MOTHERCRAFT The Maori Mother and her Child

Te Ao Hou, Spring 1954, Page 60

MOTHERCRAFT The Maori Mother and her Child By KERITAPU Preparation for the Coming Baby Both parents should look forward with pleasure to the coming baby. Father, of course, cannot share the strain and discomforts of pregnancy, but he should know how very important it is for his wife to have proper care and sympathetic understanding at this time. He should assist her with some of the hard work about the house such as heavy lifting, scrubbing, and washing; and help in every way to make her life as pleasant and free from irritation and anxiety as possible. A joyful attitude of mind towards parenthood, joint planning for baby's arrival and observance of instructions given by the doctor and public health nurse, all help towards laying a good foundation for baby's future and promoting health and happiness for the mother. Apart from following the rules of health, the expectant mother must make certain other preparations for baby's arrival. It is also important that father is interested in those preparations. After all, he has a share in the all important coming event. Care of the Baby In order to keep the baby in good health, there are certain definite essentials. Water, air, food, clothing, bathing, exercise, warmth, cleanliness, regularity of habits, mothering, management, rest and sleep. These simple requirements should be met by all parents. Let us consider how they can be applied in any home. The baby should be in the charge of the mother for at least a year, unless she is suffering from tuberculosis or other severe illness, or unless baby is premature or delicate, in which case the nurse must be consulted at once. Registration of Births Itis necessary to register the baby within two months of birth. Registration forms can be obtained from the Registrar of Births and Deaths of Maoris in your district and he is usualy the head teacher of Maori schools. (A registration certificate must be produced before family allowance can be claimed.) Do it early. Baby's Clothing Baby's clothes should be warm yet light in weight, non-irritating, simple, attractive and easy to make. All garments should be in the loose magyar style with no bulky bands. They are easy to launder and can be trimmed with embroidery or lace if desired. Usually about three sets of clothes are necessary. The extras such as pilchers, shawls, bonnets, bibs, and bootees can be added later. They are frequently received as gifts to the baby. It is a wise mother who prepares baby's clothes as well as her own before the eighth month of pregnancy and has everything ready for her confinement. It is an old time superstitution, and is still believed in some cases, that baby's layette must not be got ready before he is born, or something will go wrong. The point is, baby's clothes must be laundered before he wears them. Frequently, a new baby arrives with no clothes ready, a wild rush is made to buy something from the stores, full of stiff starch and dust. For guidance as to suitable material and patterns consult your public health nurse. This list is a good guide for baby's outfit: For day wear: 3 cellular cotton shirts (to be worn next to skin). 3 silk and wool singlets. 3 petticoats. 4 frocks, material suitable to season. For night wear: 3 nightgowns, material suitable to season. 24–36 napkins, flannelette or towelling. 3 flannel squares. 2 small towels. 2 face washers or cloths. 2 clean cotton binders, to keep cord dressings in place.