From the first moment, the baby is applied to the chest, it should be treated on a certain level. This is necessary for the well-make children, and contribute essentially to preserve the health of the mother, who will be rendered a good nurse, and his duty at the same time, will become a pleasure. This implies, however, a careful attention on the part of the mother to her own health; for that of her child is essentially dependent upon it.
Healthy, nourishing, and digestible milk can be procured only from a healthy parent; and it is against common sense to expect that, if a mother impairs her health and digestion by improper diet, neglect of exercise, and impure air, she can, nevertheless, provide as wholesome and uncontaminated a fluid for her child, as if she were diligently attentive to these important points. Every instance of indisposition in the nurse is liable to affect the infant.
And this brings me to observe, it is a mistake to think that because a woman is nursing, she must live very full, and add a provision of wine holder, or other fermented alcoholic beverages , in his usual diet. The only result of this plan is to cause a degree of fullness in the artificial system, which puts the nurse at the edge of the disease, which itself often puts an end to the secretion of milk, instead of increase it. The right plan for the procedure is quite simple; years only pay attention to the ordinary laws of health, and the mother, if she has a good constitution, will be a better nurse than any stupid deviation based on ignorance and capricious.
The following case demonstrates the correctness of this statement:
A young woman, confined to her first child, left lying-in room at the end of the third week, a good nurse, and in perfect health. She had experienced difficulties with its slight nipples, but that was quickly overcome.
The doorman was now begun, and a pint for a pint and a half of this drink was taken in the four and twenty hours. This has been resorted to, not because there was any irregularity in the supply of milk, as it is vast and thriving on infants, but because, having become a nurse, she was told it was normal and necessary and that without it her milk and strength would fail ere long.
After the plan had been followed for a few days, the mother became drowsy sleep and disposed of in the day, and headach, thirst, hot skin, in fact, fever supervened, milk reduced quantity, and for the first time, there are the stomach and intestines of the child became disorderly. The doorman was ordered to be omitted; corrective measures have been prescribed, and all the symptoms in both the parent and child, were withdrawn after a while, and health restored.
Having had the habit before becoming a mother, to have a glass or two of wine, and sometimes a glass of beer table, she was advised to follow precisely its former diet plan, but with the addition of a half-pint of milk barley Morning and evening. Parent and child continued in excellent health for the remainder of the lactation period, and the latter did not taste artificial foods until the ninth month, the milk of the mother is sufficient for all his desires.
Nobody can doubt that the porter was in this case the source of the mischief. The patient had gone into the lying-in-room in full health, had had a good time, and came out from her chamber (comparatively) as strong as she entered it. Her constitution had not been previously worn down by repeated child-bearing and nursing, she had an ample supply of milk, and was fully capable, therefore, of performing the duties which now devolved upon her, without resorting to any unusual stimulant or support. Her previous habits were totally at variance with the plan which was adopted; her system became too full, disease was produced, and the result experienced was nothing more than what might be expected.
The plan to be followed for the first six months. Until breast milk is fully established, which may not be until the second or third day as a result of delivery (almost always in a first birth), infants should be fed to a little Thin gruel, or a third water and two Third milk, bread sweetened with sugar.
After this time it must obtain its nourishment from the breast alone, and for a week or ten days the appetite of the infant must be the mother’s guide, as to the frequency in offering the breast. The stomach at birth is feeble, and as yet unaccustomed to food; its wants, therefore, are easily satisfied, but they are frequently renewed. An interval, however, sufficient for digesting the little swallowed, is obtained before the appetite again revives, and a fresh supply is required.
Upon the expiration of a week or so, it is primarily necessary, and with some children, it can be done with security from the first day of feeding, to nurse the baby at regular intervals of three to four hours, day and night . This allows sufficient time for each meal to be digested, and tends to keep the intestines of the child in order. Such regularity, in fact, will do much to prevent fretfulness, and the constant cries, which seemed as if it could be allayed only by constantly placing the child within.
A young mother, very often, faces a serious mistake in this particular case, taking into account any expression of concern as an indication of the appetite, and every time the baby cries offering him the chest, but can not not ten minutes have passed since his last meal. This is a violation, and even dangerous, because the overload of the stomach, undigested food remains, intestines of the child are still down, it quickly became restless and feverish, and he is, perhaps, finally lost, and when, by a simple wizard Above rules nursing infants are no longer healthy and vigorous.
For the same reason, the infant who sleeps with her mother should not have the nipple in his mouth, staying all night. If treated as suggested, it will be found to awaken, for the hour of his meal approaches, with great regularity. With reference to the night, nursing, I would suggest the suckling babe as late as ten o’clock p. M., and not to put it again within five hours of the following morning. Many mothers have adopted this trick, with a great advantage for their own health, and without any expense of the child. With the latter, it quickly becomes a habit; induce However, it must be taught earlier. The plan above, and without modification, should be continued for the sixth month.
After the sixth months to weaning, if the mother has a large supply of good and nutritious milk, and her child is healthy and thriving, of course, no change in his diet should be done. If not, however (and this, but too often the case, even before the sixth month), the child can be fed twice during the day, and what kind of foods chosen who, after a little trial , To agree is the best.