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They Said What?!

Compiled By Rachel Lower

My jaw was dropping repeatedly one evening as I read a book entitled "The Canadian Mother and Child" by Ernest Couture, M.D., director of the Division of Child and Maternal Health from 1950. It is quite amazing how much progress has been made since. If you were a mother in 1950, you doctor and/or friends might have told you this:

"We cannot know the sex of the baby until after birth. Science has no reliable means of ascertaining the sex of the child before birth yet." pg. 14

"Folic what?" pg. 15-16

"Do not attend any sporting events. The excitement is not suitable for a pregnant woman." pg. 22

"Formerly, automobile trips for pregnant women were absolutely forbidden." pg. 23

"You may be one of the 16,000 women who will not have medical attention during the birth of your baby." pg. 68

"None of your friends can see the baby until he or she is at least two days old." pg. 87

"Some doctors may disagree, but porter and beer can have a favorable influence on the secretion of milk." pg. 109

"Starting at 3 mo. you should let your baby have sunbaths daily, or with the aid of a doctor soak in the light of an ultraviolet ray lamp. If your babies skin gets red, stay out of the sun for 1 to 2 days. After the 1 to 2 days start sunbathing again." pg. 116-118

"Give your newborn mildly sweetened or unsweetened water 3 to 5 times a day." pg. 112

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They Said What?!