Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1915-09-04
KEEPING BABY WIFI
MATTERS OF GREATEST n--.
EST TO EVERY MOTHER
Care of Infant in City Much cr.,..
Than in Smaller Places-Wslt..-
Societies Have Done Ex.
cellert Work.
prepared by the Children's Bureap p
Department of Labor 49, u

-
Department of Labor 80 "
There Is no doubt that the nrnb,.
which arise in taking care of a baI-
in summer are more difficult for ~
city mother than for the one vsa
lives in village or in the country
Overcrowded houses, lack Of fro.,
air, of sunshine, and of opeD sn.oo-
for play and out-of-door life maEs
very hard conditions under which -
try to rear healthy children
During the summer months in mo-,
OF the larger cities there is an ano,
nous increase in the number of sioh
babies, many of whom fail to sn,
vive this period. These welIl.no,r,
facts have led to the establishment
all over the country of what are lxnorn
as infant welfare and milk stations
These stations are rooms in charge n,
trained nurses and physicians ~
which any mother who desires NAV
bring her baby for help and advice IN
his care
The object of these welfare Stations
is to keep the babies well, and to
prevent illness by watching the babies
closely and by teaching the mothers
how to take care of them. Ii a bahv
is found to be sick the mother Is 70.
ferred to her own physician IL she
has one. If not, she is usually sent
to dispensary. The principal factor
in keeping the baby we'll is to have
him properly fed. Accordingly the
physician who cares for the baby
should direct this very carefully. ItI
the mother has no physician, the sta
ton doctor will examine the baby
and order a diet for him. The nurse
will be glad to assist the mother in
following out his directions, and will
visit her in her home for this pur.
| pose.
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 can 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 a baby should go to the sta.
ton about once a 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
oaby's coming in the best way
If 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 if
she desires to go to a hospital for
the birth the station doctor will prob
ably be 9ble to arrange the matter
for her.
After the baby is born and the
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
in visit with the baby to such a 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 Is
needed.
Moth ers especially who go out to
work by the day, should try to send
the baby to the station by caretakeF
for such babies need the welfare sta
TONS help even more than others
II 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
tended for the use of all mothers IN
the neighborhood who need help IN
| the care of their babies, and no ohe
needing it, should fail to avail heFssH
of this opportunity.