OUR BABIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 259, 20 July 1918, Page 5

OUR BABIES

TBY UYc::ti.l Published under Uip nuspicß of the Koyal Kpw Kualaa<l Sariet v for thu Health of Vauneii and C'h.UUxMi. "It is wisnr to nut uii :i lujm.ii at ihe top of a prooii'icu t.lian to iciaiulain an imhulanco nt the bottom." INFAKT MOKTALITr STATISTICS!. POHTHER IXVi'iSTICfA'nOKS. Last WL'flt wo diKHcri come (isiii'i 1 :] bnnic'nt before the Xc'.son Ilnuicli '-'f the society at its r.iiuual- nectiuK by Jlr. Young, M.1 , , for V.'iiiKato. Mr. Yoniiß told i;. 5 that in 1916 them were horn in Now Kimlmnl 23,K3 cliiSciivn: the total (baths of a!! I'l-s were ia.CC-5: them v.-as a luitv.r; , 1 incrciise of population of nlinitt 18.00;. Of tho !ficOS rteallm no fewtr than KA6 were those of infants untlor 12 months, and this iium'.'fr (nestled the toltil immhor of d-'-r.ihs hctwfen I hi! aiti-s of ono am! 20 y;ars. Mr. Yo-.injt' r.aid 1.h:;l ll'.cs" we very ratnarkii.blii liguvofi. and ho drew l'.ie cor'■'ii«ion 'iil't. :'•!,' -jT.rk of ihc Plunknt S»ciefy, whi«h (Im!.i larsi-!.v '.villi ihis rn-a year of infant life, was of the v:-ry drcniesl imiiorU-.nie to Ihc Sialf, and was of a niniit natriotii: charaolc! , .

While Ihe fiVirp."" ouol-c3 b,v Mr. Yotinrr are ri;:rii?ka!)!n. it. will iiiior.-r.t our ria;!crs lo know that, on conr.iiHii"-' the lutes', pffidal Vciir Boot: of Sow ZcM.ind (\9\l\ it ia found that more than half of th'j l'K6 deaths (viz., 770) of infants unfrr twelve mouths, which oc.'iin-.'d i'l H;!i. tool! place in the first month.

From (his it would a;i"»i''r that tho firM. month of a i.ialjy'n I'fc i-" ti>" most cniical and dM-pToiis; mid in lliis n;\:tid:!-ir month the Phmkoi. iiiirs? r.ircly comes into intimate toin-h with the infant.

Again, when we c.wmiue the rupos of doaili, (rw!>n'in lhi OK'ial T.-nr■ Krnk. it is found that ranro than a nuart-cr of I hi' l-"« infunts (viz., 3Si) who (!''«! lindnr on= your of iiirn j n 151{ wer» .certified an tiavinc difd from prematurity. Wo ii( ; o.-(i is i.".vri nf Ihc HUinbor of Blill births, hut. if thnt were added to the immhor of rlcaths from preuiaturiiy it would be scon whit a tcrrililn loss of human lifo is duo to failure on the part of the parents -before the taby is born.

It was 6o:uov:linl. Nt a Vhoclt to find Uwt in the early days of the wnr 40 '"■>■ ooiit. of our .vmir.K niih olTcrinc for tlm front were ri'jflctert ns physically unfit. If such a large proportion of our men virc judged unfit- In defend their country, the presumption was Hint at least nn equal proportion of wir women would lie unfit to fulfil, in the hpst way. the duties of motherhond. seeing that the boys ami .girls must have, been brought, up under similar conditions. That this presumption is true, in borne out by the ligr.reß quoted above from the Ofllcial Year Hook. What Can be IV.no to Combat This Loss of Infant Life? Much ciin bo done by systematic prenatal care. In Boston, U-.5.A., great attention haa been given to supplying the poor, witli proper care and supervision for the expectant mother. Owing to the devoted and ctithuniaslic efforts and organising power of Jlrs. William Lowell I'mmini and other ladies a most complete scheme is in operation in the poorer quarters, and the results have been most remarkable. The troubles and risks of -."pre-mothorhood" and child-birth have burn enorwu'isly lessened, and breastfeeding has become the rule in quarters where it was exceptional, while the reduction in infantile sickness and mortiti ity has been no less striking. The results have so greatly impressed authorities .else. Where thav there are now few countries where steps are not being taken with a view to training and safeguarding prospective mothers. Unfortunately, the help and teaching offered rarely extends beyond the poorer classes, though the need of. the so-called ".poor and ignorant" is not greater in these matters than the need of tno ' ienorant and well-to-do." The New Zealand /j.ini. Our aim ought to be to establish, throughout Nc-.v Zealand such a scheme of "pre-natal., cure" as would practically eneuro the safdy and well-being of moihers of all classes. It was with this end in view that ihe (lovurnment published, in conjunelion with the sofiety, the little book "The Expectant Mother and liaby's I'ii'jt Month," for free ismio to all married women. With iho aid of this, and the services of the l'lunkcl nurse, most of the early troubles and difficulties in connection with motherhood and babyhood could be obviated, 't'liey certainly will be obviated if the molners wjll do their part by merely making use of the instruction, training, help, aid supervision offered to them by the society" throughout the prenatal period .and afterwards.

The Plunkct Society frankly asks mothers of ail classes lo seek thfl advice and help thai the I'lunket nurecs can so readily give, 'and to seek such service when it would he of the most avail—viz., long before the birth of the baby. If this became .tho general rule, , I do not- heeitate to say the results would bo very striking— including a further reduction in infant mortality and the establishment of a much higher standard of health and haprpinees throughout life for both mother and child.

How many women arc there who enter on motherhood—the most Eacrrd, momentous, and far-reaching responsibility of lifc-with the simple equipment of knowledge and training needed to safeguardthemselves and their oO'sprinj;. There is really a very deep. and pitiful tragedy underlying the common r,ayi:i<,-: "The first baby is a'u oiporiraaiit"; too often, indeed, the tragedy extends lo !;lcr children! Nothing would do so much for mother and child ae a little sound, reliable, friendly, and intimate advice aim help given at the right time and in the right -way. Xo time could be more iHtinE than the present for aypealln.ir to nur women to do their best, as mothers, in the name ot patriotism, and for'the sake of future national efficiency.