Nursing and Feeding

Why Should a Mother Nurse Her Baby?

Because it is the law of nature and nature has provided for it. The mother's milk is the only ideal food. Babies that are nursed resist disease better and are healthier in every respect. Nursing will also be an aid to the mother; it will reduce the womb to normal size, keep it so and render her less liable to pelvic congestion and disease of the Womb.

Should a Nursing Mother drink tea or coffee?

Not as a rule; if she does it should be in moderation. Tea and coffee are constipating and also very likely to make the mother nervous. The mother should remember that anything that injures her will injure her baby. Cross, colicky, restless, sleepless children generally have mothers who digestion is poor, whose bowels do not act properly and who are restless and nervous themselves.

Are there any Diseases that Prohibit the Mother nursing?

Yes; cancer, inflammatory rheumatism, scarlet fever, puerperal (childbed fever) typhoid fever Also any disease which causes a serious infection of the blood prohibits nursing.

Should a Nursing Mother eat Fruit and Vegetables?

She may eat freely of such articles that do not disturb her digestion, Even this rule has its exceptions. Some infants have very feeble digestive powers and a healthy mother must be very careful with such babies. Mothers whose babies are cross and colicky should avoid everything that is raw and sour and large quantities of cold drink. This includes sour fruit, raw or cooked; also pickles, tomatoes and cabbage. Mothers will also find that large indulgences in animal foods as meat, milk, and eggs is likely to make an infant colicky.

How Soon After Labor should the baby be put to the breast?

It depends upon the condition of the mother and the child. If the mother has had a hard labor she should have a good rest, especially if she is exhausted. She should nurse as soon as possible for nursing aids in contracting and keeping the womb contracted lessens danger of bleeding from the womb and promotes the secretion of milk. If the baby sleeps well and only awakens when the diaper is changed and then falls asleep again it is not necessary for it to nurse. If however the baby cries, is uneasy, and refuses to be quieted, we may, six hours after delievery put it to the breast. If anything is needed befor six hours, give the baby a little weak, warm sugar water.

What first secretion first appears in the breast and what is its use?

Colostrum. It tends to regulate the bowels and put the stomach in order for the digestion of the mother's milk.

How soon Do the breasts secrete good milk?

Usually on the third day good milk fills the breasts.