The Family Journey

Please check your play yard to make sure it’s not on this recall.

She did it! CNN has a surprisingly informed article about it. This is a nice change from the negative.

Highlights from the chapter General Hygiene in Pregnancy in the bookExpectant Motherhood by Nicholas J Eastman, copyright 1947, reprinted in 1951:

“Clothing – The most important consideration in regard to the expectant mother’s wardrobe is that it should be attractive. This may sound like a superficial observation but it is profoundly true…Pregnancy is no time to be a recluse. The more you are in the company of others, the better off you are; indeed, I have long chronicled the impression that patients who start in labor while playing bridge invariably have an easy time…
“As the appearance of many expectant mothers attests, it is possible to look as attractive at this time as at any other. To be sure, the abdominal rotundity is a handicap, but, for some reason, during middle months of pregnancy women develop a special radiance which is most becoming and tends to offset this…
“Constriction of the abdomen by tight bands interferes with your breathing, impedes free movement of the baby and may even have an injurious effect on the uterus. For these reasons, as well as for the sake of your appearance, all clothes should be full and flowing.” {Blogger’s note: except for the corset, which will be discussed in a bit.}

“Garters – (Because of the effect that constrictive articles have upon circulation,) suspensory garters should [be worn instead of circular garters] and be hung either from a garter belt or from a maternity corset.”

“Shoes – …Expectant mothers should wear low, broad heels, but women who have long been accustomed to high heels sometimes find this change so discomforting and awkward that a compromise is often necessary… {Blogger’s note: Really?} Since there is a slight tendency for the feet to swell in the evenings as pregnancy advances, it is well to purchase shoes a trifle larger than usual.”

“Maternity Corset – The chief purpose of a maternity corset is to promote your comfort during the latter months of pregnancy…The function of such a corset is several-fold. In the first place, it supports the growing uterus from below upward with-out compressing it and without exerting pressure on the upper abdomen, thus allowing ample room for deep breathing and for the baby’s activity; in this way it takes over the work of the lower abdominal muscles in supporting the uterus and thereby rests them; at the same time it diminishes the tension of the abdominal skin and helps prevent striae or scars. Second, it provides a stay for the back and in this way relieves the back muscles of a certain amount of strain. Finally, by fitting snugly aroudn the pelvic girdle, it holds the bones of the pelvis tightly together and tends to correct a certain “wobbliness” which develops in thsi structure as pregnancy advances.
In choosing a maternity corset, several considerations should be borne in mind. Since it should be put on lying down, a type with hooks or a zipper in front is most convenient. In the lying posture the uterus naturally falls backward into its most inconspicuous and natural position and if the corset is applied under these circumstances, the support it gives is not only greater but is more evenly distributed. This is readily demonstrated as follows: Put the garment on in the standing position and tighten the lacings on the sides and back, from below upward to such an extent that the corset is rather too snug for comfort. Now loosen the front, lie down, raise the hips slightly and close the front from below upward, and it will be found that the corset is altogether comfortable. {Blogger’s note: Yeah, right.} Although many maternity corsets have elastic inserts, these lose their supportive power very rapidly and consequently corsets of nonelastic material such as brocade or damask are ordinarily preferable…”

“Brassiere – The breasts are much more comfortable when supported by a brassiere of the uplift or sling type which lifts each breast upward and inward toward the opposite shoulder. Brassieres which flatten the breasts are injurious and should never be worn.”

“Bathing – During the last six weeks tub baths should give way to daily sponge baths or showers. Among other good reasons for this, the equilibrium is likely to be uncertain at this time and there is danger of losing one’s foothold on the slippery tub and falling against its side. Throughout pregnancy long ‘soaks’ in a very hot bath are to be avoided since they are more likely to cause fatigue than comfort and tend to produce an undesirable congestion in the pelvis.” {What?}

Next time, we’ll finish this chapter by highlighting Dr. Eastman’s guidance on Teeth, Nipples, Douches, Sexual Intercourse, Bowels, Exercise, Automobile Trips, Travel, Moving, Employment, Rest and Smoking.

Until then, please comment on the best technique YOU have come up with for slinking into your maternity corset.

According to this msn article, more women are choosing to birth without a doctor or midwife. It’s odd that it’s called “do-it-yourself-birth” because, even with a supportive midwife or doctor, birth is ‘do-it-yourself’.