OUR BABIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 4041, 25 August 1931, Page 59

OUR BABIES.

By

Hygeia.

Publiihed under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society). It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.”

PLUNKET NURSES, ETC., DUNEDIN

BRANCH. nurses’ services free

Nurses O’Shea (telephone 23-348), Isbister (telephone 10-800), Thomson, Scott, and Ewart (telephone 10-210), Darling (telephone 23-431), and Mathieson (telephone 23-020).

Society’s Rooms : Jamieson’s Buildings, 6 Lower Stuart street (telephone 10-210). Office hours : Daily fiom 2 to 4 p.m. (except Saturday and Sunday) and 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays; 315 King Edward street, South Dunedin. 2 to 4 p.m. daily (except Satur<l«ay a pd Sunday) and 10 a.m. to noon on Fridays; also 125 Highgate, Roslyn— Monday and Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m.; Gospel Hall, Mailer street, Mornington— Monday and Wednesday, 2 to 4 p.m.; Kelsey Yaralla Kindergarten—Monday and Friday from 2 to 4 p.m.; Baptist Sunday School, Sunshine—Monday and Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m.; 211 Alain North road, North-East Valley—Tuesdays, 2 to 4 p.m.; Kindergarten, Caversham—Thursdays, 2 to 4 p.m.

Outstations: Baptist Church, Gordon road, Mosgiel—Tuesday afternoons from 3 to 4 o’clock; Presbyterian Church Hail, Outram—alternate Fridays. 2 to 4 p.m.; Municipal Buildings, Port Chalmers— Wednesday afternoons from 2 to 4 o’clock; also Hall, Macandrew’s Bay—Fridays, 2 to 4 p.m.

Administrative Secretary, Aliss G. Hoddinott, Jamieson’s Buildings, Stuart street, Dunedin (telephone 10-216).

Karitane-llarris Baby Hospital, Anderson’s Bay (telephone 22-985). Matron, Aliss Ililditch. Demonstrations given on request every Wednesday afternoon from 2.30 Plunket Nurses and Karitane Baby Nurses. Visiting hours : 2 to 4 p.m., Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. BROADCAST TALKS.—IL Last week, as some of our listeners will remember, we touched veiy briefly on the early history of the ~ Plunket Society, its anus and objects, and the scope of its work. In the forthcoming talks it is our intention to speak about several matters of moment to parents, commencing with the ante-natal period, going on to the care of the young baby, and afterwards to the care of the little runabout child. Tiie Ante-natal Period.

To-day our subject is the ante-natal period—what might be called the care of the child before birth. This, and the first few months after birth, may be considered the most momentous in the life of the individual, for growth or development taking place then is enormously rapid—foundations are being laid down tor all time —and during this period of immaturity and greatest growth the organism is most liable to suffer permanent damage from deforming influences. 'lhe “good life” has been described as one which is “ inspired by love and guided by knowledge.” The life of the mother could scarcely be better described. By taking thought and adding knowledge to her love the mother can do much to endow her baby with foundations of physical and nervous stability which will stand him in good stead in the battle of life.

How strange it is, when one comes to think of it, that women should embark on motherhood —the most important career i n the world—without any special training 1

To build a strong and noble body for a citizen of the next generation is a splendid accomplishment I And this may be the accomplishment and should be the aim of every expectant mother—one in comparison with which the building of motor cars and aeroplanes is a matter of small importance. In considering how the foundations of health may be laid down in earliest life we are led to the consideration of all matters of hygiene, for everything which affects the health of the expectant mother affects also the well-being of the baby. In the matter of diet the'ease of the mother needs special thought, for her food is providing the materials for building another body, and she should see to it that the “ building materials ’’ are the very best that can be obtained. This does not mean the dearest, for the “best ” foods are not necessarily the most expensive.

