The Care and Feeding of Children | Page 7

body to get rid of its waste.
NURSING
Should all mothers attempt to nurse their children?
As a rule they should do so, but there are many conditions when they should not.
What are the most important ones?
If the mother has or has had tuberculosis or any other serious chronic disease, or is herself in very delicate health, she should not try. She is likely soon to fail in nourishing her child, and the attempt may do herself much harm as well as injure the child.
_How often should infants be nursed during the first two days of life?_
Usually only four or five times daily, since there is very little milk secreted at this time.
When does the milk come in abundance?
Usually on the third day, sometimes not until the fourth or fifth day.
_Should the infant be fed anything additional during the first two days?_
Usually not; if much food were necessary, we may be sure Nature would have provided it. Water, however, should be given regularly.
How frequently should an infant be nursed during the first week?
After the third day, every two hours during the day and twice during the night. The frequency during the rest of the first year is given in the following table:
------------------------------------------------------------------ PERIOD. Nursings in Interval Night nursings 24 hours. by day. (10 P.M. to 6 A.M.). ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1st and 2d day 4 6 hours. 1 3 days to 6 weeks 10 2 " 2 6 weeks to 3 months 8 2-1/2 " 2 3 to 5 months 7 3 " 1 5 to 12 months 6 3 " 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------
How long should the child be kept at the breast for one nursing?
Not over twenty minutes.
Should the child take both breasts at one nursing?
If the milk is very abundant one breast may be sufficient, otherwise both breasts may be taken.
What are the important things to be attended to in nursing?
First, regularity; it is just as important as in the case of bottle-feeding. Secondly, the nipples should be kept clean by being washed after every nursing.
What should be the diet of a nursing mother?
She should have a simple but generous diet with plenty of fluids; three regular meals may be given and gruel, milk, or cocoa at bed-time and sometimes between meals. She may take eggs, cereals, most soups, and nearly all vegetables, avoiding sour fruits, salads, pastry, and most desserts. Meat should not be taken more than twice daily, and in many cases but once. She should take but little tea or coffee, and ordinarily no wine or beer.
Are fruits likely to disturb a nursing infant?
Sour fruits in some cases may do so, but sweet fruits and most cooked fruits are useful.
What else is important in the life of the nursing mother?
She should lead a simple natural life; should have regular out-of-door exercise, preferably walking or driving, as soon after her confinement as her condition will permit. She should have regular movements from the bowels daily. She should be as free as possible from unnecessary cares and worry; her rest at night should be disturbed as little as possible; she should lie down for at least one hour in the middle of the day.
Does the nervous condition of the mother affect the milk?
Very much more than her diet; worry, anxiety, fatigue, loss of sleep, household cares, social dissipation etc., have more than anything else to do with the failure of the modern mother as a nurse. Uncontrolled emotions, grief, excitement, fright, passion, may cause milk to disagree with the child; at times they may excite acute illness, and at other times they may cause a sudden and complete disappearance of the milk.
Does menstruation affect the milk?
In nearly all cases the quantity of milk is lessened so that the infant is not satisfied and may gain less in weight or not at all. In many cases the quality of the milk is also affected to such a degree as to cause slight disturbances of digestion, such as restlessness, colic, and perhaps some derangement of the bowels. In a few, attacks of acute indigestion are excited.
Is regular menstruation a reason for stopping nursing?
Not invariably; as a rule both functions do not go on together. But if the child is gaining regularly in weight between the periods, nursing may be continued indefinitely, although it may be well to feed the infant wholly or in part during the first day or two that the mother is unwell.
What symptoms indicate that a nursing infant is well nourished?
The child has a good colour, sleeps for two or three hours after nursing, or, if awake, is quiet, good-natured, and apparently comfortable. It has normal movements of the bowels and gains steadily in weight.
_What symptoms indicate that a child who is nursing is not properly nourished?_
It does not gain and may even lose in weight. It no longer exhibits its usual