ADVICE AND HELP FOR MOTHERS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 97, 18 January 1940, Page 9

ADVICE AND HELP FOR MOTHERS

Exhibition Plunket Rooms

For many weeks the Plunket rooms at the Exhibition have been visited daily by several hundreds of people in search of information and advice, and the names of those who have signed the visitors’ book —only a tenth of the total callers —run into thousands. Speaking of tlie value of the exhibit from the points of view of both education and helping mothers witli young babies, Miss M. B. Ogden, the nurse in charge, said there had been such a constant stream of visitors that it bad been found impossible to give detailed information about Hie society's work and its object to every one of them, but many of the displays and charts were fortunately self-explanatory. “It has been a particular source of gratification to ns,” said Miss Ogden, “that among our visitors are people with whom we are never usually in contact—grandfathers and grandmotilers, children of 12 or so, and even prospective fathers. To many we have been able to explain the value of prenatal care and also our system of keeping an eye on the children till the age of five.” Miss Ogden said that the exhibit was similar to almost any Plunket rooms, representing the three sides of the work. Many Plunket rooms were being built in different parts, of NewZealand as centennial memorials, and one of the ideas behind the present display had been that, those entrusted witli the planning of centennial Plunket rooms could obtain ideas which would be of value to them in the preparation of their plans. Unremitting Interest. ’The society was interested in the child till it reached the age of five, ft was not generally known that the registrar of births in each town sent a copy of each birth registered to tlie nearest Plunket nurse, who then wrote inviting the mother to bring the child to the Plunket rooms. Because of the falling-off in the attendance of mothers with children of between 18 months and two years, a system had recently been developed in which ornamental postcards were sent to tlie babies. On them was written the following: “You are now two years of age and 1 would like to know how big you have grown since I saw you last. Will you ask Mother to bring you Io see me at the Plunket rooms?” Miss Ogden explained that the visit was 'by appointment so tljat children were not kept waiting about. Their teeth and throats were examined, their heads and chests measured, height and weight taken, and posture and walk noted. There were always plenty of toys for the children to play with while the mother and the nurse were talking. In the Plunket rooms in Kent Terrace. said Miss Ogden, one nurse was completely occupied in attending to children tietween two and five years of age.