The Ypsilanti daily press., 1946-04-02
Your Health
Vigilance Needed
to Provide Safety
of Mothers
of Mothers

By HERMAN BrNDEsEN. NJ. D
THE price Of safety where
motherhood is concerned Is eternal
vigilance on the part Of doctors
and utmost cooperation on the
part Of patients.
One Of the most deadly hazards
Of childbirth 10 puerperal infec-
tion Of the womb. In the past, this
so-called childbed fever annually
claimed the lives Of thousands Of
mothers. Today. modern sterile
techniques in the delivery room
have made it something Of rarity.
Use Of Drugs
Furthermore, in those cases
where its development cannot be
prevented, penicillin and the sui
fonamide drugs give physicians
sovereign weapons with which to
combat it
Nonetheless, in spite Of the
great effectiveness Of these new
drugs, some mothers so afflicted
will surely die. Therefore, the need
for preventive measures during
pregnancy and delivery cannot be
over-emphasized.
Sterile Technique
Absolutely sterile technique
must be observed in the delivery
room. This is Of paramount impor-
lance. DR.. Charles Edwin Gallo
way Of Chicago further suggests
that during pregnancy, q careful
search be made for any infections
Of the teeth, tonsils or sinuses.
These, he says, must be cleared up.
II the patient is suffering from
anemia or a lessening Of the col
oring in the blood, this, also,
should be corrected by giving IRON
containing preparations and foods
rich in iron, especially meat, eggs,
and green vegetables. During the
last three months Of pregnancy,
tub baths should not be permitted
and shower baths should replace
them.
Respiratory Infection
Il is also important that any
person with q respiratory infec-
ton, such as . cold, be kept out Of
the part Of the hospital where de-
livery is carried out According
to DR.. Galloway, the three main
causes of infection during the
birth Of the baby are prolonged
labor, tearing Of the womb, and
excessive bleeding.
During the first two stages Of
labor, the use Of drugs which
stimulate contractions Of the
womb should be prohibited, ac-
cording to DR.. Galloway. II ex.
eessive bleeding should occur, in
jections Of blood plasma or whole
blood into a vein should be car
ried out promptly.
Type Of Germ
II puerperal infection should de-
velop, the physician will attempt
to determine just what type Of
germ Is causing the difficulty so
that he can decide upon the proper
treatment. The symptoms Of puer-
peral sepsis include pain in the
lower part Of the abdomen, rest
lessness, sleeplessness, loss Of ap-
petite and, Of course, fever. Most
Of the patients may be free Of all
symptoms at the beginning Of the
condition except for fever, in
crease in the number of white cells
in the blood, and q rapid pulse
rate.
Penicillin 10 effective against
most Of the germs which cause
puerperal infection. II is suggested
by DR.. Galloway that II be given
by injection into q vein or q mus
Gle. Streptococcus antitoxin may
be used also In eases caused by the
hemolytic streptococcus.
These methods Of prevention and
treatment Of puerperal sepsis
have resulted in the saving Of
many lives. II Is to the great credit
Of the medical profession that so
much has been done In this way
and in others TO make mother
hood a safe and joyous experience.