Evening star., 1941-02-26
Mother>to>Be
Must Have
Serenity
Self.Control Makes
For Sound Nerves
And Good Health
Bv Leftice Lee Street,

One of the happiest times of a
woman's life is when she is expect
ing a baby. That is, if she is in
good health and of cheerful mind
and realizes the wonder of building
a perfect image within herself. She
should glow like a goddess with
pride and JOY and hold her head
high.
When a woman suspects that she
is going to have a baby she should
select the best obstetrician she can
find, and be punctual about visit
ing him. This may seem unneces-
sary to her, particularly if she feels
we'll, but it is of utmost importance
to her and her baby's welfare that
she see a doctor regularly so that
he may check her condition.
No special diet is needed for the
average healthy girl who is preg-
nant, but she should be more faith
full than ever before about eating
Well-balanced meals. Her daily
menus should contain an abundance
of milk, fresh fruits and vegetables
and she should include in them
butter eggs and moderate amount
of meat.
These foods are absolutely essen
tial 10 supply the vitality needed
for the critical time of delivery, and
to give to the baby the elements
that he requires if he is to be strong
and sound at birth.
However, the expectant mother is
emphatically not eating for two"
This horrible old adage has made
many a mother-to-be put on I'M
necessary, and even dangerous
pounds. There is no need for her
to stuff herself on foods that she
does not relish, because she does
not need more food, but she posi-
lively does need the required foods
Some doctors prescribe added Wit
amins to be taken in concentrated
form, but she should not take any
such concentrates without her doc
tors orders. She should drink
plenty of water, but no laXatives
should be taken without asking her
physician.
Long, undiSturbed sleep at night,
rest every afternoon and mild out
door exercise complete the routine
for physical well-being. In brief,
the expectant mother should lead
as normal and wholesome a life as
possible
Her mind and spirit need nour-
ishment, too, and she will be much
happier If she will try to laugh at
herself as her figure becomes more
clumsy. She is bound to feel blue
sometimes, probably more so than
if she were not pregnant, and her
family and friends should be toll
Grant and patient. But she will
dispel many a doldrum If she will
be a good sport and try to under
stand that even if she Is down.
hearted that the reason she feels
that way is so wonderful that it is
well worth it.
Because every womans vanity
suffers when her figure is so dis
torted, it is a kind and clever hus-
band who soothes her pride with
compliments such as telling her
how pretty her skin or her hair
look or what good supper she
cooked. A woman's face often has
a radiance during pregnancy that
transforms plain girl into a pretty
one and makes a pretty woman
beautiful.
But this radiance emanates from
the spirit. Even though surrounded
by a considerate, loving family she
will be irritated by little things
that would normally leave her un-
touched, and she has to struggle
to maintain her mental serenity.
She must do it. If she trades on
her temporary inability she will not
only make her family wretched, but
she will rub her own nerves raw.
Self-control means sound nerves
and good digestion, and good
digestion means a sense of humor
and happiness, and this chain of
thought is as essential to her baby
a tho food shs satsl