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So You’re Going to Have a Baby By C. H. Schwenger, M.D. Emma‘s NOTE: When the Fedet'utr‘d Wonwh'a‘ Institutes of Ontario planned their campaign to reduce infant and maternal mortality. they stressed the importance of education in pry-natal cure for mothers. So when we saw this article in The Shelâ€" hnrue Free Press and Economist, it‘ritten by Dr. Schwettger of the Du-fieriu County Health Unit, we thought: here is a piece of down-to-earth mil-ice just right to pass on to our umncn through their Institute paper. for both parents. With knowledge and understanding, mothers find this period one of serenity and confidence; and to fathers the prospect of establishing a family is a proud and happy one. HAVING A baby should be a rich experience The so-called dangers of childbirth are not nearly so great as they were only a few short years ago. Physicians and nurses today are well trained and have a much better knowledge and underâ€" standing of childbirth. Newer drugs are available which help to conquer complications should they occur. Hospitals have better facilities to handle confinement cases than ever before. In spite of all these advances. certain precauâ€" tions must be taken before the baby is born in order to protect both the mother and the unborn child. There are still too many mothers and far too many infants who die unnecessarily because of inadequate prenatal care. Let Your Doctor Do His Part As an expectant mother. you need early and frequent medical supervision to help you have a safe and comfortable pregnancy and a healthy baby. You should visit your doctor ragulatly once a month from the second to the seventh month and then oftener until the baby’s birth. The doctor is the expert. Let him take his share of the re- sponsibility for your health and your baby's. The doctor will take a careful history of your past health and will examine you to determine that you are well and able to carry out this important project. You will be weighed. your blood pressure will be taken, your heart and lungs Checked and your pelvic bones examined to determine their size. He will also do an internal examination. But all this may not happen on the first visit. In addition. he will do blood tests. such as for anemia and the Rh factor. and will examine a sample of urine at each visit. With the information, and that obtained at later examinations. the doctor will be able to give you the best advice and care throughout your pregnancy. If any unusual conditions, such as bleeding. pain, severe headaches, dizziness. swelling of the face, hands or feet. or sudden weight gain, occur beâ€" 22 tween your regular visits to the doctor, they Show l he reported to him right away. Dental work is important, too. If extenslx dental work needs to be done, you should fip. check with your doctor. What You Can Do Wise parents should spend the months hefor. the baby is born finding out what is going or what signs to watch for and how to care for m. coming baby. The Health Unit has good source» of information available for expectant parent Also recommended is Doctor Spock’s book, “Bah and Child Care," available in a pocket book cd‘ tion. During pregnancy you should lead a norm-s and healthful life. giving special consideration 2 your nutrition, rest and exercise, and recreailol The nutrition of the expectant mother has a important influence on her baby‘s health as w: as on her own, and helps to prepare her for nur‘ ing. Excessive weight gain must be avoided an extra milk and vitamin D should be provided l addition to the recommendations in Canada‘s For- Rules. Expectant mothers need to avoid getting OVL tired. so a balance between rest and exercise important. Eight hours sleep with planned r. periods during the morning and afternoon for least an hour a day will prevent fatigue. Hou~ work and walking provide exercise. but unusr strains and activities which may result in fallx v accidents should be avoided. Planned recreation with husband and wife sh. ing the enjoyment of outside activities profit: a sound basis for family living. Activities 01' I tercsts in the community, such as walks in 1 fresh air' attending spectator sports, going to she or concerts, are all part of companionship essential to happy family living. Canada’s Infant Mortality There has been a great deal of publicity alv. the fact that Canada, in spite of its high stands of living, ranks in 11th place among the countt of the world with an infant mortality rate lnu ber of deaths under one year of age pcr 1.000 1: births) of 31. Sweden. in first place, has a rate only 17. What accounts for the consistently lower ra' in Sweden, New Zealand. Holland. Australia. D} mark, England, Wales, Switzerland, the Uni! States, Finland and Scotland? One common fflCt appearsâ€"the mothers look after themselves belt during their pregnancy. They go to their doc: early in pregnancy and then regularly UP 10 ‘ time of confinement. HOME AND COUNTl-i-