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11. Food. There is no food equal to mother's milk. Few mothers
— not seriously ill— but can suckle their baby if they take plenty of
nourishing food and no beer or spirits. Feeding must be regular by
the clock, and care taken not to over-feed. The breast must not be
given simply because the baby cries. It may be crying because it
has had too much, or has wind.
12. The breast should be given every two hours by day and every
four hours by night. After the baby is two months old the intervals
should be gradually increased to three by day, and at night it
should go six or eight hours without food, so allowing the mother
undisturbed rest.
13. The breast milk does not usually flow freely for two or three
days after confinement, but the baby should be put to the breast
from the first; it will usually get as much as it needs, and no other
food need be given.
14. The mother's breasts and nipples should be washed after each
meal with warm water and carefully dried.
15. The best test of a baby's getting on is the weight; it should
gain at least four ounces a week. Any infant can be brought to be
weighed at the Milk Depot, Maxey Road, on Thursday afternoons
between 2.30 and 4.0.
l6. No other food should be given without medical advice.
17. Babies should not be given comforters ; they often cause
diarrhoea.
18. Babies should never be taken into public houses where they
are very likely to get the infection of consumption and consumptive
bowels; of course they should never be given any stimulants, tea,
or anything but the breast.
19. Infants should be weaned about nine months of age, and
always before they are a year old.
20. If for any reason a mother cannot suckle her baby, or the
baby does not seem to be satisfied, she should either obtain medical
advice or apply to the Lady Health Visitor at the Town Hall.
21. No medicine should be given unless prescribed by a doctor;
avoid soothing medicines and teething powders.
SIDNEY DAVIES, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health.