For the first five or six weeks the infant should be applied to the breast at regular intervals of two hours and a half during the day; but during the night (from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.) he should, after the first two or three weeks, remain without food. It is important, too, that the infant should suck from each breast alternately. Regular habits of feeding may be soon acquired; and it is great mistake, and the cause of wind, colic, and other disorders, to give the infant the breast whenever he cries, or to let him be always sucking. When weaning is commenced seventh to the ninth month Neave’s Food is the best diet. It should be mixed, as directed, with good cow’s milk, and given at the temperature of mother’s milk. For detailed instructions on this point, the reader is referred to the chapter, ” Examples of dietary for healthy children, at different ages,” in the larger edition of this work.
Diet for a Nursing Mother. A nursing mother or wet-nurse does not require extra food, but care in its selection. To overload the stomach, or to eat indigestible articles, would lead to disorders, to the injury of the infant as well as herself. The meal-hours should be regular, and late meals avoided. The thirst to which nursing mothers are liable is best appeased by milk-and- water, barely-water, toast-and-water, or even pure water.
Regimen of Wet-Nurses. The habits and diet of a wet-nurse should as near as possible resemble those she had been previously accustomed to. A woman of active duties and moderate diet is certain to suffer in her health if she suddenly relapses into a life of indoor idleness, and has a too abundant supply of food, and, if unaccustomed to it, takes ale or stout. A wet-nurse taken from industrial habits should continue to perform at least light duties, and take plenty of regular open-air exercise.
Should a nursing mother again begin to suffer from headache, dim sight, dizziness, shortness of breath, palpitation, or night- sweats, it is evident that nursing weakness her, and she should commence to wean. If a wet-nurse suffer from similar symptoms the child should at once be taken from her.
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.
Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."