What a Young Wife Ought to Know

Name: What a Young Wife Ought to Know
Author: Drake, Emma F. Angell (Emma Frances Angell)

Drake, Emma F. Angell (Emma Frances Angell)

Infants -- Care; Marriage; Women -- Health and hygiene

With all these careful directions, dear young mothers, do not be
frightened into thinking that the bearing of children is something to
be dreaded, and something which involves great danger. It is neither.
The bearing of children was intended in our creation and is a natural,
physiological process, and the All-wise Creator has amply fitted us for
it. If we come to maternity unprepared, it must be because of ignorance
on our part how to fit ourselves properly, or from unhygienic and harmful
ways of living. Heed the laws of health, keep a sweet, trustful spirit,
avoid excitement, consider yourself strong enough for the great office
for which nature designed you, and you will be the “joyful mother of
children.” Otherwise your joy will be mixed with fear and a thousand
foolish worries, that totally unfit you for your high office.

Be happy that you are capable of becoming a mother, be happy when you
have the promise, and be happiest of all when you hold your little one
in your arms. Train them, all that are given you, to the fear of God,
and for the good of mankind, and you will be a great woman, whether your
name ever reaches beyond your immediate neighborhood or not. It is a
great thing to become a mother of children. To become God’s vicegerent
in creating and training souls that may bring gladness and regeneration
to the dark places of the earth. Mothers, mothers! rate your privileges
high, and live and train to a glorious fulfillment of noble purposes
these gifts from God.




CHAPTER XVIII.

CARE OF THE BABY.

    The More Thoughtful Treatment of Babies Than Formerly.—The
    First Attention That Baby Needs.—Its Oil Bath.—The Care
    of the Eyes.—The Care of the Placentic Cord.—Baby’s First
    Bath.—Its Covering After the Bath.—The Basket.—Regularity
    in Nursing.—Waking at Night.—Rocking to Sleep.—Quantity of
    Food.—The Appointments of the Nursery.—The Mother and the Care
    of her own Children.—To her Children the Mother Should be the
    Dearest Creature in the World.—The Babies Born of Love.—The
    Babies Born in Bitterness.—The Responsibilities and Joys of
    Motherhood.


    “It is a mother, said the Angel, who has already given her
    child the welcome that makes a joyous soul. He shall not miss
    her smile. He is what she is. He will need love since he will
    give so much, and she is all compact of love. She is one of the
    forces of life. To be the mate of such a woman, the father of
    such heirs, as she will give, is a fate a man might pray God
    for. Love has not grown stale with them, their children are the
    very blossoms of it. Her eyes are deeper pools of love each
    year.”—FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

What a Young Wife Ought to KnowDrake, Emma F. Angell (Emma Frances Angell)

Science

What a Young Wife Ought to Know

Drake, Emma F. Angell (Emma Frances Angell)

Infants -- Care; Marriage; Women -- Health and hygiene

With all these careful directions, dear young mothers, do not be
frightened into thinking that the bearing of children is something to
be dreaded, and something which involves great danger. It is neither.
The bearing of children was intended in our creation and is a natural,
physiological process, and the All-wise Creator has amply fitted us for
it. If we come to maternity unprepared, it must be because of ignorance
on our part how to fit ourselves properly, or from unhygienic and harmful
ways of living. Heed the laws of health, keep a sweet, trustful spirit,
avoid excitement, consider yourself strong enough for the great office
for which nature designed you, and you will be the “joyful mother of
children.” Otherwise your joy will be mixed with fear and a thousand
foolish worries, that totally unfit you for your high office.

Be happy that you are capable of becoming a mother, be happy when you
have the promise, and be happiest of all when you hold your little one
in your arms. Train them, all that are given you, to the fear of God,
and for the good of mankind, and you will be a great woman, whether your
name ever reaches beyond your immediate neighborhood or not. It is a
great thing to become a mother of children. To become God’s vicegerent
in creating and training souls that may bring gladness and regeneration
to the dark places of the earth. Mothers, mothers! rate your privileges
high, and live and train to a glorious fulfillment of noble purposes
these gifts from God.




CHAPTER XVIII.

CARE OF THE BABY.

    The More Thoughtful Treatment of Babies Than Formerly.—The
    First Attention That Baby Needs.—Its Oil Bath.—The Care
    of the Eyes.—The Care of the Placentic Cord.—Baby’s First
    Bath.—Its Covering After the Bath.—The Basket.—Regularity
    in Nursing.—Waking at Night.—Rocking to Sleep.—Quantity of
    Food.—The Appointments of the Nursery.—The Mother and the Care
    of her own Children.—To her Children the Mother Should be the
    Dearest Creature in the World.—The Babies Born of Love.—The
    Babies Born in Bitterness.—The Responsibilities and Joys of
    Motherhood.


    “It is a mother, said the Angel, who has already given her
    child the welcome that makes a joyous soul. He shall not miss
    her smile. He is what she is. He will need love since he will
    give so much, and she is all compact of love. She is one of the
    forces of life. To be the mate of such a woman, the father of
    such heirs, as she will give, is a fate a man might pray God
    for. Love has not grown stale with them, their children are the
    very blossoms of it. Her eyes are deeper pools of love each
    year.”—FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

What a Young Wife Ought to Know

What a Young Wife Ought to Know

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