OUR BABIES.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 437, 19 May 1937, Page 2

OUR BABIES.

r By HYGEIA. Published under ’the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society). “It is wiser to put up a fenc the top of <a precipice than to maintain an ambo Jan. e ? -he motion.” NATURAL FEEDING. Before putting baby to the breastt the nipples should be washed witt boiled water, using a swab made o: cotton wool or a tiny piece of clear old linen. Af er the feed the nipples should be again washed and driec thoroughly. If this is done there should be no risk of any infection through cracked nipples, leading t< breast abscess. The mother should be in as com fortable a position ag possible when nursing. Care must be taken in see ing that the breast is not pressing against the baby’s nos?. A child can. not suckle properly unless there is a perfectly free entry of air to the nose ]f the baby takes the milk too greed ily and quickly the mother can check the tendency to some extent by squeezing the base of the nipple or by withdrawing the nipple from time to time. When nursing in a sitting posture some mothers may find a cushion placedi across the knee a great advantage, as it does away with stooping. For others the use of a low chair and foots'all Ie ideal. The nursing times must be quiet—even the effort of talking m.ay disturb the flow, especially with the first baby. During the early weeks the liability to flatulence even in breast-fed babies (due mainly to irregular feeding, over-feeding, or too frequent feeding) must be borne in min'd. Having attended to such irregularities, the way to prevent the gathering and accumulation of wind in the stomach, and consequent distress

| colic, is always to sit the baby up lat the end of each feeding. This | may also need to be done during the . course of each feeding, and someiwuef just before. Prevention is 'easy; but the “colic habit” once form. ed may ba very hard to get rid of. Diet For tihe Nursing Mother. I The nursing mother must take , plenty of fluid from the first. Six ro ei-'-bt tumblerfuls of wa'.er a day ;s a goed average. Overeating is to be avoided. Three good meals daily, ; the diet including plenty of fruTt and vegetables (raw and cooked), eggs, milk, about one pint daily, including j that used in cooking —- hie to be takjen with meals, as milk between ; meals only spoils the appetite for ordinary food'), and butter and meat . in moderation. This average diet j would contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals for the baby’s proper growth and development. Sir Truby King says: “It is im_ possible to lay down a fixed diet ap- ' to all nursing mothers, beI cause the first essential is that no j unnecessary changes or restrictions I should be made. Assuming that her ' ordinary diet, has been reasama-bly ; wholesome and nutritious and that it | has agreed with her, the mother should continue on the tame lines, 1 meiTly avoiding anything known to be es’pecially indigestible or which ; she has previously found' to disagree. One of the worst things a nursing mother can do is to change to a faddy. meagre diet consisting largely of insipid sloppy food.” Regular daily action of the bowe'ls is 'supremely important for the nursing mo’her, both for her own health and that of the baby. At, all times the nursing mother should have fresh air—dhy and night anid should be out in the sunshine as much as her circumstances per_ mil. Pure air and sunshine have almost as much beneficial effect on the health and strength of both the mother and child as good food, and no woman can be in her best form as | a mother who neglects to take reI gular open-air exercise. The mother’s confidence in her . ability to nurse is a great factor in

| establishing lactation. The mother who believes in her power to do the natural thing, and the nurse who is positive and gives confidence are invariably successful. Remember that over-anxiety may defeat its own ends.. Complementary Feeding. Tn some cases lactation is not fully established for some weeks. When this is so a little artificial food may be* given after the breast, but never a whole bottle feed —that is the way to wean. The breasts miss the stimulation of the baby’s sucking, and the supply of milk gradually diminishes, | until a second .and then a third bottle is substituted', and the milk goes altogether. The only way to be quite sure as to the amount the baby is getting ig to test weight for 24 hours, or longer if possible. To do this reliable scales must be obtained (those with weights, not a spring balance) the baby put on the scales immediate- | <v before the feed in his clothes, the weight noted, and put on the scales aga.in immediately ai er the feed. The second weighing must be done in exactly the same clothing as the first (example, a foiled napkin must not be changed) . The difference in weight will tell how many ounces of food baby has taken, if ,th e total for the 24 hours is not sufficient for his daily need a little artificial food may be given .after every breast feeding (sometimes required only after 'two or three feeds) and always diluted at first with some boiled water. Remember always to sum up a 21 hours’ supply, as normal babies take larger feed's in the. mornings, smaller towards mid-day, -and sometimes a bigger Bne again toward night. The child’s' .general condition is the best guide. Only resort to test weighing when all is not well with the infant. Any Plunket nurse would be willing to help mothers over these difficult periods, and one would be well advised, if encountering any of these difficulties to seek tne guidance of someone experienced in dealing with much matters.