 shower t;r sponge ;■ good m the m> rmtig to |< tie up the skin a well as to !tn|ir»w the general tope of the wht |e body. hi regard cool sponges o! showers. do not commence suddenly: if unaccustomed to them. Start grade.- p all.', by standi;::; wit!', the feet in warm i water while sjiumtrng the tipper part j of tile i d' , or commence with a , i ■ ripe of tepid water ami c u cmwii a little each day Aiway remt mber ... to f.‘ |b-w tile sponge of si'mwer with. «. brisk frtctmri of the skill with a rough. , dry towc) m:(t uj take a lew minutes’ _• .‘H'bvi* <' verejse j