Confidences | Page 5

But the womb, or nest, is not strong
enough yet to hold a healthy baby, so this extra amount of blood with
the ovule is sent out of the body through the vagina, which is a
muscular tube leading from the womb to the external parts (private
parts). We call this flow the menstrual flow. This occurs every month
and each time the womb becomes a little stronger and better able to
hold a growing babe. But the womb is not fully developed until the rest
of the body is matured.
Menstruation is the sign of the possibility of motherhood. Realizing
this fact, one cannot fail to have a high idea of this function. Most girls,
naturally, desire children. Little girls love their doll babies, and spend
much time in caring for them, but as girls grow into womanhood they
desire real babies. A woman who does not desire children has had her
mind perverted by false ideas or fear.

* * * * *
Build me straight, O worthy Master! Staunch and strong, a goodly
vessel That shall laugh at all disaster, And with wave and whirlwind
wrestle!
Longfellow.
* * * * *

CHAPTER V
THE BABY'S NEST
You remember, Violet, I told you that although mothers do not have to
build nests, yet they have to take good care of them so they will grow
strong.
As the natural desire of every girl is to become a mother some time, she
must begin very early to prepare for it. By exercise, fresh air, and good,
nourishing food, she should make her body grow strong and well. By
studying she will develop her mind so as to be fitted to care for and to
teach her child. Shall I tell you some ways you can make the nest grow
strong?
First, I shall tell you more things about this mother nest. Although it
and the tiny ovules are growing all the time, yet there are greater
changes in them when the girl is from twelve to fourteen years old.
About this time they grow faster than at any other time. As these organs
grow, the pelvis, or the part of the body that contains them, also must
grow to make room for them. So the hips begin to grow broader. Other
parts of the body grow faster at this time, too, and often some parts
grow so much faster than others that they are out of proportion, and the
child becomes clumsy and feels awkward. But that will not last long,
for after a while the parts that are growing slowly will catch up to the
ones that grew fast, and then the body will be graceful again. Have you
ever watched a young puppy? You know how clumsy and awkward it
is while it is growing, but after a while, when it is fully grown, it will
be very graceful.
We know it is not wise to run or play or work hard right after eating a
large meal, for then the stomach is working very hard and needs a great
deal of extra energy, so the other muscles must rest a while, in order to
let it have it.
You remember, I told you, Violet, that every month, or every
twenty-eight days, there was an extra amount of blood carried to the
womb which it had to send out of the body. Of course that requires the

womb to work very hard for a few days, so, in order to help it, we must
be careful not to take any severe exercise at this time or overexert
ourselves in any way, for, if we did, the womb would not be able to do
its extra work properly.
You remember, I told you this flow, which we call the menstrual flow,
was the sign of the possibility of motherhood, so every girl should be
glad of the fact that she menstruates and should take good care of
herself at that time. She should pay especial attention to cleanliness
during this period. She should be provided with a circular girdle of
some strong material cut upon the bias, so it may be elastic, and
provided with tabs to which to pin the folded cloth. She also should
have a supply of sanitary cloths made of absorbent cotton fabric, or
pads made of absorbent-cotton enclosed in gauze. The latter are
especially convenient for the girl who is obliged to room away from
home, for they may be burned, and the cost of new ones is no greater
than the laundry of cloths. These pads or cloths should be changed at
least twice a day. It also is necessary that one should bathe the parts in
warm water with each change, as unpleasant odors can thereby be
avoided. At the close