Belief that the most critical period of any individual's life is the first few minutes after birth was expressed here Thursday by two officials of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
The pair, Dr. C. Paul Hodgkinson, Detroit, and Dr. Robert A. Kimbrough, Chicago, are I here for the two-day convention of District Seven of the college, which opens Friday at the Roosevelt hotel.
Dr. Kimbrough, the new medical director of the college, said although there has been a tremendous reduction in maternal deaths at childbirth, infant mortality has lagged behind.
He said mothers can do their part by seeing a doctor for a physical checkup as soon as they know they are pregnant/'! or preferably even before they make an attempt to conceive."
Dr. Hodgkinson, who heads the American College, said the few minutes from birth until the baby breathes spontaneously are the most critical and dangerous of its life.
What's the best way to get the newborn infant to breathe? Dr. Hodgkinson said, "the slap; on the bottom or dipping the infant alternately into hot and cold water is antiquated."
Instead, he explained, the medical team works fast to clear mucus from the infant's nose and throat; works fast to feed him oxygen. The obstetrician said the anesthetist can also give the mother a shot of oxygen at the very second of birth in order to stimulate the baby.
Dr. Kimbrough said oxygen shortage sets the stage for mental retardation, cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
4 If the baby's oxygen supply is low during this critical period," he explained, "it can lead to mental deficiency."
The obstetrician said an oxygen shortage could be caused by prolonged or obstructed labor, by a traumatic delivery, too high a dosage of drugs to relieve labor pains^ too deep an anesthesia or any condition which interferes with the proper exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between mother and unborn baby.
Dr. Eugene H. Countiss is general chairman of the convention. Dr. Woodard D. Beacham, who spearheaded the organization of the American College and served as its first president, is honorary chairman. Dr. Daniel W. Beacham is president of the host group, tiie New Orleans Gynecological and Obs <eiety,
As a forerunner of the opening of the convention Friday, a special session was held at the Roosevelt Thursday for 85 maternity and gynecological nurses, Under the auspices of District Seven of the college, On Thursday also operative clinics were held at Chantyhospital Under the direction of the departments of obstetrics and gynecology of the Louisiana State university and the Tulane university medical schools.
