The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-05-01

generally. however, do we hear emph-
asis put upon the equally important
fact that there is extreme danger Of
infection while these physiological
functions are In progress, and that
they must subject the entire organism
to such a strain that there results
dangerously narrow margin between
health and disease"
Here is the evidence that adequate
maternity care saves mothers lives.
Louis /. Dublin, Phi. D., statistician
Of the Metropolitan Life Insurance
company, and an expert internationally
known, examined the records Of 4,726
mothers cared for by the Maternity
Center association over period Of six
years in a certain section of New York
city. He compared the results with
what happened to mothers in the same
section of the city not receiving such
care. This showed that those in the
first group have about three times as
good chance to survive as the others.
"The result" says his report, sis in
dicative Of the saving of lives that
might be accomplished were every
mother to receive the benefit Of ade-
quate maternity care. AS more than
10000 women in the United States ey-
cry year die from causes related to
maternity. this means that more than
10000 deaths are preventable. In ad-
dition, 10000 Of the 100000 babies who
now die in the first month Of life,
would be saved. Infants, as well as
mothers, are protected by adequate
maternity care.
.There is nothing peculiar to the
civilization Of the United States to ac-
count for the fact that our maternal
death rate is more than twice that of
such countries as Denmark and the
Netherlands, where records are kept
as carefully as they are here. This
country's low position on the roster Of
nations Of the world is because there
is striking absence here Of trained
! care for the great mass Of women in
moderate circumstances who have
children.
1--WE have allowed things to go on
with Indifference to the waste of lives
of mothers and babies. assuming that
all was well, when decidedly it was
not. The situation cries to high heav-
en- for remedy"
Adequate maternity care is the OBJ
servation, care and instruction by doc
I tors and nurses of mothers from the
time the woman thinks she may be
pregnant until she is able to resume
her regular activities and to care for
her new baby, according to Hazel Cor
bin, general director of the Maternity
Center association.
Commenting on the work done by
this organization which reduced the
death rate among mothers 20 % per
thousand live births as against SIS in
the country as whole, Miss Corbin
adds: Nurses urge each mother to
register as early as possible with the
private doctor or hospital physician
who will deliver her so he may direct
her care during pregnancy and know
all about her when it comes time for
the delivery and care of the baby.
Each mother is helped to Select, from
the facilities available, what is best
suited to her condition.
''The nurses, working with the doe
tors and reporting to them each time
they see the mothers, visit each moth.
er at regular intervals during preg-
nancy. They help the doctor or mid.
wife during delivery and make regular
visits afterward and give, or teach
some responsible person to give, the
necessary care to mother and baby, as
well as see that the household is run
ming smoothly so the mother can rest
as long as necessary, and gradually,
as the doctor advises, resume her usu
al activities and increased response
bilities.
"The aim of maternity care is to
secure for every mother the minimum
of mental and physical discomfort dur
ing pregnancy; the maximum of men,
tai and physical fitness when the baby
comes; the reward of a well baby and
the knowledge to care for herself and
baby"
&c. 1891. Western Newspaper Union-l