Pregnancy: 50's Style

Another excerpt from You and Your Baby: A Guide for Prenatal Care, published 1949 by (get this) the Pet Milk Co.

This gem is from the chapter "Hygiene of Pregnancy."

Clothing - Keep yourself looking nice. This will help to keep you in a happy and contented frame of mind which is good for both you and your baby. In spite of her expanding figure, the pregnant mother develops a special radiance or attractiveness that is a reflection, perhaps, of her pride and satisfaction in the wonderful task she is performing...

Clothing should be adequate for warmth. Garter-bands and rolled stockings [so glad these are out of style!] tend to interfere with circulation. By avoiding them you can help to prevent swelling of feet and ankles [I wish that was the only thing that caused it!]...Wear heels that are not more than one and one-half inches high.

Some mothers, in later months of pregnancy, need to wear a maternity corset [ohhh mercy]...It should be carefully fitted, to provide support for your body where needed. Non-elastic material is preferrable. Elastic loses its strength. [ah, so glad elastic has made strides]

Bathing - Bathe regularly just as you normally do...Frequent bathing is important throughout pregnancy. [as opposed to....]

Smoking - In the case of the woman who is accustomed to smoking and does not wish to give up the habit during her pregnancy, there is no reason to believe that a moderate number of cigarettes, say a dozen or less per day, will do her any harm. [WHAT!?!?!?!]

Alcoholic Beverages - Somewhat more restraint is advisable as to drinking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy. A cocktail or highball now and then certainly does no harm. [Oh this kills me!] Any excessive drinking should indeed be strictly avoided.

Hope you enjoyed those last two as much as I did! I don't think my doctor would recommend this book.