If you are to be confined at home, as soon as labor begins send for the doctor or midwife. If the doctor is one of the hospital doctors, follow the directions on your card from the clinic.
While waiting for the doctor, boil a large quantity of water in a covered vessel and set aside to cool. Prepare your bed as the nurse has shown you, take a warm sponge bath, braid your hair in two braids, get out a set of baby clothes ready for the nurse to dress the baby. Get out supplies needed for yourself.
MOTHER’S SUPPLIES
- 2 gowns.
- 1 pair white stockings.
- 4 sheets.
- 6 bed pads.
- Vulva pads or supply of freshly laundered old muslin.
- Cotton (absorbent).
- 2 wash-cloths.
- 2 towels.
- 4 oz. lysol.
- 1 bedpan.
The bed pads are made from 6 thicknesses of newspaper open to full size and covered with freshly laundered old muslin tacked in place. No other protection for bed is necessary. As a precaution, when possible, the entire mattress may be covered with oilcloth put on under the bottom sheet. See model at center. All washable supplies for mother and baby should be freshly laundered and put away in pillowcases or clean, ironed paper until they are needed.
BABY’S SUPPLIES
The following is a list of the complete outfit of baby clothes and toilet necessities. It may be modified as to material, quantity and quality to suit the individual taste and pocketbook.
12 Diapers 18″ × 18″. 3 Bands 6″ × 27″. 3 Shirts, size 2, cotton and wool. 3 Petticoats. 3 Slips. 2 Squares 36″ × 36″. Note: The squares are used instead of coat and bonnet until the baby is more than 2 months old. See model at the center. 1 Oilcloth or rubber 12″ × 18″. 12 large safety pins. 12 small safety pins. 1 Basket or box for bed 15″ × 30″. 1 Felt pad or folded blanket for mattress. 1 Oilcloth case for mattress. 2 Muslin pillow-cases for mattress. 2 Crib blankets, small size. 2 Towels. 2 Wash-cloths, old pieces of linen. 1 piece Castile soap. 8 oz. boric acid powder. 1 package absorbent cotton. 1 quart oil—sweet or albolene. 1 package toothpicks.
Tray—fitted with:
Glass jar for boric acid solution. Glass jar for nipple swabs. Glass jar for oil. Glass jar for small toothpick swabs. Dish for soap. Cake of soap to stick pins in instead of a pin cushion. Hair receiver for absorbent cotton. Newspaper cornucopias for waste. Bottle and nipple for giving baby water. Covered pail with borax water for soiled diapers. Jars for tray may be empty cheese, candy or jelly jars.