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Spirits and strong drink must bo avoided; plenty of good, plain, wholesome,.
nourishing food must be eaten, and the appetite improved by exercise in the
open air.
A mother who improves her own health will also improve that of her baby.
When in doubt as to her health or habits a mother should not hesitate to
seek medical advice forthwith.
Suckling.
A mother who has properly cultivated her health should be able to fully
suckle her baby when born.
She should not be disappointed if the breast milk is scanty or not fully
established for two or three days. The regular suckling of the baby will
cause the flow to increase more and more.
If she continue to cultivate her health she should be able to continue suckling
her baby for about nine months.
The best food for the baby is mother's breast milk alone and without any
other food whatever.
If the mother have miik which is poor in quality she should improve her
diet by eating a greater quantity of good, plain, wholesome food, and improve
her appetite for this diet by more exercise in the open air, and above all things
should avoid spirits and strong drink.
If a mother have not enough milk the same measures will increase the
quantity, and a cupful or two of milk half an hour before suckling will be an
excellent help towards this, as the only way to humanise cows' milk is to pass
it through the mother and not Through a machine.
The nipples should be cleansed and dried each time after suckling.
The baby should be suckled every two hours (gradually prolonged to two
and a half) during tho first three months, gradually prolonged to every three
hours during the second three and subsequent months. Also twice in the night
during the first month, once during the second month, and in the third month
night feeding should be gradually discontinued. As the feeds are reduced in
number the quantity of milk at each feed naturally increases.
Weaning.
The cutting of the teeth of the baby is nature's intimation to think of weaning.
A baby's teeth may be expected to commence cutting between the seventh
and the ninth month.
The usual time for weaning is about the ninth month.
Weaning becomes easier and safer if it is delayed until after the ninth
month, soon after which the breast milk should be altogether stopped.