TO HUSBAND & WIFE

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 33, 8 August 1921, Page 3

TO HUSBAND & WIFE

THE RISKS OF MOTHERHOOD,

HOW TO SAFEGUARD MOTHER

AND CHILD,

In the public press and elsewhere so much attention. has been drawn of lat» to the risks of motherhood that th»\ Plunket Society feels bound to do ite best, not only to stem undue alflim or anxiety, but also to'make quite clear to all expectant mothers what is, avail- ' able for them in the way of intimate" and reliable advice and help on the part of the society's nurses and co-workers.

First of all we may quote the following reassuring ' passages from" the first two pages of the booklet, "The Expectant Mother and Baby's First Month," which we hope will be in the hands of every married woman in. the Dominion under 35 years of age' within a very short time. , (

NO ONE ABSOLUTELY' SAFE PROM ILLNESS OR ACCIDENT, BUT MOTHERHOOD 'SHOULD ADD PRACTICALLY NO RISKS.' LIFE INSURANCE RATES THE SAME FOR MARRIED WOMEN AS FOR MEN OR SPINSTERS. j "The normal woman*; is never safer, healthier, or happier than: during pregnancy, and if her habits.are simple, sensible, regular, and active, there is no ground for worry or'anxiety as; to childbirth. The expectant mother who takes proper care of herself and avoids invalidism, ia safeguarded: all through. Nature can always be're-lied on to do her part kindly and surely, if the mother does hers. '

"The first duty of every mother is to spare no pains to keep herself strong and healthy, and her blood pure for • the sake of her child;; .Indeed, she owes this duty to herself also', because if the mother is in good' health > before"' the baby is bom she need have no anxiety thai anything will go wrong at the time of birth," ... ■ ..':'.: s. . ■ ,■ PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR

GIVING ADVICE AND HELP TO

MOTHERS THROUGHOUT THE DOMINION.' ■ ; -' V

• ■''The.Director of;'-Child'■Welfare and 1 ' the Plunket Society ask > for i your help and co-operation , in. this ; all-important matter. Almost the'only-risks' to Jlifo and health run by mother and' child are f asily. avoidable, risks,' due "to" ignorance, carelessness; and mistakes. 1, •• "Besides seeing her doctor and dentist as soon.'as she '.Icribwis'i sh'e',is pregnant, the. prospectiv,a motherjis strongly advised to get In touch with one ot other of the specially.' qualified nurses nominated by' the/State "'Or'' 1 by the Plunket Society, ;t<K 'give -intimate confidential hygienic advice' to'"every expectant mother who 'applies,!,for guidancq,,,,)uid > help. This advice, is free 1/to all, arid . should be availed, of by women of every class and. .station... This, is not»charity, but 'free education' given in the best interest* of/ our'country-and the nation. Perfect Motherhood is j perfect' Patriotism."'-, ■;:;,.'_./'' :~,'.]'.i' ■-'I!!-,!.'.' ■, ' -.PROVisiON&iFOR PRIVACY - .ESSENTIAL. ,

The committee realises that very JoW young expectant mothers would seek advice unless assured of..absolute privacy; further, that many would have ' some personal preference for a i particular nurse. In, order to meet such natural tendencies, the society offers every, facility for getting into-confidential touch, with any of the following nurses:—

Mrs. Tythe Brown: Address, "Tarnmaru," 21, Arawa-road, Hataitai; telephone number, 22-149; best time for ringing up, evenings, 7-.9 ■ P-m. .. „ . „..,,. .. ... -. , Nurse' Mitchell: Address, Plunkot Rooms, 3, Courtenay-place; tele- . ; phone number, 21-931: best time; . for ringing up, 10 a.m. to 12 noon,'' or 2-4 p.m. Nurse Clifford: Address, Plunket Rooms, 3,- Courtenay-placej.;. tele- - phone number! 21-951; best .time .'■.; for ringing, up, 10. a.m...t0;12 ( n00n, or 2-4 p.m. -. ; ■Nurse Neale: Address, Plunket Rooms, 3,'Courtenay-place; telephone number, 21-931 • best time for ringing , ' up^lO a.m. to 12 noon, or 24 p.m. Nurse Miller:, Address, Plunket Rooms, v 3,, Courtenay-place; telephone num-\ bgr, 21-931; bast time for ringing i up, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, or 2-4 p.m. Nurse Hooper : Address, Plunket Rooms, 3, Cpurtenayrplace; telephone number, 21-931; best time for ringing up, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, or 2-4 p.m.

'■In general, it would be best to write for a first appointment, whiclr could bo arranged for.either at the mother's own, home or elsewhere; otherwise use could be made of the telephone.' '""*, ';.

' FACILITIES F6R EVENING APPOINTMENTS.

Mrs. Tythe Brown has kindly arranged to- make evening , appointments at her own home.' The society specially appreciates this generous and public-spirited i offer. Mrs. tythe Brown's wide i exper- - ience as a general hospital and maternity nurse, and as a former matron of the . Karitane Baby Hospital, Dunedin, to--' ■ Igether with the' fact'of'her being a, mother herself,; specially :', fits her 'tot helping and serving her • fellow-womea in connection with motherhood. Nothing can exceed the value, of sound, sympathetic advice and help given to expectant mothers in this spirit, especially if given in the early' months o£ pregnancy, to women who are pregnant for the first time. If all goes 'well at the first confinement, the mother has, of, course, the best of all assurances that sha need have no anxiety whatever as to the future.I—Advt;1—Advt; '■' „.■.'."::/"