Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-05-18

Home Health
Club
By DAVID n. FEEDER. Phi. D.. I'D.
La Porte Ind.
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~ o.
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
rs to whether or not | have lived up to
my ideal. l have always considered
motherhood next to Godhood, the most
sacred thing which a human being may
consider, and | hope that | may yet find
the tine 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-
lance which the young eXpectant mother
ought to know. and they are of such a
nlliplC anu pidClIIel maui thot / Ihlhh
| shall venture to make a few sugges-
tons.
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 ale 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
sical body of the 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 bone-forming foods. Tea,
coffee, rich, greasy foods and spices must
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
ence, and if pork and veal are strictly
avoided, nearly all other kinds of meats
and fish, eggs, etc, etc, may be used in
moderation, if desired, without detri-
pent to either the mother OF 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 Is per cent. of the
mothers of the world, yes, 80 per cent. OF
them, not only cook their own food, but
all of the food for the entire family, SC
what il the sense of writing such silly
instructions when it is known that they
cannot be carried out? Again, this book
says: TO fight an excessive appetite is
the hardest battle of a pregnant WON
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, it,
power, its grandeur. The expectan'
mother Is working jointly with the
Great, the Divine, Greater of the uni.
verse, and her mental attitude toward
the unborn child is told in its life. Ii
she fully realizes the fact that the foods
of which she partakes are not only fol
the purpose of satisfying her own appe.
tite and supplying her bodily needs, but
also is supplying through her life blooC
the necessary elements for the creation
of another being, it will be her delight t.
partake of the foods which experience
has shown to be the best for that pur
pose. A judicious use of good, whole
some food, thoroughly well masticatet
aad consisting largely of vegetables ant
fruits, will go far toward making preg
nancy a perfectly natural thing. If a
any time there is an unnatural cravint
for food a cup of very hot sweet mill
slipped slowly with a teaspoon will usu
ally not only satisfy the craving, bu'
soothe and strengthen the mother
Sometimes eating fruit or drinking {
cup of water, either hot or cold, will an
sWeI lue
Plenty of outdoor exercise and al
abundance of fresh air in the sleepin,
room must be secured, but common
sense must be used in connection will
the exercise. 1t would be suicidal TO,
some women to take vigorous exercis,
during the latter months of pregnancy
The mother would be broken down ant
the child would be all bone and muscle
with but little brain.
After the fifth month has passed tn,
bone and muscle forming food need no
be used so freely, but of the fruit
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 tire,
weeks, after which nothing but fruit
vegetables and liquids should be eaten
If an easy birth is desired. All of thes,
things that are necessary have been sup
piled during the first months, If the die
has been properly directed.
During the last four months of preg
nancy the brain and mental capacity
inclination, tastes and ambition of tn,
child are formed. During this period o
four months the mother may do more fol
the child than any college in the worlt
can do in as many years. Whatever sh,
c%ultiyates will be cultivated in the child
If her desire is for social life and sh,
thinks and longs for it, f%retting becaus,
she is deprived of 1t by her condition
then she must expect a fretful, selfsl
child, that will never be satisfied unles
constantly on the go, and never con
tented except when surrounded by tn,
light-headed and idle.
If her desire can be turned to must,