Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1949-07-15

give birth to a child. However,
some may still approach child
birth as an ordeal For the bene-
fit of such women, let me re-
mind you that along with max
ing childbirth safer, modern OBJ
stetrical methods have also
made it much easier Here again,
we see vast difference between
deliveries today and a hundred
years ago 1t was just about a
century ago-in the late 1840's
that DR.. James Simpson, a
British surgeon, met with viol-
ent opposition when he started
to use anestheticS in connection
with childbirth. The strange ar
gument hurled at him was that
women were supposed to suffer
in giving birth to children, and
therefore it was wrong to make
the process of birth any easier
for them. 1t was even said that
mothers would not love their
children unless they endured
the maximum amount of suffer-
ing in bearing them. There was
also a more logical argument,
advanced by physicians, that
anesthetics were not always ad-
minstrel sa fely. Sometimes
their use in unskiled hands en-
dangered the lives of both moth
ers and babies Today, we are
fortunate in having many diff
ferent types of anesthetics, and
many specialists who are trained
in administering them. It should
be remembered that childbirth
is still not without some pain.
The modern obStetrician gives
first consideration to the safety
of the mother and the unborn
infant and uses anestheticS and
analgesics only within those
limits.
One area in which we still
need to know more and to do
more effective work is that of
premature births. Very few
mothers lose their lives today in
giving birth to their babies, but
too many babies die because
they're born too soon. Many of
these tiny premature babies die
because they're born too soon.
Many of these tiny premature
babies are too small and too
weak to survive. We believe
that a number of these pre-
mature births could be prevent
ed by better care of the mother
during pregnancy. She must be
protected against illnesses and
accidents during the prenatal
period. I'd like to emphasize
especially the need for prevent
ing accidents during pregnancy,
Many babies are either born pre-
maturely. or lost altogether be-
cause of accidents involving ex-
pectant mothers.
Certain diseases that are not
very dangerous at other times
may be quite serious if they oc-
cur during pregnancy. One of
these diseases is German
measles, ordinarily a very mild
disease. The average adult suf-
fers little discomfort from hav-
ing it, and it leaves no after-af-
fects. But in recent years, it
has been discovered that Ger
man measles may be quite seri-
Gus If it occurs early in preg-
nancy. 1t may affect the eyes,
the ears, the heart, or the brain
OF the unborn baby. Therefore,
every precaution should be taken
to protect the expectant mother
from all possible exposure to
persons having German meales
or other catching or commune
able disease.
We have spoken of avoiding
disease and avoiding accidents
during pregnancy. But the one
thing above all to avoid is
worry. In closing, let me quote
a few words from booklet for
expectant parents that is pub
lished by the United States Chill
dren's Bureau. This is what the
booklet says: Worry is so flu
tile land SO unnecessary. You
can nourish a whole crop of
fears while you're pregnant, or
you can choose to be serene and
carefree If it's ignorance that's
making you fearful, ask your
doctor the questions that bother
you. He will be able to give you
answers that will take a big