FEMINIST SURVIVAL KIT

continued from page 7

NUTRITION

Perhaps nothing is so important to a baby's health as her mother's diet during pregnancy. Before the infant has even left the womb, her 'body is functioning almost completely. Early nutrition deficiencies may be impossible to make up for. Example: all brain cell growth takes place from approximately six months before birth until six months after birth. If the baby has suffered from malnutrition during this period, the damage to her brain is irreparable.

Don't expect your doctor to be much help in determining your diet. He has received virtually no training in nutrition. In fact, it is highly likely that the information he does give you will be in. correct. Case in point: doctors customarily restrict the weight gain of expectant women, the most generous being an allowance of two pounds a month, or about a total twenty pound gain. Restricting calories or protein profoundly affects the birth weight and general health of the infant. Big babies are usuallyhealthybabies, and increased birth weight is directly related to increased maternity weight. The 7% to 8% pound infant is considered most desirable, since she has the best chance of maturing into a healthy child. Low birth weight is currently a factor in 10% of all live births. Mortality rates are higher for these smaller babies. The average maternal weight gain is 24 pounds, but rather than concern herself with pounds, a woman is better advised to concern herself with what she eats. If you are eating a diet rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, with little or no filling "junk" foods, don't worry about the numbers on the scale. But if you weigh less than 100 pounds, or over 200 pounds, you should ser. iously consider a program of weight change before becoming pregnant. If you wish to determine your individual calorie needs, based on your energy expenditure and weight, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to

NUTRITION

What She Wants

P.O. Box 18072

Cleveland Hts, OH 44118

and we will send instructions to you.

If contemplating the consequences of a poor diet to your baby isn't frightening enough, consider your own body. Effects of an inadequate diet on a mother have never been accurately documented. We know, however, that in many instances, the fetus takes what it needs by breaking down the parent body's tissue. For example, if calcium intake is inadequate, the maternal skeleton can be demineralized! This is especially crucial in the case of teenage pregnancies, which account for one out of six births in this country. She must consume more than the recommended allowance of protein if she is not to stunt her own growth and development. If, during the course of pregnancy, the fetus has been forced to rob the mother's body of nutrients, it will be very difficult for the woman to overcome the physical stress of pregnancy and delivery. The woman who remains unaware of her body's depleted state, who fails to replenish the necessary vitamins, minerals and protein, and who again becomes pregnant may find that her second child will not be as healthy as the first.

Eating a well-balanced diet cannot be stressed enough. Vitamin pills will not compensate poor food habits. Most women will need to eat des iccated liver for iron because it is difficult to meet the high requirement for pregnancy – unless one's body already has an excellent store, or liver and spinach several times a week sounds appealing! It is also wise to stop smoking cig arettes and to avoid all unnecessary drugs. Remember: everything taken into the woman's page 8/What She Wants/March, 1975

body, either orally or injected into the blood. stream, is also consumed by the fetus.

Where the pregnant woman can get help with her diet:

1. Let's Have Healthy Children, Adello Davis, (Signet)

2. Case Western Reserve School of Nutrition 368-2440

3. Free Clinic East (ask for a student of nutrition... 721-4010)

4. Vegetarian advice (ask for Stef) 524-0748 5. WIC (for supplemental foods, see clinics 861-7700)

List of Dangerous Drugs for Pregnant Women

DRUO

Synthetic Progestins

testosterone

stilbosturol

Antidiabetic Drugs sulfonylurea compounich tolbutornido chlorpropamic Anticoagulants

dicumarol

Antimicrobial Agents sulfonamides (Gantricin)

novobiocin (Albamycin) chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin) tetracycline

streptomycin

Drugs Used in Toxemin thiazide diuretice (Diuril, Hydrodiurl} roserpine

Tranquilizers

thalidomidn phenothiazides

EFFECT

masculinization of female fetus

torstogenic

increased fatal death

intrauterine hemorrhagi, fetal cuth, abortion

thrombocytopenia (decrenand number of platelets in the blood), kernicterus in form of Jaundice)

thrombocytopenia

fetal death

inhibit bone growth, discolors.

tion of teeth, teratogenic deafness

thrombocytopenia

nasal erleme, drowsines

phocomelia Issal-like appendages), death, thrombocytopenia, liver damage, respiratory depression in the newborn

What She Wants has found, in researching pre. natal care, that Cleveland is lacking in attitude and accommodations for pregnant women who would like to control their bodies as much as possible. We have several suggestions for im proving the situation,

1. A doctor referral, similar to what Cleveland Woman's Counseling has set up for counselors, would be most helpful. A woman could get a resume of the doctor, his or her beliefs and general practices, before spending precious time and

money finding out for herself.

2. The obstetrical training that doctors and nurses receive should be revised, with a perspec tive of woman as people (not baby-producing machines). The woman's needs should be of primary importance; at the present time, the doctor's convenience is foremost.

3. Women should start pressuring for more resoarch in maternal and fatal health care. The death rate in the United States for childboaring and neonates is among the highest of any wos. tern country. It is another case of "women's problems" being shunted aside while billions are spent on defense, space exploration, and the likn

4. Women must also pressure schools, to begin teaching children about their reproductive func tions, childbirth, and child care, so that the widespread ignorance among women about what happens during prognancy, in the delivery room, and first day home with the baby, will coase,

5. Cafeterias offering maternity diets should he Instituted. These are cornmon in many other countries, including England and France. They

Gant on 0821 DEC

Good drinks at reasonable prices hemming-hulburt inc.

BOB'S PLACE

Honest Bartender Guaranteed!

2911 Mayfield Rd.

Adele's Pizzeria

Booksellers

321-6626

Smith

Medes, Thompson All Johnston Mary Daly

The Best Italian Pizza You'll Ever Eat CARRY-OUT ONLY:

321-2160

11 AM TIL 1 AM, AT LEAST 2909 Mayfield Rd.

Two friendly places, side by side!

Ti Grace Atkinson

Beyond Monogamy Against Rape Gullible's Travels Beyond God the Father Amazon Odyessy

We carry all titles from Daughters, Inc. Press The best in children's books

20650 NORTH PARK BLVD. at Fairmount Circle

321-5345