WORK OF PARENTS’ CENTRES OUTLINED

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28540, 20 March 1958, Page 2

WORK OF PARENTS’ CENTRES OUTLINED

Ante-natal programmes relying solely on imparting information to expectant mothers were not sufficiently effective, said Mrs E. M. Garrett, president of the Wellington Parents’ Centre, addressing the annual meeting of the Christchurch Parents’ Centre last evening. It was to provide service in a field left untouched by such programmes as hospital ante-natal classes and the Plunket Society’s mothercraft courses that parents’ centres had come into existence.

‘‘Knowledge is not enough,” said Mrs Garrett. It was most important that expectant mothers should be given information about pregnancy and the process of childbirth, and that this knowledge should be accurate and up to date. A great debt was owed to those workers in obstetrics, pediatrics, psychiatry and other fields from whom this essential information was derived. Fear and anxiety could be caused, in expectant mothers, by ignorance, and a well-conducted information programme could dispel this fear.

It was one of the major concerns of the parents’ centres. But information in itself most often 'did not dispel fear and anxiety. Only a carefully-directed counselling programme with women could change the basic attitudes from which fear, anxiety and hostility most often arose. Frequently, women who were given the information in the ordinary way did not accept it because they remained frightened or anxious about the approach of the birth of their children, or because they were still hostile.

Parents’ centres tried to help women towards a positive and sensible attitude to childbirth and parenthood. It was important that they established an atmosphere in which women were free to discuss their fears and worries. Such a non-authoritarian approach was essential to their work. Friendly and understanding discussion with expectant mothers enabled them to air worries and fears without feeling guilty. The centres did not take a dogmatic attitude to the details of childrearing, and they must always be 1 careful to avoid ever becoming institutionalised.

‘‘We are concerned with longterm goals of’ the mental health of the parents and the child.” said Mrs Garrett, ‘‘and if the groundwork is right, then any adverse experiences can be used for the growth of the parent and child; they will not embitter, warp or wither.” ‘‘Not Sufficient” ‘‘This is where we differ from other institutions in the field of ante-natal care and post-natal care. The first type is concerned with the producing of a physically healthy newborn baby; and the other with a baby which conforms to a weight chart. These are worthwhile and necessary ends, but not sufficient.” As the parents’ centres grew larger and more numerous, said Mrs Garrett, the greatest care would need to be paid to maintaining the values for which they started; these should not be sacrificed for slick efficiency. This was not enough either. Programmes for training those in centres, responsible for education, were essential.

The following officers were elected:— President. Mrs H. Holmes: vicepresident. Mr H. Adams; secretary. M s B. Tait; treasurer, Mr C. McLaren; committee, Mesdames A. Rosenberg. M. McCaskill. M. Brant, L. Cook, C. Cowell, J. Lewis, Messrs G. Eggleston and P. Dunmill.