OUR BABIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 237, 6 October 1928, Page 22 (Supplement)

OUR BABIES

(By Hygeia). Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health 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 botCONSTIPATION The following is a Plunket nurse’s talk to a small audience of mothers on this important subject:— In these times help and education is given to the public on very many subject. and lines, and to the Plunket Society falls thc most important mission of educating and he ping the mother, whose supreme duties are the most, far-reaching anrl momentous that can be conceived. To-day 1 have an opportunity of endeavouring to explain the simple preventive and curative measures 'which, with the mother's faith and perserverance win combat one of the most frequent, an.d dearl'ly conditions of neglect—that is, con.'tipation. What is Constipation? The word means to pack together. The conditions is the outcome of wrong living and the cause of much ill-healt h. Eci ent ion and parking together of waste food products in the lower bowel prokhu-es a condition of grave evil. When these waste products are unduly long retained, poisons are admitted to the blood stream, and the 'waste matter becomes hander, more bulky, anil more difiicult to expel. Several hard, marble-like stools or one large bulky motion daily are characteristic of constipation, although the motions are usually infrequent. The poisoning of the whole system as a result of chronic, constipation expresses itself as far as the mother is concerned in general sluggishness, headaches, and a feeling of general unfitness; in the babe stuntoJ, growth and enfeebled health with nervous irritability an'» proneness to fever and diarrhoea may result. During thc first year one, two, or three daily bowel motions are normal; during the second year, one or two; from three or four years an.l upwards one daily movement is the average and is consistent with health. If a stool shows any signs of having been retained too long (i.e., handiness or dryness of the surfaces) baby is seriously constipated, even if having more than one motion a day. The normal stool, though it may be formed, is never hard or dry. Examine a stool by smoothing it between napkin surfaces; it is easy to determine the crumbling dryness of constipation thus. Many breast led babies cause their mothers unnecessary worry by having only one movement in 21 to 48 hours. This is explained by the fact that baby is having his natural food, 'which is completely amt perfectly used up in the body. There is little waste, anil when he doos pass the waste it is soft and yellow. It is wise to cultivate a daily habit in this case, but. provided baby is happy and hea'thy, do not worry unnecessarilv. The Bowel is “A Creature of Habit” I he bowel has been calle<] ‘‘a creature of habit,” and, it will carry out

a definite line of action in response to suggestions anJ training. The lower bowel commences in the right, groin, travels up to the level of the navel, crosses to the left. side, and descends to lhe rectum and the outer orifice. Foorl residue is receiver! by the lower bowel from the upper part of the digestive tract, the fluid part being absorbed through its walls. Waste material passes to the lower cud of the bowel, where bulk stimulates certain nerve endings to relax the outer orifice an.l expel it as a motion. All material present in the bowel is pushed on by a wave like movement of the muscle wall not unJjer our control, but greatly dependent on our encouragement and co operation. If we encourage gooj habits in the bowel djuring infancy it will respond in a wonderful way, and regular evac. nation will go far towards health throughout life. To control constipation lies greatly within the. power of the mother. Right living in the mother means that she will do all in her power to carry out the essentials for good health which prevent trouble to her offspring as babe, chilj. and adult. Thus a hea'thy circle is maintained. Prevention of Constipation Rules for the prevention of consti pation include the following: I. Exercise For the mother, walks daily in lhe sunshine and fresh air; for the babe, kicking, unhampered by restricted clothing, also in air and sunshine. Housework may seem to you to supply sufficient exercise, but we will demonstrate to you how the abdominal muscles, whose Jaxness encourages s uggishness of the bowel. may be strengthened in a surer ’way. (Special exercises suitable in cases of constipation are shown on page 82 of “Feeding and Care of Baby.” and in the. pamphlet “The. Expectant Alother and Baby’s First, Alonth.”) Garden ing is excellent both for the exercise and the fresh air. Keep your windows open day and night. 2. Regularity and Good Habits Foster sound, regular, hygienic habits at the earliest possible age. and establish them for life. Commence hulling baby out. at the same time daily from birth. Be regular, punctual. and persistent. 3 # Bathing The excellent tonic effect of cold showers on sluggish muscles is invaluable. Standing with the feet in warm water and allowing the stream of the cold shower to start on the lower part of the back will accustom the body to cold without, shock. For baby, never have his bath water too warm —blood heat to commence; then educate him to cold showers in childhooi! by cool sponging in infancy. Reduce the temperature very gradually after six mouths of age, until he enjoys a cold bath. All cold baths must be follow by br.sk exercise anil a wanr.ing up. 4. Proper food Include laxative foods in the diet that is, foods with residue or bulk that will excite those wave-like movements of thc bowel by their irritation. •8 hcct your fooos for their value. > al live, not live io eat. Regularity ot meals for all is important, and there should be no “pieces” between meals nor “mush” for the children. The d.ut sh ual he 1 'an. and wb i •‘omn. but. appetising. It. should include fresh fruits, raw and cooked; dried Iruits. such as raisins, tigs, dates, and prunes; also fresh vegetables, such as .spinach or silver beet, celery, cabbage, cauliflower lettuce, carrot, onion. Indian corn in season, etc. All these contain roughage or bulk. For breakfast include coarse oatmeal, adding bran, which is an excel lent laxative (1 part bran to 4 of oatmeuj; also include stewed or raw finits, fresh or dried. Use wholemeal bread and butter or good drippi ng. Treacde and honey arc both mild natural laxatives. Dinner should include fresh vegetables, especially the greens, and stewed or raw fruits. The tea meal holds wonderful possibilities of variety. Vegetable salad?s. using lettuce, cress. tomatoes, apples, celery, cold cooked vegetables. et<-.. are correct and attractive, dishes. Heart of white cabbage is an excellent substitute for lettuce as a salad foundation. Wholemeal scones, oat cake, bran biscuits etc., make a nice variery, and so ulo nuts, tigs, and dates or raisins. Surely such menus hold attractiveness and economy, besides variety. Water to drink is inxoluable. am I shou (1 be taken, hot. or cold, first thing in lhe morning, and in abundance between meals. The children should be encouraged to drink water when thirsty after romping or on wa k i ng. We 'will publish the conclusion of this article, in which the nurse speaks of the treatment for babies, in next week's issue of “Our Babies.”