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Show By MRS. KATHERINE B. OETTINGER Chief, U.S. Children’s Bureau, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare PROBLEM has risen to crisis proportions in this country: we are losing too many babies! In 10 other nations an infant has a better chance of condition early and control it. Also, investigators have found that congenital heart disease True, the overwhelming majority of babies born these days thrive happily. Yet it is a sobering fact that one out of every 40 babies born alive in this country in 1962 did not live to see his first birthday! This means that more than surviving than in the U.S.; can be spotted in hours-old babies by means of electrocardiograms, and thus corrective action 100,000 infants died in thefirst year of life. Of this number, more than 70,000—or seven in 10— here’s what we’re doing to change this shocking record did not live beyond the first month. Weat the Children’s Bureau were shocked by the recent news that the United States has which,if left untreated, can prove fatal to the the pregnant woman can be fatal to both mother and child, the way is now open to detect this may be taken before it is too late. Third, recent medical advances are providing doctors with a new array of weapons to keep the spark of life burning during the crucial early months. Let me cite just a few: —Newelectronic incubators do the best job yet of keeping a “preemie’s” body at the proper temperature. In some, the infant’s skin acts as his own thermostat! Changes in his skin tem- slipped from 10th to 11th place in infant mortality rates among 15 countries. And what’s more, no state in the entire country had a rate as low child, perhaps even to herself. Mothers who have no prenatal care also are two to three times as apt to have premature perature regulate the heating units. as the nations with the best records, the Netherlands and Sweden! The lowest U.S. rate was in babies as those who get adequate attention. And, of the babies who don’t survive four Utah, where 19.7 babies died for every 1,000 live births, but this was still about one-third higher weeks, fully 60 percent are “preemies.” babies less than a few weeks old. —An instrument known as the “fetal heart monitor” enables doctors to tell whether an un- Now that I have told you the grim news, let meoffer some glad tidings. There is hope ahead, bright hope, thanks to a numberof significant recent developments. First, there is now a new law on the statute born infant is not receiving blood through the umbilical cord during the birth process. Interruption of this blood supply can result in brain injury or death to the infant. Warned in time, doctors can take steps to avoid tragedy. than the rates in the Netherlands and Sweden. Why should we be losing so many babies? The answer is: we shouldn’t! Many of these tragedies are heartbreakingly unnecessary. The single most important cause is the lack of proper professional care of mothers during pregnancy. Vast numbers of mothers-to-be still receive little or no medical attention—and lack of moneyis not the only reason. Many women whocanafford private medical fees simply don’t go. Their excuse often is: “I know what needs to be done; I’ve already had a baby.” Still others are discouraged by inade- books, the Maternal and Child Health and Mental Retardation Planning Amendmentto the Social Security Act. One of its provisions calls HE PRESENT sorry record of baby losses is little short of a national disgrace. We can do for granting funds to state and local health departments to develop comprehensive maternity much better and, in light of recent developments, I feel strongly that we will. Let me say once again to mothers-to-be that and infant-care programs, especially for women who are otherwise unable to pay. Second, a massive new investigation into the fateful months when life begins is now under natal attention, this much is clear: the woman way. Fifteen leading medical centers, hundreds of doctors, and enormous numbers of technicians are cooperating with the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness in a project that eventually will involve 50,000 who does not have adequate care in pregnancy mothers and their children. quate prenatal centers in their communities. All too frequently, a clinic, if it exists at all, is understaffed and overcrowded. Whatever the reasons for failing to get pre- —Surgeons now can perform operations on stands a 400 to 500 percent greater chance of Already, the study has produced some tan- losing her baby than the one whosees a physician regularly. She may develop complications gible results. Because doctors have learned that certain forms of abnormal red-blood cells in the odds that you will have a normal baby are much in your favor. Yet you should take these wise precautions: As soon as you suspect you’re pregnant, see a doctor. Even if it’s your second—or seventh— see one anyway. Follow his instructions faithfully and report anything unusual or whatever puzzles you. If you cannot afford private fees, ask your local health department or a social service agency for the address of a prenatal clinic— and attend regularly. Family Weekly/April 19, 1964 A true sport teaches his date the finer points of miniature golf. Of course, she just might beat him at his own game. The two were caught by L. Willinger. LEONARD S. DAVIDOW President and Publisher WALTER C. DREYFUS Associate Publisher PATRICK E. O'ROURKE Executive Vice President and Advertising Director Advertising office: 179 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago,Il. 60601 Editorial 60 E. 56th St., New York, N.Y. 10022 Business office: 1727 S. Indiana Ave., Chicago,Ill. 60616 ERNEST V. HEYN Editor-in-Chief BEN KARTMAN Executive Editor ROBERT FITZGIBBON Managing Editor PHILLIP DYKSTRA Art Director MELANIE DE PROFT Food Editor Rosalyn Abrevaya, Arden Eidell, Hal Landon, Jack Ryon; Peer J. Oppenheimer, Hollywood. © 1964, PROCESSING AND BOOKS, INC., Chicago,Ill. All rights reserved. |