The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-02-14
:: /. &. . 4. - . II 81 {: {. It y :: Il


In this series or 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 be-
fore 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 We're
born prematurely. or because they
were born too weak to survive. \
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 healthy and happy baby
A prospective mother needs a light,
nutritious diet of digestible foods,
such as she likes and her appetite
demands Fried and greasy foods,
heavy puddings, and all heavy or un'
derdone 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
purpose should eat plenty Of laxative
foods, rather than resort to medi-
cinps. She should have at least eight
hours of sleep at night and another
hour during the day with all the bed
room windows open, if she has no
outdoor sleeping room. She should
have systematic exercise in the open
air every day, spending the time pleas
antly in walking 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 exer-
else beyond the point when she be-
comes 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
pregnancy she needs special care
The nipples should have attention
each day, according to directions
given in a publication of the Chill
drpn's Bureau called prenatal Care"
which is sent free upon request TO
the Chief of the Children's Bureau,
[. s. Department of Labor, Washing
ton, 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
largely upon the mothers condition
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, it is most
important that the mother have plen-
ty of good food and be spared undue
work and worry through this crucial
period. To help the mother, to af-
ford her opportunity for rest and to
relieve her mind of any burden, may
entail both expense and trouble upon
the family, but it will be repaid
thousandfold in the health of the
mother and baby which will result
from the effort not only for the time
being, but forever afterward,
The mother of the expected baby
should be under the care of a good
doctor as long before the birth as
possible, in order that he may watch
for and correct any untoward symp-
toms that may arise.
In a 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 at
tention to keep her well.
IN rural districts where medical at
tention is more difficult to secure,
owing to the long distance the doctor