The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-12
Prenatal Life of Infant Inilu-
enees Whole Career.
Many Precautions Necessary to
Safeguard Baby's Health.
MANY DIE IN FIRST YEAR
Because Mother Did Not Re-
ceive Proper Treatment.
Children's Bureau Recommends
Care of a Good Physician.

tFourth of IA series i'm the state Jour
nal prepared by the Children's De-
nartmcnt, United states Bureau OF
Labor.)
In this series of articles we have
been dealing with the early life of
baby. after birth: we have not consld-
sidered the equally important care of
the baby in the months of his life
before birth. The necessity for this
care 10 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 porn
prematurely or because they were
born too weak to survive. A very
large number of them lose thelr LNeS
because the mothers did not nave
proper care before they were Dorn' OF
al the time of childbirth. Every WON
nm expecting baby should nave such
care as will result in the plrlh oI
healthy and happy baby
a prospective mother needs light
nutritious diet of dgestible foods, such
as she likes and her appetite demands
Fried and greasy foods, heavy Puu-
dfngs and all heavy or underdone
pastries. or an excess of any one art-
Gle should be eliminated from her
diet. as well as anything which she
does not readily digest.
Mother Needs Exercise.
She should have a full movement of
the bowels every day, and for this pur-
nose should eat plenty of laxative
foods rather than resort to medicines
She should have at least eight hours
Of sleep at night ana another hour
during the day with all the bedroom
windows open, if she has no out Of
door sleeping room. She should nave
systematic exercise in the open ar
every day, spending the time pleasant
ly in walking or in taking some form
pGraf at ar
time of the menstrual period, when 1t
is better to rest. She should be care
full not to continue her exercise be-
vond 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
nipples should have attention each
day, according to directions given in a
publication of the Children's bureau
called Prenatal Care" which is sent
free upon request to the Chief of the
Children's Bureau. L. s. Department
Of Labor Washington. D. G.
Hard Work Taboo.
Throughout this stage of Iregnancy
the mother should IS far as possible
be spared all forms of heavy and tax
ing labor, in order that her strength
NAV be built up in anticipation of
the coming demand upon it. The
baoy's proper development also tie
ponds largely upon the mothers cor
dition at this time, since the baby
gains half his weight in the last eight
weeks Of pregnancy. Therefore. If
he is to be born strong and healthy,
1t 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 opportunity for
rest and to relieve her mind of any
burden NAV 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
sht uld be under the care Of good
doctor as long before the birth as
possible, in order that he nay watch
for and correct any untoward symp-
toms that may arise.
Care by Long Distance.
I'm city where the mother has not
only plenty of private physicians, but
hospitals, dispensaries anu clinics at
her service, it should be possible for
her to have the necessary medical at
tention to keep her we'll
In rural districts where medical at
tcntion is more difficult to secure,
owing to the long distance the doctor
often has to tlaVel. the mother should
cndcavor to sec him now and then,
and should send a sample Of the urine
to be examined, as often as may he
pro cticable, particularly during the
last three months.
The pamphlet on Prenatal Care, al
ready mentioned, gives advice regard
ing the hygiene of pregnancy, which
mothers will find useful.
1t is exceedingly important that the
ailments of pregnancy be dealt with
in the beginning before they develop
into more serious matters. At the
first appearance of swollen hands anC
feet, of persistent headache, of pair
in any part of hemorrhage, or o.
spots before the eyes, good doctor