The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-09-10
KEEPING BABY WELL
MATTERS OF GREATEST INTER.
EST TO EVERY MOTHER.
Care Of Infant in City Much Creator
Than In Smaller Places-Welfare
Societies Have Done Ex-
cellent Work.


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
air, 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
of the larger cities there is an enor.
nous increase in the number Of sick
babies, many of whom fail to sur
vive this period. These well-known
facts have led to the establishment
all over the country of what are known
as 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
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. If baby
is found to be sick the mother is re-
ferred to her own physician If she
has one II 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
should direct this very carefully. If
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
a 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 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
baby'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 IL
she 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 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 homo, may find
in visit with the baby to such a sta
tion 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 go out to
work by the day, should try to send
the baby to the station by a 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
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.