Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-29
SAYING The BABIES.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

The great interest in eugenics which is
sweeping over the country has developed
an interest in everything pertaining to
the production of healthy babies. No
sham delicacy now prevents the con-
sideration of matter so essential to the
future good Of the nation. 1t is not suf-
ficient now to consider the needs of the
child only after he is born. Attention
must be given to his prenatal life In order
that he may be born with an assured
prospect of strength and good health.
This requires that expectant mothers have
proper .nourishment and care. The latest
development in eugenic progress was the
opening last month in New York of a
prenatal restaurant" to provide proper
food to expectant mothers.
The sponsor of this unique restaurant
is Miss Mabel Parker, who for five years
has been operating. chiefly through her
own energies a milk station for babies
on the west side of New York city, north
of Tooth street. She has saved the lives
of hundreds of babies by providing them
with fresh pure milk. In doing this she
not always give strength to a baby who
was born puny and frail. In her years
of contact with the mothers Of the poor
Miss Parker learned, as have many other
social workers, that the reason baby
is born puny is chiefly because his mother
was lacking in physical strength.
The object of this restaurant is to place
Within the reach of the eXpectant mother
OF that vicinity the means OF keeping
herself in good health until her child is
born. 1t is believed that the prenatal
restaurant of New York will be only a
forerunner of many similar Institutions
which will fill a pressing need in every
city This little establishment opened by
Miss Parker is only small beginning.
doubtless it will soon grow in size, for
its purpose is in line with the most mod
ern developments of practical philan-
thropy. 1t will supply only the noon
meal to woman. This will consist of
meat. broth and vegetables. and it will
cost but cents. This low price will place
1t within the reach of almost every
woman of the tenement district, although
no expectant mother who lacks this small
coin will be refused the food needed
X I:
According to recently compiled reports
made under the direction of Miss Julia
Lathrop, chief
Show Vital Need of the national
of Healthy Mothers. enid en,ldre9 ms b %
per cent of the deaths of children under
one year of age are due to causes mainly
dependent upon the health of the mother
before the birth OF her infant. OF the
134.3I3 infants who died in the United
States two years ago nearly 10 per cent
lived less than a day and over % per
cent lived less than a week. The report
Tor last year shows a decrease in the
number of deaths from 154.373 to 149, 3d.
which is believed to be entirely due to
the baby-saving campaigns in the larger
cities. This result would be most graft
flying but for the fact that the number
of babies who lived only day increased
from 10 per cent to IL per cent, and
those living less than week from % to
- per cent.
These figures clearly prove that the eff
forts to save the babies through pure
milk and more Intelligent care have pro-
duced definite results. but they also in
dictate the need of effort to reach pre-
natal conditions. This need is becoming
recognized by visiting nurse societies and
similar organizations, and much has been
done to meet it. In Boston an organiza-
ton of women has been providing Wis
1ting nurses to every eXpectant mother
within their reach. The nurses visit the
women regularly and give them scientific
instruction as to the care to be taken |
Of themselves before and after the birth |
Of the child Diet was not discussed at
first, but is now receiving attention be-
cause of the widely published statement |
that it is impossible for poorly fed |
mother to give birth to vigorous, |
healthy infant and nurse it successfully |
afterWard.
If a prospective mothers food is not
we'll selected it cannot give the degree
of nourishment demanded for the future
welfare of the child. So generally is this /
fact recognized that nurses who until
within the past year only touched upon
the subject of the mothers diet now give
definite instruction upon this subject.
Diet lectures for prospective mothers are
being delivered in all large cities. Wom- !,
en- are being advised to forego highly
seasoned and very rich foods at this time
and choose those which are best suited
20 their digestion.
In dietary list for prospective moth
ers lately issued by the New York state
board of
Dietary List for health. soups
Prospective Mothers. fish of all
kinds are commended. Red meat should
be eaten sparingly and only once a oay'
Chicken, ham, veal, mutton and lamp are
preferable to beef. Stale white Dread
corn bread, brown bread, toast, CRACKERS
ice and all cereals are wholesome. Heavy