Evening star., 1941-09-24
all Decorating Coos Have Exciting New Warmth Charm This Year
Advice for
Expectant
Mothers
Place Yourself in
The Care of Best
Doctor Available
Bp Leffice Lee Street,

BY Lefice Lee Street,
The initial step for the expectant
mother is to select q well-informed
obstetrician. And at once! Your
husband should go with you the
first visit. 1t will interest him and
| comfort him to hear the doctor
opinion. A Young woman makes
deep mistake if she attempts to
leave her husband out Of the dis
cussions and decisions involved in
planning for his and her baby.
I lay great emphasis upon the
expression ''well-informed obstetri-
cian" Only doctor who has had
| training and sufficient practice in
the business Of bringing babies into
! the world should be trusted with the
lives of mother and child.
! The expectsnt mother should not
be guided by the opinion and advice
OF friends in the matter of choosing
| her doctor. She may ask her family
physician for the name Of a good
obstetrician or she NAV write to the
| American Board of ObStetricians and
| Gynecologists, South Highland ave-
nue.. Pittsburgh, Pa, and ask for the
names of two or three doctors in or
near her community. 1t is best for
her to explain in the letter how
much she and her husband are pre-
pared to pay.
OF course. We all know that large
sums NAV be spent for the safe care
of mother and infant, but this same
safety NAV be had for much less
If it includes comfort without plush
luxury"
Many efficient obstetricians charge
couples of moderate means $50 TO
sl00, and for this sum the doctor
provides the mother with care before
the baby is born. he delivers the
baby and gives her attention for
several weeks after the infants
| birth.
In metropolitan hospitals the ward
fees are very fair. Some hospitals
charge a fiat rate which includes
doctors care for nine months.
delivery, anesthesia, all hospital
charges. such as laboratory fees.
and bed in cubicle or semi
/ private room. I know of one hos
pltal with a very Weli-eQuipped ma
ternlty ward which is heavily en-
dowed. and the charge for mothers
OF moderate means is only $50
/ Doctors and hospitals in rural COM
munlties usually charge less than do
those in cities. but before a mother
to-be decides to place herself in
their care she should make sure
that the doctor has had training
and experience in obstetrics and
that the hospital has a maternity
ward where the delivery room the
nursery and the nurses are separate
from the rest Of the hospital.
II a child is 10 be born at home
(which. in my opinion. is not at all
a smart thing TO do unless absolute
ly necessary all equipment for the
delivery should be in readiness well
ahead of the expected date. There
IS no time TO rush around buving
the needed articles when the baby
is actually clsmoring TO be born. A
nurse should be engaged without
fail, and she should be a registered
obStetrical nurse.
Nowadays childbirth is safe and
much more comfortable than it used
to be, and it is foolish to say chill
dren have been born for years with
out making any fuss about it. why
take so much trouble for such
natural event?" Because it has only
been by practicing precaution and
by taking advantage of modern
. science that so many millions of
mothers and babies lives have been
saved.