Milford chronicle., 1954-09-24
REPoRI u RARENTs
% MARIHa NJ aioT
Chief ch''aFsns B6Feau

By the end of December. 1854.
toQt million babies VIII probably
have been born in the United
States
About 100000 viii have arrived
before they were fun ready for
this world and Weighing less
than 5 pounds. 8 ounces. That is.
they win have been prematnreIy
born.
AT one time-in the memory OF
all Of US old enough 20 vote the
chances Of survival Of "the pree-
ME" we're very poor indeed. To-
days mother can have the assur-
ance that more IS being done than
ever before t0 reduce the risks of
early delivery and 70 assure good
care for her baby and herself
should birth be premature. Az
most q score Of state health depart
ments are promoting special care
for prematurely born infants.
One significant current effort
along this front Is the 7-year-Old
Premature Center Ga Denver. Col
ofado, 9 joint project OF the Uni.
Versity Of Colorado ana the State
Department Of Public Health. This
is a closely knit, closely eordinat-
ed attack on the problem by a va
riety Of professional people with
different akills
At first attention was conferred
on the care Of the baby born pre-
maturely But, as facts have piled !
up, new emphasis has focused on /
the care, Of the mother before the
baby Is born. Although this con-
centrated attention on the before
hand care Of the poor risk' mo- 4
lher has been going on only a 4
comparatively short time at the 4
Center, q great deal has already I
been found out to help prevent the
early birth that gives a child less
chance Of life
Not only are physiological de-
Iects and diseases In the mother
caught and treated early, but in,
tensive help IS given the patient ia
modifying her diet. And the nu-
trltionist works with a social work
er, as well as the doctors and
nurses. The social worker at
tampts 70 help the family reduce
severe personal stress, helps plan
for appropriate and sufficient food.
and sees what can be done about
crowded living conditions, factors
causing excessive fatigue, and
worry.
Though the program Is young it
has already definitely proved that
special prenatal care, combined
with attention to complicated and
lncomplicated labor and delivery,
g the most effective method now
known for reducing the risks Of
lfematuFity When the prevention
q premature birth is impossible.
he dincuities and the dangers are X
'educed through special supervis-
on. before and after the birth.
As the Center has learned more
bout these babies and their mo-
hers, sharing Of the knowledge
las become an important part Of
Is program.
Postgraduate courses for phys
clans and demonstration clinics
or medical students and nurses
ire held. Papers dealing with the
9enter's discoveries and techni-
1ues are presented to medical
meetings and printed in medical
OuFnals. I
This program in Colorado has T.
ecOme a center to which doctors q
rom all over the cOuntry-in fact. 9
rom many other countries. too .
oW look for help in learning how 4
, bring their own patients through u
as near term as possible, as
ell as for guidance should pre- 8
ature birth occur. Y
One thing the Colorado Center -
resses should have meaning to
7ery mother who Is expecting q
lDy. the sooner a prospective
other checks with her doctor the
stter her chances Of having a
saithy full-term pregnancy and
healthy Well-develODed baby.