OUR BABIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3765, 11 May 1926, Page 68

OUR BABIES.

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Publlthtd under tilt implett M Hm Itytl Ni» Zetland Society for the Healtk m Wtmtn tndChlldrtn {plunket Sgcltty). “It It wlter tt pat op t fenit at tki tip it I prtclplci that It Maintain at ambulinci ot Ult bottom."

PLUNKET NURSES, ETC., DUNEDIN BRANCH.

NURSES 1 SERVICES FREE. Nurses O’Shea (telephone 2348), Isbister (telephone 7566), Darling, and Ewart (telephone 116), and Mathieson (telephone 3020). Society’s Rooms: Jamieson’s Buildings, 76 Lower Stuart street (telephone 116), and 315 King Edward street, South Dunedin (telephone 3020). Office hours, daily from 2 to 4 p.m. (except Saturday and Sunday); also 125 Highgate, Roslyn—Monday and Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m.; and at Kelsey-Yaralla Kindergarten, Monday and Friday, from 2 to 4 p.m. Out-stations: Baptist Church. Gordon .road, Mosgiel, Tuesday afternoons from 3 to 4 o’clock; Municipal Buildings, Port Chalmers, Wednesday afternoons from 2 to 4 o’clock. Secretary, Miss G. Hoddinott, Jamieson’s Buildings, Stuart street (telephone 116). Karitane-Harris Baby Hospital, Anderson’s Bay (telephone 1985). Matron,Miss Fitz-Gibbon. Demonstrations given on request every Wednesday afternoon from 2.30 by Nurses and Karitane Baby Nurses. Visiting hours: 2 to 4 p.m., Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

A TALK TO EXPECTANT MOTHERS BY A PLUNKET NURSE. My desire is to help you to understand that giving birth to a baby is a very natural function, and that by attending to a few simple rules of health the little baby comes into the world without any undue suffering on the part of the mother and in a perfectly healthy and normal condition. The baby is a living, growing being, entirely dependent on his mother. Everything that heredity can do is done during the nine months before birth, so it can easily be seen that on the health of the mother depends the health of the baby. The baby is nourished and built through the mother’s blood. If she keeps her blood pure and healthy, she can he certain of having a fine, healthy baby. If her blood, on the other hand, is allowed to deteriorate in quality, the tiny cells of the baby’s body will be poisoned, and he will not be as strong as he should be. The first duty then of every mother is to keep herself strong and healthy. Air. First of all, she must have plenty of cool, fresh air, day and night. Windows should be kept wide open all the time, and. a current of air should flow freely across the room by means of an open win- >. or chimney. The mother must, how ever, not sit in the direct draught—a screen may be used if necessary. Try to spend as much time out in the open air as possible. The busy, active woman who looks after her own house and takes a certain amount of active exercise out of doors is sure to have an easy time all round; but the idle, self-indulgent woman, who coddles herself indoors and thinks she is an invalid, is the worst kind of mother, and has only herself to thank if she has a bad confinement. The outdoor exercise should be varied and made as enjoyable as possible. The woman who enjoys gardening can sometimes take her exercise that way—useful work and health il exercise thus being combined. Others may prefer a walk with some congenial friend —a good, brisk walk—no da».dling. Bau weather is no excuse for staying, indoors. All that is wanted is a good waterproof and strong, sensible shoes or boots. Special Exercises. A most important addition to outdoor exe.cise is the regular carrying out ot simple exercises for promoting the growtli and strength of the abdominal muscles and toning up the maternal organs. These exercises should be done for five to ten minutes morning and evening. pages 7 and 82, “Feeding and. Care of Baby.” F. Truby King.) These exercises tend to promote natural, easy labour, good digestion, and regularity of bowels before and after childbirth. It is a good rule to commence these exercises in the early months of pregnancy if possible. It is always important to commence gradually and to stop short at any sign of fatigue. The latter specially applies if the exercises are begun after the fifth month of pregnancy. Without a certain amount of active exercise daily the abdominal muscles will become limp and sagging, and will be unable to bear the increasin weight wi*hout uiscomfort. There are some cases, however, in which some support would be beneficial to a mother during the later months. The maternity corset usually advertised is stiffened with whalebone, and does not allow free movement, therefore it should not ’ e worn. If artificial support is needed it should be in the form of a cradle sling carried from the shoulders. (See page 14, “The Expectant Mother and Baby’s First Month.” F. Truby King.) Sleep and Rest. Although a reasonable amount of exercise is necessary, too much is injurious. The walks, etc., should be followed by a rest lying on a sofa, or in the open air, if possible. In the later months, if the mother can manage it, she should rest with her feet up after each meal, or whenever tired. This rest is one of the best preventatives of varicose veins, piles, and constipation. Plenty of sound sleep is also necessary. If there is sleeplessness, do not take drugs. See that there is plenty of fresh air in the bedroom. Make sure that the digestion is nil right. If not, cut out of the menu those foods which are found to disagree. Take a warm, not hot, bath before going to bed. Sound sleep is neces-

sary for the soothing of the mothers nerves, and also for the building of the baby, which goes on more quickly during these quiet times. Cold Bathing. A cold or cool sponge or bath every morning, followed by a good rub down with a rough towel, is very beneficial to the expectant mother. It acts as a tonic in bracing up the whole system, and helps to prevent the mother catching cold easily. Do not suddenly plunge into a cold bath during pregnancy. Commence gradually by first just taking the chill off the water. Then gradually lower the temperature. After the bath or sponge go for a brisk walk until comfortably warm. (This talk to expectant mothers will be finished in next week’s “Baby Column.”,;