The Irish standard., 1915-09-04
The Home Circle
By CELIA HORD KENNY
KEEPING BABY WELL PICKLES THAT TEMPT
MATTERS OF GREATEST INTER.
/ EST TO EVERY MOTHER.

lcare Of Infant In City Much Greater
Than In Smaller PIaees-Welfare
Societies Have Done Ex-
ceIIent Work.
prepared by the children's Bureau. q. g.
Department Of Labor.)
There is no doubt that the problems
which arise in taking care of baby
In summer are more difficult for the
|city mother than for the one who
lives in a village or in the country.
Overcrowded houses, lack Of fresh
eir, of sunshine. and Of open spaces
for play and out.of-door life make
very hard conditions under which to
try to rear healthy children.
During the summer months in most
Iof the larger cities there is an enor.
|mous increase in the number Of sick
babies, many of whom fail to sur.
|yive this period. These well-known
facts have led to the establishment
hl over the country Of what are known
es infant welfare and 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
ibis care.
The object of these welfare stations
10 to keep the babies we'll, and to
prevent illness by watching the babies
closely and by teaching the mothers
how to take care Of them. II baby
ds found to be sick the mother is re-
ferred to her own physician II she
has one. If not, she is usually sent
TO dispensary. The principal factor
an keeping the baby we'll is to have
him properly fed. Accordingly the
physician who cares for the baby
should direct this very carefully. II
The mother has no physician, the sta.
zion doctor will examine the baby
Ind order diet for him. The nurse
win be glad to assist the mother in
following out his directions, and will
visit her in her home for this Dur.
bose.
These stations are sometimes main.
tained by the city and sometimes by
private society. The mother can
Ind out the location of the station
dearest her home from the papers, or
~ inquiring Of the health officer.
The baby is weighed at each visit,
Ind examined to see IL he needs any
special care. II so, the doctor ex.
plains this to the mother. The baby
phould be brought back to the station
at regular intervals in order that the
doctor and nurse can watch him. In
this way much Of the illness from
which babies suffer can be prevented
and mothers and babies spared ..
great deal Of suffering.
The mother who IL expecting the
birth Of q baby should 70 To tho ata.
ton about once . month during her
pregnancy for advice about herself.
The doctor and nurse will tell her
what food is best for her to eat. how
to take care Of the breasts and nip.
pies. and help her to prepare for the
baby's coming in the best way.
II she is suffering from any ailment,
such as vomiting, varicose veins, head.
ache or swollen feet, she may learn
what to do for these troubles, and II
phe desires t, go to q .hospital for
the birth the station doctor will prob.
ably be able to arrange the matter
for her.
After the baby is born and tho
mother 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
tn a visit with the baby to such sta.
ton unexpected help in their prob
lens. Some effort is made to teach
mothers the rudiments of domestic
science in the home, when this IL
needed.
\ Mothers especially who 20 out to
work BY the day. should try to send
the baby to the station by q caretaker,
for such babies need the welfare sta
lions help even more than others.
II some member Of the family is
sick other than the baby and tho
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.
tended for the use Of all mothers in
the neighborhood who need help in
the care Of their babies, and no one
needing 1t, should fail to avail herself
Of this opportunity.
OIL cloth table mats for the chill.
dren will save many soiled table
cloths. They can be made by taking
either q square or an oblong Of white
linen, drawing threads and hemstitch.
ing all around. Sew on . back, max