The broad ax., 1916-02-12
CARE OF THE BABY.
Before the Baby Comes.
Article Number Four.

In this series of articles we have
been dealing with the early life of a
baby, after birth; we have not consid-
cred the equally important care of the
baby in the months of his life before
birth. The necessity, for this care is
apparent from the fact that statistics
show that many thousands of babies
die every year in the early days of
life either because they were born pre-
maturely, or because they were born
too weak to survive. A very large
number of them lose their lives because
the mothers did not have proper care
before they were born, or at the time
of childbirth. Every woman expecting
a baby should have such care as will
result in the birth of a healthy and
happy baby.
prospective mother needs light,
nutritious diet of di gestible foods, such
as she likes and her appetite demands.
Fried and greasy foods, heavy puddings
and all heavy or underdone pastries,
or an excess of any one article should
be eliminated from her diet, as well
as anything which she does not readily
digest.
She should have a full movement of
the bowels every day, and for this pur-
pose should eat plenty of laxative
foods, rather than resort to medicines.
She should have at least eight hours of
sleep at night and another hour during
the day with all the bedroom windows
open, if she has no out-of-door sleep
ing room. She should have systematic
exercise in the open air every day,
spending the time pleasantly in walk
ing or in taking some form of light
exercise, except at the normal time of
the menstrual period, when it is better
to rest. She should be careful not to
continue her exercise beyond the point
when she becomes tired.
She should have a daily tub or
sponge bath, having the water neither
hot nor very cold, and should rub the
skin vigorously afterward.
During the last eight weeks of preg-
nancy she needs special care. The nip
pies should have attention each day,
according to directions given in a pub
lication of the Children IS Bureau called
prenatal Cafe,' which is sent free
upon request to the Chief of the Chill
dren's Bureau, U. s. Department of
Labor, Washington, D. c.
Throughout this stage of pregnancy
the mother should as far as possible
be spared all forms of heavy and tax
ing labor, in order that her strength
may be built up in anticipation of the
coming demand upon it. The baby's
proper development also depends large
ly upon the mother condition at this
time, since the baby gains half his
weight in the last eight weeks of preg.
nancy. Therefore, if he is to be born
strong and healthy, it is most important
that the mother have plenty of good
food, and be spared undue work and
worry through this crucial period. To
help the mother, to afford her>oppor-
tunity for rest and to relieve her mind
of any burden, may entail both expense
and trouble upon the family, but it will
be repaid a thousandfold in the health
of the mother and baby which will re-
suit from the effort, not only for the
time being, but forever afterward.
The mother Of the expected baby
should be under the care Of q good
doctor as long before the birth as pos
sible, in order that he may watch for
and correct any untoward symptoms
that may arise.
In q city where the mother has not
only plenty Of private physicians, but
hospitals, dispensaries and clinics at her
service, it should be possible for her to
have the necessary medical attention
TO keep her well.
In rural districts where medical at