OUR BABIES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2664, 8 January 1916, Page 10

OUR BABIES

fBY HYGBIA.I Published under tho auspices of the Royal New Zealand Health Society for tho Health of Woiucn. anil Children. "It is wiser to jnifc up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom." CONSTIPATION IN BREAST-FED BABIES. '•"Anxious Mother," asks mo time to go into the question of tho "prevention of constipation in breast-fed babies." THE MOTHER'S HEALTH. As a breast-fed baby derives its sustenance entirely from its mother, 1 it necessarily follows that tho health of the mother has a most important bearing on tho health of the child. If a •aother suffers from constipation or any utiier such disability, the baby at her breast is liable to suffer more or less in tho same way; therefore, in an inquiry of this kind, attention should 'irst of all be directed to the mother's health and habits. The following extract from tho So-, city's book, "Feeding and Care of Baby',' goes so fully and practically into this aspect of the matter' that I cannot do better than quote it:— REGIMEN FOR HEALTH OF MOTHER. Routine for Constipation. _ I. Perfect Regularity. —Try to establish evacuation absolutely regularly at the same hour every day, regardless of whether there is any natural tendency or inclination at the appointed time or not. Patience and perseverance sliould bring about regularity, at the same hour every day, if due care is also exercised to promote action by tlie measures mentioned below. 11. Suitable Food. —Take good, simple food, and lot some of .he following be included evciy day, viz., wholemeal bread, oatcake.-porridge, spinach, boiled lettuce, boiled celery, leeks, j'oung turnips, cauliflower, young peas, young French beans, baked apples, rhubarb, gooseborries, well-cooked prunes, figs, otc. Thoy must be thoroughly masticated. Malt-extract, cream, olive or cod-liver oil, and fat meat all tend to lessen constipation, but excess of fat interferes with and xetards digestion. If thproughly masticated, uncooked ripe fruit, especially raw apple, is even better than cooked fruit.. 111. Bathing Exercise and Waterdrinking.—Take cold bath on rising in the morning.. Dry thoroughly witli a rough towel, and dross very quickly. Sip a tumbler of water while dressing. For chilly subjects hot water is precold water is a better tonic.

If delicate, or if there are no con- 1 veniqneos for bathing, sponging all over Jluiy be substituted. . j If not used to cold bathing, or in the , case of delicate people, tho way to the , cold bath may. be paved by standing j with the feet in warm water at first, 1 using for sponging or douching water" | with the chill just off—say, 70deg. j Fahr. This can be reduced a degree ] or more every day until cold is reached, j .Take '20 minutes' really active exer- ] cisca s soon as dressed —a brisk 'walk ( m the open air is best. Don't let rain ] or wind stop you I Every -woman should ] have sound boots and a light water- ] proof. . • ■ ■ , Cold bathing, or at least sponging < with cold water every morning, followed j at once by vigorous friction and active j exercise, is the best means of firming and' toning up the whole system and , ensuring good digestion, regularity, and , robust health., ] IV. Medicinal Laxatives. —If the ' above measures do not induce regular ' action, take at night 10 minims of the best liquid extract of eascara. Should this provo insufficient, take 15 minims, increasing to 20 minims if needed. Irtliis is not effective, take also a level teaspoonful of Carlsbad or Epsom salts dissolved in water, 'before sipping the glass of water in early morning; if this does not suffice, twice the quantity may be taken. As the need for laxatives becomes less, loave off the salts first,' then gradually diminish tho carcara, until the exact quantity needed to bring ahout regularity is reached. In most cases it can be left 1 off altogether in the coarse of a few weeks, but may need t-o be continued. Larger doses of tho above, or purgatives of any kind, should be avoided. • Cascara is the best medicinal tonic laxative for the nursing mother. V. Other General and Special Hygienics.—Sleep with wide-open win><owa. The best means for ensuring a current of air across tho room is to keep the window of a room with a fireplace wide open.. If there is no chimney, open windows ..and doors will do. Besides tho morning walk, take some further open-air exercise daily if possible. The more time a pregnant or nursing woman spends out of doors, resting and taking exercise, the better l'or both mother and child. No mother who fails to take sufficient open-air exercise (say a walk of hvo miles a day) giveß herself or her baby a fair chance; further, the more they are out in' sunshine the better. Pure air and sunshine have''almost as much oifect on the health and strength of both mother and child as good ford, and no woman can be in her best form is a mother who neglects to take i.egular open-air exercise. Tho special physical exercises described and illustrated on page S2 of the Society's book as conducive to the growth and toning up of the abdominal muscles (thus facilitating normal motherhood) exert also a very beneficial influence over indigestion and constipation. N.B. —Bathing, Exercise, and Watctdrinking should be continued indefinitely—should, indeed, be made life habits. Constipation almost always yields to, | tho foregoing simple regimen, and a | great improvement iin the general health is brought about as well; but in obstinate cases ether means may be adopted under mcdioat direction, - such as systematic massage of the abdomen, att occasional enema, etc. Worries and Excitements. Not only should food be eaten slowly, masticated thoroughly, and heartily enjoyed,' tut every means should bo taken to avoid unduo excitement, worries, and sources of annoyance, beoause the emotions have so much to do with determining the composition and quantity' of tho milk, and affecting in other ways the health of both mother, • tmd' offspring. The following passage from Charles Reade's "'The Cloister • and the Hearth" is most suggoativo and entirely true: — "The child is poisoned." "Poisoned!' _ By whom?" "By you. You have been frettingl'* "Nay, indeed, mother. How can I help fretting?" "Don't.tell me, Margr.rot. A nursing mother has no business "to fret. She must turn her mind away from her grief to the comfort thrit lies in her lap. Know you not that the child pines if the mother vexes herself?" Additional information with regard to combating, constipation in .infants will bo given next week.