QUESTION.

NZ Truth, Issue 174, 17 October 1908, Page 6

QUESTION.

Give shortly, m order of importance, the leading steps to. be taken by the expectant mother with' a view to ensuring a healthy baby, normal labour, and an ample naturally available supply of normal milk. ' Among the answers were :— '■ ANSWER.--1. Abundance of fresh air day and ■' light. There should be a current of air passing through the bedroom, though the bed should be placed out of direct draught. ■ 2. Open-air exercise 'to be encouraged, not less tnan two miles a day. 3. The diet to-be simple and ordinary, including milk, eggs, brown bread, plenty of fruit , and vegetables. Meat, not more than once a day; very little tea or : coffee ; no alcohol. ' .. • 4. Avoid ' constipation by diet and walking m the open air as above where possible. If aperient is necessary take as small, a dose as will be .effectual, arid rather several small doese than one large one. : ■■■•■•:• • 5. Cold' bath m the morning, with a quick rubbing down after, and exercise till the glow of reaction comes. (The other candidate said m this connection. "Celd bath can be taken ; if not, cold sponge once a day.") 6. Avoid worry or excitement. A quiet, regular life should be led. t , 7. The nipples should, where small or flat, be rubbed and pulled, etc., for" some time before the baby is born. FORESIGHT. » THE BREASTS, . ' The following excellent advice , regarding the breasts, is given by professor Chap m, of New York :— *~^r- All possible foresight should be used m fitting the prospective mother for her duties. For several months before expectant delivery, the nipples should be gently rubbed between the thumb and fingers., depressed or misshapen nipples being thereby drawn out and developed ; this- also tougbeass ] them and prevents possible tenderness or fissure that would interfere with nursing. Tight clothing over the breasts should be avoided. Bathing the nipples with boric acid or borax solution, one half teasp6onful to a cup of water, promotes cleanliness, and thereby tends to avoid possible injection and soreness during the nursing period. As soon as convenient 1 after birth (certainly within 12 ■ uours) the baby should be put to the breast to stimulate the secretion of milk. EFFECT ON MOTHERS. ' This is almost as important for the Ultimate health, strength and vigour ofi the mother ?as it is \for the baby. The* intangible mental, moral, emotional, and affective considerations involved are tooobvious to need dwelling on ; but thereis an equally important physical fact .which ' should be universally known. la , the natural course of . events a new being,; nourished up to the time of birth -by organs situated" m the abdominal cavity., draws its food supply after birth fromf another set of organs distinct from the; first. The effect of this is to divert the blood supply and functional activity to' the breasts, and the temporarily enlarged abdominal organs then quickly," shrink to, their normal weight and dimensions. Not so, however, when , suckling is; evaded. .In; such cases the internal drgans remain- congested and enlarged, and;; when the mother resumes her ordinarylife various, distortions and displacements arc liable to occur. To this ones, departure from Mature our race owes a, very large proportion of the special disabilities and diseases of women, which are so characteristic a feature of modern life, and which so frequently call for special treatment or operation Inter on.