OUR BABIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22256, 8 May 1934, Page 13

OUR BABIES

By Htoeu. Published under the auspices of tho Royal New Zealand Society for the Uealth of Women and Children (Plunket Society). “It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.” NATURAL FEEDING. (Continued.) Last week we spoke of the importance of the natural feeding of babies and carefully enumerated the reasons why a baby should be breast-fed. Thisj weei. we will emphasise the various points m the management of breast-feeding. BEST WAY OF NURSING BABY. When the mother is about to nurse her baby she should first make herself as comfortable a s possible in an easy chair, or she may lie on a couch with her feet raised, which is very restful. It sitting up she should have a footstool, while a cushion placed on her knee will be iouna helpful. Make the feeding time a time of rest for the mother. There should be quietness during feeding, as. talking interferes with the milk flow, and also distracts baby’s attention 'from hi s tasa. The baby should be “ sat up ’ once or twice during the feeding to bring up tns wind. Usually the wind is parsed in a few minutes, and the mother then continues the feeding. (Read “ The Expectant Mother and Baby’s First Month, page 44.) There should be no unnecessary handling. Baby must be fed every four hours for preference —10 minutes from each breast or 15 minutes from the first breast and five minutes from the second breast, alternating ' the breasts at each feeding. Five times in the 24 hours is all that is necessary for thenormal, healthy baby. Babie s fed from birth only five times a day sleep more soundly, tend to suck more vigorously, and run less risk of overfeeding. It is harmful and unnecessary to give a night feed. TEST FEEDING.

Should any question arise as to the sufficiency or insufficiency of the amount of mother’s milk baby is receiving, he should be weighed just before Ins teeding and then again immediately afterwards, and thus the exact amount of food taken is arrived at. This should be done for the five feedings that are taken in the 24 hours, and the amount received compared with the amount baby should be receiving (see feeding table in “ Ihe Expectant Mother and Baby’s First Month ”or “ Feeding and Care of Baby ) so . that any error may be corrected. Thus if baby is receiving too much, we can shorten the time of sucking; if underfed, we can do all possible to stimulate the mother’s supply, or, if absolutely necessary, complement (i.e., make up the deficiency at each suckling) with the required quantity of properly graded humanised milk mixture. Tins complement must be givan immediately after the breast feeding, and care must be taken that too much is not given and also that the opening in the teat is not too large. MASSAGE AND STIMULATION OF THE BREASTS. Should the mother’s milk supply not be properly established, or should it have decreased during the first few weeks, lactation- may Be assisted by breast massage and stimulation. For this purpose it is necessary to have two large bowls, with a rvasher in each—one containing quite cold water and the other ■with water as hot as can be applied to the skin. With the washer apply alternately the hot and then the cold water to the breasts (cold water must always be finally applied). Then dry and rub briskly with a Turkish towel from around the base of the breast towards the nipple. The whole procedure should not occupy more than about 10 minutes. ESSENTIALS FOR THE RE-ESTAB-LISHMENT OF BREAST-FEED-ING.

The desire to nurse and freedom from worry and over-anxiety, combined with the following simple measures—breast massage and stimulation, abundant fresh air, daily bathing and exercise, due rest and sleep, regular habits, suitable food, the drinking of plenty of fresh water, and, of course, regular suckling of the baby—rarely fail to establish breastfeeding in cases ■where the supply has been falling off—indeed, even where suckling has been entirely given up for days or perhaps for weeks. Further, when once properly established, the flow of milk tends to keep up. CONCLUSION.

In conclusion, we would just say that breast-feeding is the most natural thing in the world. It is best for both mother and baby, so we should do all in our power to encourage and stimulate the milk supply so that it will be quite sufficient for baby’s need. We have no ■right merely to fold our hands in an apathy of despair. We must look ahead and follow, under skilled supervision, the routine method for increasing the secretion of milk in the breast. By teaching, training, and helping the mother of to-day we'shall pave the way of preparedness for motherhood and ensure as far as possible that the potential parent of the future shall grow up strong, healthy, and fully equipped to become in due time the ideal parent and good citizen.