Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 216, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 September 1915 — KEEPING BABY WELL [ARTICLE]

KEEPING BABY WELL

MATTERS OF GREATEST INTEREST TO EVERY MOTHER. Care of Infant In City Much Greater Than In Smaller Places—Welfare Socletiea Have Done Excellent Work. (Prepared by the Children’s Bureau, U. 8. Department of Labor.) There is no doubt that the problems which arise in taking care of a baby in summer are more difficult for the city mother than for the one who Uvea in a village or In the country. Overcrowded houses, lack of fresh air, of sunshine, and of open spaces for play and out-of-door life make very hard conditions under which to try to rear healthy children. During the summer months in most of the larger cities there is an enormous increase in the number of sick babies, many of whom fail to survive this period. These well-known facts have led to the establishment all over the country of what are known as infant welfare and milk stations. These stations are rooms in charge of trained nurses and physicians, to which any mother who desires may bring her baby for help and advice in his care.

The object of these welfare stations Is to keep the babies well, and to prevent Illness by watching the babies closely and by teaching the mothers how to take care of them. If a baby Is found to be sick the mother is referred to her own physician if she baa one. If not, she is usually sent to a dispensary. The principal factor In keeping the baby well is to have him properly fed. Accordingly the physician who cares for the baby should direct this very carefully. If the mother has no physician, the station doctor will examine the baby and order a diet for him. The nurse will be glad to assist the mother in following out his directions, and will visit her in her home for this purpose. These stations are sometimes maintained by the city and sometimes by a private society. The mother can find out the location of the station nearest her home from the papers, or by inquiring of the health officer. The baby is weighed at each visit, and examined to see if he needs any special care. If so, the doctor explains this to the mother. The baby should be brought back to the station at regular intervals in order that the doctor and nurse can watch him. In this way much of the illness from which babies suffer can be prevented and mothers and babies spared a great deal of suffering. The mother who is expecting the birth of a baby should go to the station about once a month during her preganacy for advice about herself. The doctor and nurse will tell her what food is best for her to eat, how to take care of the breasts and nipples, and help her to prepare for the baby’s coming In the best way. If she Is suffering from any ailment, such as vomiting, varicose veins, headache or swollen feet, she may learn what to do for these troubles, and if she desires ti go to a hospital for the birth the station doctor will probably be able to arrange the matter for her. After the baby is born and the mother is up again, she may, if she chooses, send word to the station nurse, who will come to see her, now and then, until the mother is able to take the baby to the station again. Mothers who are illor worn out with the burdens of home, may find in a visit with the baby to such a station unexpected help in their problems. Some effort is made to teach mothers the rudiments of domestic science in the home, when this is needed. Mothers especially who go out to work by the day, should try to send the baby to the station by a caretaker, for such babies need the welfare station’s help even more than others. If some member of the family is sick other than the baby and the baby is registered at the station, the nurses and doctors there will usually be able to advise her where and how to seek asistance. These infant welfare stations are intended for the use of all mothers in the neighborhood who need help in the care of their babies, and no one needing it, should fall to avail herself of this opportunity.