Motherhood not only gives satisfactions; it also demands sacrifices—considerable drudgery is often involved. The mother cannot expect to have the freedom she knew before she had a baby to care for. Yet she should not go to the extreme of devoting herself exclusively to the baby. It is better for the expectant mother to take a realistic view in advance than to be completely disillusioned after the baby is born.
What may a mother expect her baby to do at birth? She should certainly expect him to cry. The organs of speech are ready to produce sounds at birth, or even before. The first cry is not a wrathful protest against enforced entrance into this cold, uncomfortable world nor "an expression of an overwhelming sense of inferiority." It is merely a muscular response to both internal and external stimuli.
Gestation takes 16 days; 7-15 in litter; young born pink, naked, and blind. Do not disturb young or mother for at least a week after birth; if disturbed mother will either kill and eat the young or neglect them and allow them to die. After 3 weeks, remove young from mother; otherwise, mother fights with them and often kills them. Sexes should be separated before young reach maturity at 43 days.
Motherhood not only gives satisfactions; it also demands sacrifices—considerable drudgery is often involved. The mother cannot expect to have the freedom she knew before she had a baby to care for. Yet she should not go to the extreme of devoting herself exclusively to the baby. It is better for the expectant mother to take a realistic view in advance than to be completely disillusioned after the baby is born.