esthesia.

While the authors recognize the great blessing of anesthesia to the
woman in labor--and almost unfailingly make use of it in some
form--nevertheless, we also recognize that it would be a fine form of
mental discipline and mighty good moral gymnastics, if a great many
self-centered and pampered women would "spunk right up" and face the
ordeal of labor with natural courage and normal fortitude. It would be
"the making of them," it would make new women out of them, it would
start them out on the road to real living. At the same time we do not
mean to advocate that women should suffer unnecessary pain in
childbirth any more than we allow them to suffer in connection with
surgery.

PREPARATION FOR LABOR

While so much is being written about "twilight sleep" and "painless
labor," it might be well to remind the American mother that much can
be done to lessen the sufferings of the day of labor by one's method
of living prior to the confinement.

We believe that child-bearing is a perfectly normal physical function
for a healthy and normal woman--that it is even essential to her
complete physical health, mental happiness, and moral well-being.
Theoretically, child-bearing ought to be but little more painful than
the functionating of numerous other vital organs--stomach, heart,
bladder, bowels, etc.--and, indeed, it is not in the case of certain
savage tribes and other aboriginal people, such as our own North
American Indian.

But we must face the facts. The average American woman does suffer at
childbirth; and she suffers more than we are disposed to allow her, or
more than she, as a general rule, is willing to suffer. So, while we
discuss appropriate methods of lessening the pain of labor and the
pangs of childbirth by the scientific use of anesthetics, let us also
call attention to certain things which may aid in decreasing the
amount of pain which may reasonably be expected to attend child
bearing.

To assist in bringing about this preparation for decreased pain at
childbirth, mothers should teach their daughters how to develop,
strengthen, and preserve their physical, mental, and moral resistance.
The young mother should be taught by both her mother and her physician
how to dress, how to work, and how to eat. Every care should be given
to the hygiene of pregnancy and labor.

The expectant mother should have plenty of fruits and fruit juices,
and if not physically well endowed to give birth to a large b