Speaking broadly, the important foods from the point of view of “ building materials ” are vegetables of all sorts (including raw salads to the greatest extent possible),, fruits of all sorts (including dates, raisins, and other sun-dried varieties), milk, brown bread, and other unrefined cereals. If these essentials are adequately provided for the rest of the diet will usually take care of itself. Butter and eggs are important foods, and as a rule are not stinted in our colonial homes. Meat, as is generally known, should be taken only in strict moderation during pregnancy. Vegetables, fruit, milk, and whole cereals are selected for special mention because all these foods are rich in mineral elements and vitamins. These are the constituents of food which are most likely to be lacking in an ordinary diet, and they are the very ones . which are all-important for the building of sound bodies, especially bones and teeth.

One cannot too strongly emphasise the fact that the common New Zealand diet, consisting largely of white bread and scones, tea, meat, and sweetstuffs, with little fruit, . vegetables, or milk, is a deficient diet, and for the expectant and

nursing mother it is calamitous. It utterly fails adequately to provide the essential elements for building up the various complicated and marvellous structures of the baby’s developing body. The result may perhaps be compared with a house which is built out of poor, shoddy materials—we say it is “ jerry built.” It may look all light outside, but it will not stand fair wear and tear, weak places show up wtih use, and constant repairs are necessary. Tins is very much what happens with the human body, as witness decay of the teeth, a problem which touches us all. Every mother—indeed, all parents—■ should know that seven months before the baby is born the foundations of every tooth he will ever have in his head have been laid down in the embryo jaws, and active building has already begun on the first set. By the time the baby is born the first teeth are practically completed—veil or ill, that work is done for ever 1 The second teeth are also well begun before birth, although rapid active work commences directly afterwards.

The teeth, like every other part of the baby’s body, are built out of blood which conveys the building materials required to the tiny “ cell workers” which are bust' performing the miracle of enamelling the crowns. Whether the work done is good or bad largely depends on whether the cell workers are kept fully supplied with rich, pure blood. If the mother’s diet is deficient in those minerals and vitamins mentioned in connection with the fruits vegetables, cereals, and milk in particular her blood will be deficient in them too. It it is. deficient in this way, or contains the poisonous products of accumulated waste materials in the body (say from chronic constipation), the baby’s teeth stiller accordingly.

The lesson is very striking and very pressing when one realises that a pt ojioi t ion of children show extensive decay of the first teeth. And the teeth are an index of more far-reaching conditions. Poor quality teeth which will not stand fair wear and tear are an indication of weakness in other structures of the body similarly composed. Some people consider it is “ fussy ” to make a study of correct diet, but this need not be so. It needs care and thought to preserve good health, but not overattention or •' faddism ’’■—that sort of thing at once defeats its own purpose by producing anxiety and other not ouit-e normal nervous states. The great tiling is to establish a rational, healthy routine and then keep to it without giving the matter further thought. A carpenter is not thought “ fussy ” because he keeps his tools sharp. Apart from the question of diet, the chief considerations for the expectant mother from the point of view of health habits affecting the baby are fresh air and sunshine, outdoor exercise, adequate rest, and complete freedom from chronic constipation. 'J he last poisons the blood stream slowly but surely, and thus is a pernicious condition for both mother and child. It must be really cured by means of proper diet and exercise, not merely tinkered with by the use of medicines.

The necessity for direct sunshine is now well known. It is essential for the proper utilisation of mineral elements in the foundation of bones and teeth, and is therefore particularly important in pregnancy and infancy. The mother should cultivate the habit of “ following the su n round the house,” so to speak—doing any odd sitting-down jobs outside in a sunny spot or in an open window, and should not give up gardening or other outdoor occupations. The daily brisk walk is a general tonic and stimulation to the circulation the place of which nothing else can take.

The period of pregnancy should be a time of increased fitness and wellbeing; there should be a natural accession of energy.

