Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1905-05-27

Home Health
/ Club
By DAVID II. REEDER. Ph. D.. ND.
La Porte, Ind

For long time | have had letters
from every part of the world asking me
to give lecture to mothers. have
hesitated TO do this because there are
SO many things in connection with such
a subject which we have been taught are
too sacred for public discussion. | have
answered many thousands of inquiries
by private letters. and this am always
glad to do. Many years ago took for
my motto this; THE only ambition In
life worth striving for is to be of service
to others" | will let you be the judge
as to whether or not have lived up to
my ideai.yyfF have always considered
motherhood next to Godhood, the most
sacred thing which human being may
consider and | hope that may yet find
the time and opportunity to give all OF
those who have become so dear to me
through the Home Health club work a
complete book upon motherhood and
babies know that parturition can, in
nearly all cases, be rendered safe and al
most painless.
There are some things OF vital impor-
tance which the young eXpectant mother
ought to know. and they are of such a
simple and practical nature that think
shall venture to make few sugges-
tions.
In the first place, we all know that the
physical body and brain substance is
builded and maintained from the food
eaten So that not only the child itself,
but the mother must have the foods
which are intended by nature to supply
the elements necessary for the health of
both.
During the first five months of preg-
| nancy The foundation is laid for the ply
steal body of he child. and during that
time the mother should indulge in Wig
orous exercise and physical culture for
developing especially those portions of
the body which are weak in herself or
husband. and she should partake Of
muscle and boneforning foods. Tea,
coffee, rich. greasy foods and spices mus
be absolutely avoided at this time if a
strong, healthy. happy baby is desired;
while many oppose the use of meats, this
opposition is not justified by expert
pnce and if pork and veal are strictly
and fish eggs. etc. etc may be used in
moderation, If desired, without detri-
| ment to either the mother or babe.
There has recently been published a
very pretentious set of instructions for
eXpectant mothers. They must have
been written by some one with but little
knowledge of how humanity really ex
lists. One of the important directions
says Keep away from the odor of
| foods" Now, common sense ought to
tell anyone that fully rs per cent. of the
mothers of tho world, yes, 30 per cent. OF
| them. not only cook. their own food, but
all of the food for the entire family. so
what is the sense of writing such silly
| instructions when II is known that they
cannot be carried ont? Again, this book
says To fight an excessive appetite is
the hardest battle of pregnant wom-
an but such fight, as well as seeking
to avoid the odor of food, is absolutely
unnecessary Make the condition nat
ural realize its wonder, its mystery its
power. its grandeur The expectant
mother is working Jointly with the
Great, the Divine, Greater of the uni
| nd fnl Mt
the unborn child is told in It's life. If
she fully realizes the fact that the foods
of which she par'akes are not only for
| he purpose of satisfying her own appe-
tite and supplying her bodily reeds, but
also is supplying through her lite blood
the necessary elements for the creation
of another being, 1t will be her delight to
partake of the foods which experience
has shown to be the best for that pur-
pose. A iudcious use Of good. whole
| some food, thoroughly well maStcated
and consisting largely Of vegetables and
fruits, will go far toward making preg
nancy a perfectly natural thing. If at
any time there is an unnatural craving
for food cup of very hot sweet milk
slipped slowly with a teaspoon will usu-
| ally not only satisfy the craving, but
soothe and strengthen the mother.
Sometimes eating fruit or drinking a
cup of water either hot or cold, will an
swer the purpose.
| Plenty of outdoor exercise and an
abundance of fresh air in the sleeping
room must be secured, but common
sense must be used in connection with
the exercise. 1t would be suicidal for
some women to take vigorous exercise
| during the latter months of pregnancy.
| The mother would be broken down and
the child would be all bone and muscle,
with but little brain.
After the fifth month has passed the
bone and muscle forming food need not
be used so freely, but more of the fruits
and vegetables, Cut down on the meats,
cheese, beans, barley, butter, milk, etc,
although they should not be eliminated
altogether until the last two or three
|
vegetables and liquids should be eaten,
il an easy birth is desired All of these
things that are necessary have been sup
piled during the first months, If the diet
has been properly directed.
During the last four months Of preg-
nancy the brain and mental capacity.
inclination, tastes and ambition of the
child are formed. During this period of
| four months the mother may do more for
the child than any college in the world
can do in as many years. Whatever she
| cultivates will be cultivated in the child
| If her desire is for social life and she
thinks and longs for it. fretting because
she is deprived of it by her condition
then she must expect fretful selfish
child, that will never dissatisfied unless
constantly on the go, and never con-
tented except when surrounded by the
| light-headed and idle.
If her desire can be turned to music
or literature, or art or mechanics. or
any one thing, and 1t is studied, prac-
ticed and desired, then the child's edu-
cation and position in life will be fixed
and these things will by nature be its
greatest delight
The unweIcome child is cursed before
birth and. according to the old saying
Curses like chickens, come home to
roost." and the hearts Of many aged
parents are frequently almost broken