OUR BABIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3584, 21 November 1922, Page 58

OUR BABIES.

Br Hyckia. Published under the auspices nt the floyal New Zealand Society for the Health tit Women and Children. “It is wiser to put up a fence at tha top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom."

ESTABLISHMENT OF BREASTFEEDING. In last week’s article it Was stated “that every mother ought to, and can, nurse her child, and that, if she fails in this first duW and privilege of motherhood, her child suffers a more or less serious wrong. How come* it. then, that so many babies are still deprived of their birthright—their own mother’s milk. We are glad to say it is only in a few cases that a mother deliberately decides to deny to her offspring this right. In most cases, where early weaning has taken place, the mother is sorry that her baby had been taken off the breast, but she could not help it. Her baby was not thriving, and she bad been advised that her milk was “too poor” or “was not suiting baby” or “was poisoning him,” therefore she must wean without delay. Hew many babies do you suppose are weaned in New Zealand every year on such grounds? Many thousands without a doubt ! Yet in the vast majority of eases there is no reason for weaning at all. The mother’s own milk is a better food for her own or any other human baby than the milk of a cow. and yet every clay babies are handed over to cows for their sustenance. Why not find out what is really wrong? Don’t jump to the conclusion that Nature is doing her part liacHy ! SUMMARY OF CAUSES FOR FAILURE IN BREAST-FED BABIES. 1. Lack of the essentials for baby’s health (see pages J and 2 “Feeding and Care of Baby”). 2. The mother’s" health may not be so good as it ought to be. Special attention should be paid to getting her on to the right track. (See “Regimen for Health, pages 9 and it), “Feeding and Care of Baby.”) 3. ' Baby may be overfed and suffering from indigestion, etc. Weigh baby before and after every nursing for a whole day (24 hours), add up the quantities taken, and compare with the amount advised in the Table of Feeding, page 34, “Feeding and Care of Baby.” If too .much is taken lengthen the intervals between feedings, and don’t feed in the night time (between 10 pirn, and 6 a.in.); or, if fed four-hourly and no night.-’ feeding, shorten the time allowed at the breast. 4. Baby may not be getting enough. By weighing' before a.nd after nursing the .mother can find out how much her baby lacks, and can supplement with properly adjusted food. At the same time she should do everything possible to augment her supply of milk. (See “The Expectant Mother and Baby’s First Month,” page 32.) CASE OF LATE ESTABLISHMENT OF BREA ST-F EE I>N G. In order to encourage those of _ our readers whose milk supply tends to fail we shall publish a letter from the Matron of the Mothercraft Training School, Trebovia ro-a-d, Earl’s Court, London (founded by Dr Truby King and Miss Fattrick, and still run on Now Zealand lines), which appears in the latest number <2 “Maternity and Child Welfare.” THE LETTER. Dear Editor— The leaching at the Mothercraft Training School has always been that, unless breast-feeding was partially or entirely established during the first fortnight after childbirth, it could not he reestablished at a later period. Recently the following case was admitted i A baby six weeks old, weighing only 51b 7oz (iiib under his birth-weight), had never been put to the breast, as the mother was ill with pneumonia when the child was born. He had teen artificially fed on a proprietary food, making no progress; then on milk, water, and sugar, during which time the loss in weight continued. The baby was emaciated on admission, and had a rash. On examining the mother's breasts, a drop of fluid could be squeezed to Ihe surface. It was decided to attempt lactation, though with no real expectation of success. Ihe baby was put to both breasts every three hours—for a few minutes only at first, — and he sucked vigorously. For two davs there was no -breast milk; on the third day there was 3 minims, on the fourth ioz. at the end of a week s oz m 24 hours, lit the end of a fortnight 4J.OZ, and after £7 days 14oz. The mother and baby were discharged, Ihe baby weighing 61b 15oz, and needing only soz of supplementary food. The next week when the mother attended as an outpatient the baby had gained 7oz, and the mother' wa s advised to complement the last feed only with l|oz of artificia food. A week later the infant had gained 10oz, and was fully breast-fed. A 24 hours test weighing showed 21oz of breast milk and a gam in Weight of 31b in six weeks. This case proves the true economy of breast-feeding. Had this baby been saved on artificial food he would have been in hospital at least three months instead of 27 days. M. Liddiabd.

month. Four nurses came into residence lor refresher courses in October. Students from the Domestic Science School attended for practical instruction two mornings weekly during the month. Gifts were received from the following—Mesdamrs Dooriy, Tiisomin, J. A. Johnstone, W. A. Moore. Milne, M’George, Nurse Rae and Miss lientham. The Plunket nurses reported that during tha month of September, with the exception of a few cases of measles and colds, the general health of the babies was very good. The resignation of Mrs A. C. Mathesou as a member of committee was accepted. Details. were arranged in connection with the garden fete to be held at “Tirangi.’’ the residence of Mr S. Solomon, on N<*vem her 25. A letter was read from the secretary of the Band of the Ist Battalion (Otago Regiment), stating that the band would be pleased to play at the fete. The Secretary of the Gardening Circle of the Otago Women’s Club, wrote that the circle would take charge of the flower stall, and a letter was received from the Dunedin Free Kindergarten Association saying they would run the sweets stall.