Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-12-26
HEALTH RULES FOR
THE YOUNG MOTHER

Within the last 20 years there has
been steady decrease in the number
of naturally fed children.
Changed social and economic condi-
tons, together with the introduction
of patent foods and scientifically con-
structed apparatus, have led more and
more mothers to abandon natures
method of nourishing the infant and 70
adopt artificial means. T.
Among a certain class Of wealthy
woman it would without doubt be 'un.
fashionable" to nurse ones own baby.
The demands of society. with its
round Of bridge and golf and other
modern feminine attractions, render II
real hardship for woman to elimi-
nate herself from the social circle for
longer than she deems 1t absolutely
necessary. 1t is not so much that she
is selfish, but that she does not real
ize her true responsibilities to her
child, and again facilities for artificial
rearing are so near at hand to tempt
her.
Another cause of the decline of nat
ural feeding is that today many more
fields of employment are open to
women than in the days of old. Many
mothers are bread-winners, and the
home seclusion necessitated by breast
feeding the infant for some months is
a strain which the slender domestic
purse strings will not stand.
Not Altogether True
There seems to be a growing be-
lief that the modern woman is not so
we'll fitted to nurse her child as her
predecessors. This is not altogether
true. What has happened is that
thereshas been considerable amount
of Sinking, and on this question the
words of q well-known baby" doctor
express tersely all that is to be said
First of all, we have to consider
the dictates of fashion. The woman
who couldn't has perhaps in the past
been considered rather superior sort
of person, too intellectual for such an
animal task
There has been much ignorance of
the importance of natural feeding, no
doubt encouraged by the halfhearted
attitude of the medical profession on
the subject. The ignorance of the
fathers in this respect is an important
factor. When the fashion is SO
changed that a woman who cannot
nurse her own baby is looked upon as
a poor thing or cripple to be pitied,
we shall hear less of this inability.
Hygiene for Young Mothers
II is very often the case that
mother finds herself unable to feed
her first baby because she has not
taken certain simple precautions.
IT h,, hn
edge, she does not consider 1t neces-
sary to take steps to safeguard ner
general health until some few weeks
before the infant is born.
II is always wise to seek an early
consultation with her doctor during
the first three or four months. He Is
then able to. assure her and hlmseil
that all is normal and to prescribe
regime which win enable her to prog
ress in comfort, and when the time
comes to do her duty to her baby
Certain old ideas are very apt to 60
q lot of harm. The commonest OF
these is for the mother-to-be to re-
gard herself too much as an invalld-
It Is agreed by all; authorities tnat t1e
woman who keeps about and takes all
adequate amount of exercise experi
ences far less trouble later. All forms
of work entailing much Sfting anc
bending are, of course, out OF the
question, but the ordinary hight house
work duties should be carried out.
A daily walk in the fresh air should
be INDUCED in as long as possible,
and IL Is also wise to seek some mid
form NJ diversion. since too much con
centration of the young mothers mind