| “The Caress” by Gari Melchers | [Frontispiece] | |
| Chapter III. | ||
| FIG. | PAGE | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Diagram of pelvis | [21] |
| 2. | Side view of female generative organs | [23] |
| 3. | Front view of female generative organs | [25] |
| 4. | Diagram of human ovum | [26] |
| 5. | Front view of breast | [32] |
| Chapter IV. | ||
| 6. | Diagram showing process of cell division | [36] |
| 7. | Diagram of baby, cord, membranes and placenta within the uterus | [38] |
| 8. | Appearance of the baby at different stages of development | [40] |
| 9. | Position of baby in the uterus just before birth | [42] |
| Chapter V. | ||
| 10. | Front and side views of maternity corsets | [59] |
| 11. | Front, side and back views of home-made abdominal binder and breast bandage, applied | [60] |
| 12. | Abdominal binder used in Fig. [11] | [61] |
| 13. | Front and back views of home-made stocking supporters | [62] |
| 14. | Right-angled position for relief of swollen feet and legs | [71] |
| 15. | Lying with hips elevated to relieve swelling of vulva | [73] |
| Chapter VI. | ||
| 16. | Leggings for use at the baby’s birth | [88] |
| 17. | Pad made of newspapers, to protect bed | [90] |
| 18. | Pattern for baby’s petticoat | [92] |
| 19. | Pattern for baby’s dress | [93] |
| 20. | Outfit of satisfactory baby clothes | [94] |
| 21. | Baby’s toilet tray | [96] |
| Chapter VII. | ||
| 22. | Diagram showing cervix in process of being dilated | [101] |
| 23. | Drawing showing descent of baby during birth | [104] |
| 24. | Helping the baby to breathe | [111] |
| Chapter VIII. | ||
| 25. | Supporting heavy breasts with straight binder | [118] |
| 26. | Supporting heavy breasts by means of three folded towels | [119] |
| 27. | Indian binder for heavy breasts | [120] |
| 28. | Protecting nipples with sterile gauze | [121] |
| 29. | Position of mother and baby while nursing in bed | [123] |
| 30. | Using shield to protect sore nipples, while nursing baby | [124] |
| 31. | Nipple shield used in Fig. [30] | [125] |
| 32 to 38, inclusive. | Bed exercises | [128] to 131 |
| 39. | Knee chest position | [132] |
| 40. | Walking on all fours | [133] |
| Chapter X. | ||
| 41. | Baby’s weight chart | [151] |
| 42. | Diagram of first teeth | [153] |
| 43. | Appearance of fresh cord immediately after birth | [154] |
| 44. | Appearance of cord four days after birth | [155] |
| 45. | Appearance of navel after cord has dropped off | [155] |
| 46. | Appearance of normal, well healed navel | [156] |
| 47. | Preparing the baby’s milk | [169] |
| 48. | Position in which to hold baby and bottle for feeding | [172] |
| 49. | Holding baby upright after feeding to prevent colic | [173] |
| 50. | Putting the baby into his bath | [185] |
| 51. | Supporting the baby’s head above water while giving bath | [186] |
| 52. | Dry, sterile cord dressing | [189] |
| 53. | Flannel band over cord dressing | [190] |
| 54. | Putting on the straight diaper | [191] |
| 55. | The diaper in Fig. [54] applied | [192] |
| 56. | The Sutton poncho | [198] |
| 57. | Method of carrying baby to support back and head | [200] |
| 58. | Training the baby to use a chamber | [202] |
| 59. | Elbow cuffs to prevent thumb sucking | [203] |
| 60. | Immersing baby for bran or mustard bath | [209] |
| 61. | Putting the baby into a wet pack | [210] |
| 62. | The baby in a wet pack | [211] |
| 63. | Diagrams showing successive steps in giving pack | [212] |
| 64. | Giving the baby an enema | [217] |
| 65. | Quilted robe for the premature baby | [220] |
| 66. | Bed for premature baby improvised from a clothes basket | [221] |
| 67. | The baby in a basket, ready to travel | [224] |
GETTING READY
TO BE A MOTHER
CHAPTER I
GETTING READY TO BE A MOTHER
How does it seem to you—the coming of a baby?
Does it seem the most amazing of miracles, so stirring in its beauty and mystery that you are eager to make ready and prepare for it fitly?
Or have you, perhaps, come to share the general feeling that motherhood is a natural state which one accepts when it comes, but need not prepare for?
This attitude seems to go back to a very old and deeply rooted conviction that, as women always have had babies and have had them through the working of one of Nature’s laws that has been operating over and over throughout the ages, they doubtless will continue to have them in the same old way, and the entire matter may well be left to take care of itself. As to the baby, when he comes, one may expect that the ability to care for him will come too.
Because of this reasoning, or lack of it, it has been a fairly general custom for the woman who expected a baby to seek her doctor’s aid only when she went into labor, or shortly beforehand, and to give no thought to the care of her baby until he was born. All too often the mother has died, because of this tardy care, been injured or become an invalid, while equally sad things have happened to the baby—and needlessly so.
But now, happily, a great change is taking place in the realm of mothers and babies. We still realize, of course, that childbearing is a natural function, but we know that conditions must be made favorable for the smooth working of this natural law if all is to be well; that for the sake of both mother and baby it is of urgent importance to give thought and care to the baby during the nine months before he is born.