Should all mothers make an attempt at nursing their babies? Yes, as a
rule.
What are the most important conditions that may prevent nursing?
Tuberculosis now or in the past or, in fact, any other serious chronic
diseases; very delicate health herself. Some acute disease like typhoid
fever or cancer.
How soon after labor should the baby be put to the breast? As soon as the
mother is able to have it.
What is the food called that it then obtains? Colostrum.
What does this do? It aids in cleaning the baby's system.
Should the mother nurse the baby inclining or lying? Yes.
Does nursing drain the mother? Not if she is reasonably well. It is a
natural process.
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If the mother cannot nurse immediately after labor, what should you feed
baby? The baby will not starve in a few days. Give it warm water regularly
every few hours, or a little cream and warm water.
Are there any impediments to nursing? Sometimes the baby is tongue-tied.
Is the baby ever too weak to nurse? Yes.
What should be done in that case? Draw the milk from the breast and feed
it through a free flowing nursing bottle. Such babies are generally born
prematurely.
Are the mother's nipples ever at fault? Yes, they are; poorly developed,
retracted, that the baby's tongue cannot surround it to draw upon it.
What can be done for them? They should be drawn out, and sometimes a breast
pump is needed for this.
Should the nipples be treated after nursing? They should be dried and
clean clothing put against them. Some recommend washing them with a mild
solution of boric acid.
Are they ever so tender that nursing is painful? Yes.
What can be done for this? The nipples should be drawn out before
confinement; if neglected use the following: Compound tincture of benzoin
one-half ounce. After each nursing wash them clean with warm water or
water and a little alcohol and after drying them, put on the tincture of
benzoin with a camel's hair brush. It will not hurt the baby.
What can be done with cracked nipples? Apply benzoin as before directed,
and use a glass or rubber nipple shield until it gets well.
How can caked breasts be prevented? The breasts should be kept emptied and
well protected, both while nursing and during the intervals. Empty with a
breast pump if necessary.
If mother's clothes are wet by the excess milk, what can she do? Use a
breast-pump and drink and eat less fluid; eat more solid.
Should a baby nurse at both breasts? It is better.
If the breast contains pus, what can be done? Nurse at the other breast,
but if both breasts are affected it must stop breast nursing.
Should an infant nurse from a mother who is taking medicine? Not as a
rule.
When will the mother be able to nurse again? It is hard to tell. If the
child is six months old the child should be weaned if the mother is
seriously ill, and children with delicate stomachs should always be
weaned, when the mother is sick.
If the mother has not enough nurse, what can be done?--Nurse partly and
feed it the rest.
Can the milk secretion be increased? Yes, by regulating the mother's diet.
She should drink freely of good cow's milk and have an occasional bowl of
gruel, soup, etc.
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How long can you wait to see if the mother can have milk? It is well to
wait several days, nurse all there is and supply the deficiency by bottle
feeding.
How often should the baby nurse at first, and how long? Every four or five
hours for the first few days--usually nurses fifteen to twenty minutes;
one night nursing.
When is there a full secretion of milk? Usually on the third day.
How often should the baby be nursed afterward? After the third day every
two hours and twice at night.
How often during the rest of the year? For two to three months every two
to two and one-half hours during the day, two times at night; three to
five months about every three hours up to ten p. m.; and one time at
night; five to twelve months every three to three and one-half or four
hours and not at night.
Is it necessary as a rule to give additional food the first few days? No;
give plenty of water.
What important things should be attended to in nursing? First, a regular
time night and day. Second, nipples should be kept clean.
What should a nursing mother eat? Her diet should be simple and plentiful,
and lots of fluids; she should have three regular meals a day, and gruel,
cocoa, or milk at bedtime and sometimes between meals. She can use
cereals, most soups, most vegetables; avoid sour tart fruits, salads,
pastry, and desserts. She may eat egg, meats once or twice daily, but in
most cases but once. Tea and coffee if taken should be very weak, and
ordinarily no wine or beer.
Are fruits eaten by the mother likely to injure baby? Sour fruits do in
some cases, but sweet fruits and most fruits that are cooked do not, and
are useful for the bowels.
Should the mother take special care of herself? Yes, she should lead a
simple, natural, happy life, with outdoor exercise, as soon as possible
after the confinement. She should make her bowels move daily by food and
habit; she should not worry, should sleep plenty and should nap for an
hour during the middle of the day.
Will the milk of the mother be affected by nervousness? Yes, more so than
by her diet; worry, anxiety, fatigue, loss of sleep, household duties,
society functions, have an injurious effect upon the child. Mother's
grief, excitement, anger, passion, act upon the child through the milk.
How does the return of the menstruation affect the milk? The quantity is
lessened, the infant is not satisfied. Sometimes the quality is affected
and the child may suffer from restlessness, colic, and acute indigestion.
Should regular menstruation prohibit nursing? Not always; as a rule both
functions do not go together. If the child thrives, it can keep on
nursing, although it might be well to feed the infant, at least partly,
during the period.
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How can you determine that the baby is well nourished? Good color, sleep
for two hours after nursing, is quiet, good-natured and comfortable when
awake; has normal bowel movements, three stools daily and gains gradually
in weight.
How can you tell when a baby is poorly nourished? It neither gains nor
loses weight; it is listless, tired, indifferent, cross, fretful,
irritable and sleeps poorly. It looks pale, anemic, and it becomes soft
and flabby. If the milk is scanty, it nurses long; at other times it tries
the breast and turns away seemingly disgusted.
What should be done? This depends upon the conditions; should the child
gain nothing for three or four weeks or lose weight, immediate weaning may
be necessary; at least other food must be given in addition to the breast
food. Feeding may be alternated with the breast nursing.
How do the symptoms show when the mother's milk disagrees? The child, is
in constant discomfort; it sleeps little, is restless, cries much, gulps
up gas, passes it by the bowels, or it accumulates in the bowels causing
colic. There may be vomiting, but more often bowel trouble. The bowels may
be constipated but usually there is diarrhea--frequent, loose, green,
with mucus and gas.
What should you do in such a case? If the child does not gain or loses
weight and there is little chance of improvement in the mother's milk, the
child should be weaned immediately. If the child gains in weight, try a
little longer to improve the mother's milk.
Why do some babies nurse so often? The milk does not satisfy.
When the baby has thrush, should the mother take special care of the
breasts? Yes, they should be cleaned after every nursing.
How much does the baby's stomach hold at birth? Six to seven teaspoonfuls.
Is vomiting a healthy sign in infants? Frequent vomiting is not natural;
see if his bands are too tight; find out if he has been danced or handled
after nursing.
When is it harmful? When it is frequent. If it comes up directly after a
meal looking just as it was when taken, the child may be over-fed.
What can be done? Reduce the quantity, or do not let it nurse so long or
so often. If vomiting takes place a half hour after feeding, in sour
swelling masses, it may be getting food too rich in cream, and then the
time between nursings should be lengthened; or dilute the breast milk by
giving one to two teaspoonfuls of plain boiled water, barley water, five
or ten minutes before nursing; the mother should eat less hearty food,
especially of meat.
If baby has frequent colic, what is the cause? The milk has too much
proteids.
What should be done? Eat less meat, keep quiet, and happy, do not worry,
etc.
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How many stools does a healthy baby have daily? About two.
What color? Yellow color and pasty consistence.
If a nursing baby has too many stools, what change should be made in the
mother's diet? She should eat food that would cause costive bowels in her.