OUR BABIES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20295, 3 May 1934, Page 17

OUR BABIES.

HYGEIA.)

(By

Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunlcet Society). “ It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.” FEEDING THE PREMATURE BABY. To all babies breast milk is precious, but never of such supreme importance as for a premature baby. The undeveloped state of its digestive organs at birth causes difficulty in digesting and absorbing its food, so every effort should be made to establish the mother’s milk tlow. and this will not be difficult, providing the rules for establishment of lactation are carried out. Remember that every drop of milk expressed from the breasts in the first few days is very precious, as it contains the components necessary to educate the baby’s undeveloped organs to deal with food. It acts also as an aperient, and its body building properties are valuable. The food requirements of a premature baby, are small, and, while the secretions of the beasts may be small also, by regular hand-expression of the milk the supply should increase to meet the baby’s need. If its own mother's milk is not available. then if possible the milk of a healthy foster-mother should be procured. No absolute rule can be given, but in general it is safer not to attempt direct suckling for a few weeks. It is better not to move the baby out of its warm, cosv cradle more than can be avoided until it has gained enough strength, vigour, resistive power and ability to suck forcibly without becoming- exhausted. Then begin by putting baby to the breast for one feeding only during the day. and increase the number of feedings at the breast gradually until it is fully breast-fed. Diluted Breast Milk. For the first three days of life give a solution of Karilac No. 1, or sugar of milk, dissolved with boiling water (two tablespoon fills respectively to lOoz of boiling water). On the fourth day begin to give a little breast milk, but it will be necessary to dilute it (one part of breast milk to four parts of the solution). Reduce the diluent gradually until at the end of a week baby is having equal parts of breast milk and diluent, and by the end of the second week, providing sufficient quantity is being taken, undiluted breast milk may be given. Tf breast milk cannot be obtained and artificial feeding must be resorted to, give a humanised milk mixture containing whey and diluted with water, as given on page 102 of “The Expectant Mother and Baby’s First Month.” The fluid requirement of a premature baby is 3oz for every pound of bodv weight, but it may be difficult to get baby to take this amount until between the tenth and fourteenth days. Care must be taken not to overfeed, or baby will become too satisfied and will not take the required amount of fluid. At the Karitnne hospitals it has been found, on the whole, that three-hourly feeding with one night feeding is best, and on very rare occasions, in the first few days, feeding two-hourly may be necessary if sufficient fluid is not being taken. Pipette or Tube Fescling. Here we are often faced with a difficulty, as the sucking and swallowing powers of a premature baby are undeveloped, and it may be difficult to give the necessary amount of fluid and food. A lot ot patience and perseverance is required. A strong premature baby may take all of his feedings from a small bottle with a teat that yields milk readily, but with a weak baby pipette feeding and sometimes tube feeding may have to be resorted to for a time. In feeding with a pipette a soft rubber tubing about two inches in length should be provided for insertion into the mouth, and only a few drops should he squeezed in at a time, great care being taken to avoid risk of choking. Be on the watch for, and take advantage of the slightest sign of sucking, and when baby is able to draw and swallow actively try a bottle and teat, care being taken not to overtire the baby. Where no sucking or no swallowing response is present tube feeding bv means of a small funnel and soft rubber catheter may be carried out, but should not be continued any longer than, is absolutely necessary. Given proper care and attention no premature baby capable of living'and doing well would be lost if human milk were provided, and there is no reason why premature babies should not grow up to be strong, healthy, normal men and women.