The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-07-27
prepared by the Childrens
Bureau, L. S. Department OF
Labor.
Help for City Mothers in Care
of the Baby.

Help for CITY MotherS IN care
of the Baby.
There is no doubt that the prob
! lens which arise in taking care of a
baby in summer are more difficult
for the city mother than for the one
who lives in village or IN the coun-
/ try.
Oyercrowded houses, lack of fresh
air, of sunshine, and of open spaces
for play and out-ofdoor life make
very hard conditions under which to
rear healthy children.
During the summer months in most
| of the larger cities there is an enor-
nous increase in the number of sick
/ babies, any of whom fail to survive
| this period. These well known facts
have led the establishment all over
( the country of what are known as
! Infant Welfare or Milk Stations.
These stations are rooms in charge
of trained nurses and physicians to
which any mother who desires may
bring her baby for help and advice in
his care.
The object of these welfare sta,
tions is to keep the babies well, and
to prevent illness by watching the ba-
bies closely and by teaching the moth
ers how to take care of them. If
baby is found to be sick the mother is
referred to her own physician if she
has one. If not. she is usually sent
to a dispensary. The principal factor
in keeping the baby well is to have
him properly fed. Accordingly the
physician who cares for the baby
well is to have him properly fed. Ac-
cordingly the physician who cares for
the baby should direct this very care
fully. If the mother has no physc-
ian, the station doctor will examine
the baby and order a diet for him.
The nurses will be glad to assist the
mother in following out his direc
tions, and will visit her in her home
for this purpose.
These stations are sometimes main
tanned by the city and sometimes by
private society. The mother can
find out the location of the station
nearest her home from the papers, or
by inquiring of the health officer.
The baby is weighed at each visit
and examined to see if he needs any
special care. If so, the doctor eX
plains this to the mother. The baby
should be brought back to the station
at regular intervals in order that the
doctor and nurse cen watch him. In
this way much of the illness from
which babies suffer can be prevented
and mothers and babies spared a
great deal of suffering.
The mother who is expecting the
birth of baby should go to the sta
tion about once a month during her
pregnancy for advice about herself.
The doctor and nurse will tell her
what food it is best for her to eat
how to take care of the breasts and
nipples, and help her to prepare for
the baby's coming in the best way.
If she is suffering from any all
ment, such as vomiting, varicose
veins. headache or swollen feet, she
may learn what to do for these trou-
bles. and, if she desires to go to a
hospital for the birth the station doc
tor will probably be able to arrange
the matter for her
Alter the baby is born and the moth
er is up again, she may, if she
chooses, send word to the station
nurse, who will come to see her, now
and then. until the mother is able to
take the baby to the station again
Mothers who are i'll or worn out
with the burdens of home, may find
in a visit with the baby to such a
station unexpected help in their prob
lens. Some effort is made to teach
mothers the rudiments of domestic
science in the home, when this is
needed.
Mothers especially who 20 out to
work by the day, should try to send |
the baby to the station by caretaker
for such babies need the welfare sta |
tons help even more than others.
If some member of the family is |
sick. other than the baby, and the |
baby is registered at the station, the |
nurses and doctors there will usually |
be able to advise her where and how |
to seek assistance.
These infant welfare stations are in