By right living and right thinking and by ensuring proper advice and medical supervision throughout pregnancy the natural tendency to well-being will be greatly aided and enhanced, and the chances of difficulties or dangers in labour almost eliminated. Except in rare cases, difficult labour should be practically a thing of the past. This brings us to our last point: the question of medical and nursing supervision during the ante-natal period. The best authorities all over the world agree that consistent, skilled supervision from the early stages is the greatest safeguard against the difficulties or dangers which may imperil the mother and her baby, and that more general acceptance of tins idea is the next step required in lessening the number of mothers who die or are injured unnecessarily from causes associated with childbirth, and in saving the lives of many babies who now die within the first few days after birth. „ Both parents have a duty in the matter. Two lives, as well as the health and strength of both may be involved. The mother should consult her doctor as soon as it is known that a baby is coming. Thereafter she should seek—indeed insist, upon—regular periodical supervision and examination either from her own doctor or from an ante-natal clinic. The Health Department has ante-natal clinics for patients attending the St. Helens Hospitals, some other maternity institutions do the same, and the Plunket Society conducts ante-natal clinics in connection with the Plunket Rooms in all the larger centres. These are run in co-opera-tion with the doctors, no patient being undertaken for regular supervision unless she is also under medical advice, and if any departures from the normal are suspected by the nurse the mother is at once referred to her doctor.

All interviews are arranged on the appointment system, and, needless to say, all are absolutely private and confidential. The nurse in charge realises that the mother’s first visit may well be an ordeal in anticipation, and on this occasion her first concern is to “ get acquainted ” with her and to inspire confidence and trust. AVith this established, and a regular routine of monthly or fortnightly visits arranged as required, the mother may rest assured that all will be well—the “big things ” will be watched and if any abnormal tendencies appear they will be detected and treated in good time, whilst in the “ little things ” which worry her she may obtain tactful, practical advice and understanding help from one whose experience along these lines has been very wide. Many mothers, though perfectly

well m the mam, are yet worried bv minor discomforts or anxieties which seefn too trifling to discuss with her ..medical adviser these discomforts and anxieties can undoubtedly be lifted or‘relieved in the great majority of cases, and this is essentially nurse’s work, as is all the .advice on practical matters of detail in hygiene and diet, preparations for ntirs>ag, preparation for baby’s advent, and the hundred-and-one things which intimately concern the mother and make for her happiness and well-being. . At the ante-natal clinic the young or inexperienced mother may learn the business of ’ mothercraft,” and prepare in many ways for the high responsibility which is hers whilst at the same time specially qualified people watch with experienced eyes for the first signs of anything untoward.

In country places, although out of the reach or the specially equipped clinics established in the main centres, mothers may consult any Plunket nurse all of whom are qualified to give advice on matters affecting the health and wellbeing of mother and child. AVith such advice, coupled with regular medical supervision from her doctor, the country mother is placed at no serious disadvant.Tge. whilst she may have the advantage of fresh food and milk available in abundance. Even failing the possibility of regular personal contacts, much may be done by correspondence, which the Plunket nurses are always ready to undertake in this connection, and by study of suitable books.

Ihe service is there—it is for the mothers to avail themselves of it. At present only about one mother in six does so. Much needless anxiety, discomfort, and sorrow will be prevented as a larger proportion of parents realise and accept their responsibility in seekinregular skilled ante-natal supervision and advice.

Lastly let us not forget the power of the mind and the importance of the mental outlook, of right tl linking on livmg. The thoughts one habitually thinks exercise a potent influence for good or ill, and one’s reactions to pain and fear largely determine what one feels. For the expectant mother it may be an excellent thought that the child is her particular contribution to the next generation, and such thoughts constantly borne in mind greatly help to eliminate the thought and therefore the sensations of fear and pain. It lies in the mother’s power by taking thought and working in hai mony with Nature s laws to “ make a success ” of the coming and birth of her baby. If she can dwell on this in serenity and faith she will add mental and spiritual driving force to the purely physical factors in nutrition.

Next week we will talk about the baby.