and baby, her greatest satisfaction may come from the fact that she has helped the parents to meet the changing situation in their family life constructively, aware of their increasing re- sponsibilities but accepting them gladly, with confidence in their ability to meet them together and informed about help avail- able to them from sources within the community.

REFERENCES I . Barnes, George R. Jr., M.D., et al: Managment of Breast Feeding, J.A.M.A.

2 . Spock, Benjamin, M.D.; T h Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care,

3. Widenbach, Ernestine; Family-Centered Maternity Nursing, G. P. Putnam’s

4. Children’s Bureau, Infant Care, Publication #8, U.S. Department of

VO~. 151,pp. 192-199, Jan. 17, 1953.

Duell, Sloan and Pearce, N. Y. 1957.

Sons, N. Y. 1958.

Health, Education and Welfare, Washington, D. C.

The Night Before Birth Day MARY RUSSELL”

’Twas the night before birth day, and all through the house Only baby was stirring and kicking the spouse. The suitcase was all packed, each item with care, For almost two weeks it had sat on the chair. Neighbors lay sleeping all snug in their beds, They can’t know the planning that’s gone through our heads. Pappa in his night shirt and I in my gown, Had practiced deep breathing and then settled down. From somewhere inside me there arose such a din, I sprang from my bed asking, “Should I go in?” Then into my mind there flew like a flash Recollections of nine months that had passed in a dash. A trip to the doctor in the spring of the year, Told us for sure what we wanted to hear. My friends then all said that I ought to take care Not to miss that fine course on how to prepare. With a nurse-midwife teacher, not at all awesome, We knew when we met her, her name was Miss Clawson.

*Mary Russell, a mother prepared for child birth at Wesson Maternity Hospital, Springfield, Mass.

More rapid than eagles the weeks they all came, Each class lasted two hours and each had a name. NOW labor, now movie, now breathing and stretchen, On diet, on symptoms, and tour of inspection. With feet in position our teacher would call, “Now, pelvic rock, pelvic rock, pelvic rock, all.” As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky, SO up to the hospital my man and I flew, From timing contractions we knew 1 was due! And then in a twinkle I was put in a room, Helped into a johnny and told ’twould be soon. As I drew in my head and was turning around, In came my doctor garbed in a gown. He was dressed all in white from his head to his toes, Behind a big mask he had hidden his nose. A nurse he had with him who carried a bag, When I saw all its contents my poise started to sag. The razor was sharp, the enema hot ! For the next thirty minutes I ran to the pot. My husband now joined me, one glance and I know That the skin on his face was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, To have him be with me was such a relief. They counted my heart beat and poked on my belly, My legs when I’d bear down felt almost l i e jelly. During contractions I was able to rest, By abdominal breathing I could do that the best. The course had prepared us, and inside my head I definitely knew I had nothing to dread. I spoke but few words, and went on with my work, I pushed and relaxed, then felt a great jerk- Our baby was born, oh, what a sweet nose, The skin on his cheek was as red as a rose ! I lay back contented, felt light as a thistle, My husband approached, I knew by his whistle. And he heard me exclaim as he came into sight, “Look, dear, here’s our baby, it turned out all right.”