72. THE FUNCTION OF THE BREASTS
THE doctrine cannot be too strongly enforced that every healthy mother should nurse her own offspring. The reasons for this may be inferred from the constitution of the female organisation, and from the fact that no preparation of food can ever from any but an approximation to the mother’s milk. After the birth of the child nature continues to secrete an excess of nutrient matter; but this excess is transferred from the uterine system to the breasts, where it is secreted in the from of milk for the nourishment of the young offspring. Eighteen months is the usual period during which the child should be supported by the mother, nine months previous to birth, and about nine months after. The female organs are so arranged that in carrying on the functions of reproduction one portion relieves the other. During gestation the breasts enjoy comparative repose, the development and growth of the infant devolving upon the uterus. After birth this responsibility is transferred to the breasts, the uterus resting for a time from the process of utero-gestation.
Pretexts for Non-Nursing. Many ladies seek for professional sanction of wean their infants after a few weeks’ nursing, and some even to shirk the duty entirely. The demands made by the toilet, the pleasures of the table, fashionable society, late hours, or other forms of dissipation, render nursing inconvenient and distasteful. The disposition to evade this great natural duty should be strenuously opposed, for non-nursing deprives a mother of one of the most pleasurable and soothing duties of maternity, and it robs the infant of its inalienable right to breast-milk, laden with all the riches of its mother’s affection, while exposing it to the dangers of artificial substitutes.
Care of the Breasts. Much inconvenience and suffering may be obviated by paying proper attention to the breasts during pregnancy. For two or three of the last months they should be specially bathed with cold water every morning, and left perfectly dry. If the breasts are painful, hard, and much distended, two thicknesses of old linen, wrung out of cold water, way be placed over them, and covered with oiled silk. A kind of sling should then be formed by means of a handkerchief or band secured at the back of the neck, and so arranged as to support the breast. Only a sparing quantity of fluids should be permitted.
73. DIET FOR THE NURSING MOTHER.
A woman does not require extra good living when nursing but discrimination in the selection of her food is necessary; still she should feed well. If she eats slowly, she may be sufficient to satisfy hunger, but it is important that she should not overload the stomach, or partake of indigestible food, which would occasion intestinal derangement, to the injury of the infant as well as herself. The meal hours should be regular, and late dinners or suppers avoided.
To prove that the kind of food taken by the mother powerfully influences the quality of the breast-milk, it is only necessary to cite the well-known fact that the quality of cow’s milk is mainly determined by the food on which the animal livers. Thus a cow fed on swedes produces milk and butter having the flavour of turnips; showing that the milk partakes of the qualities of the food on which she feeds. The same holds good in regards to the human species, and proves the impropriety of a nursing mother being allowed to eat anything unwholesome or indigestible.
Experience has taught mothers that if they eat anything acid, and partake freely of fruits and vegetables, the milk brings on colic in the infant and causes diarrhoea. Mothers who nurse their infants must therefore often practise self-denial in eating and drinking for the sake of their offspring.
It is not intended to suggest by these remarks that a nursing woman should be excessively particular as to her food. Animal food, varied from day to day-beef, mutton, chicken, game, and fish, and any kind of vegetables that has not been found to disagree with herself or her infant, may be eaten, but such kinds of meat as goose, quick, salted beef, shell-fish, rich or highly seasoned dishes, pastry, etc., should not be taken. Greens, cabbage, fruit, and any other articles of food which the mother has found to disagree with herself or child, must also the avoided.
Milk-and-water, barley-water, toast-and-water, or even cold water, in small sips, is the best of appease the thirst to which the nursing mother is sometimes subject; but beer or wine tends rather to increase thirst.
Violent Exercise and Mental Depression Deteriorate the milk. Women who are nursing are liable to fits of depression. The best remedy is a short, pleasant walk, or drive in the country. Healthy exercise in the fresh air admirably promotes cheerfulness and serenity of spirits. On no account should wine or stimulants be resorted to, for they only raise the spirits for a short time, and cause increased subsequent depression, to remove which fresh and augmented supplies of stimulants would be required. The society of cheerful friends is often a useful stimulus; but visiting must be done within prudent limits, or it will weary and harass the mother, and diminish or deteriorate the supply of breast-milk.
Regimen of Wet-Nurses. The regimen and diet of wet-nurses should be as nearly as possible like those she has been previously accustomed to. A woman accustomed to active duties and frugal 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 takes such beverages as ale stout, or wine. A wet-nurse taken from industrial pursuits should continue to perform at least light duties, or take a large amount of regular out-of-door exercise. The use of stimulants is injurious, and if taken to cause a good supply of milk will result in disappointment, and bring on indigestion and a host of evils from which the infant is sure to suffer. If the child does not steadily grow and increase in weight the nurse should be changed. (See Section 71.)
If there be a choice of nurses of otherwise equal capacity, preference may be given to one of dark complexion, for it has been found that the milk of the brunette is richer in each of the organic constituents than that of the blonde.
In the interest of healthy women employed as wet-nurses, we state here that a syphilitic infant ought not to be nourished from their breasts. The nurse who suckles such a child incurs enormous risk; for many an unsuspecting woman has acquired syphilis from her nursling. Artificial lactation, if properly carried out, may, in such a case, be an excellent substitute for the breast.
74. STATED HOURS OF NURSING.
A habit very generally prevails, on the part of the mother, of giving the infant the breast too frequently; a habit prejudicial alike to the mother and child. It may be laid down as a rule, that for the first month the infant should be sucked about every two hours and a half during the day, and every four hours during the night; the intervals should be gradually lengthened until about the third month, when it should have the breast only every three or four hours during the day, and about every sixth hour at night. Eleven during the earliest period of infancy a child will acquire regular habits in this respect, by judicious management on the part of the mother. By giving the breast only at regular stated times, the mother will be able to the proper rest and hours of uninterrupted sleep, which can scarcely be enjoyed by those who have fallen into the bad habit of permitting the infant to be at the breast during a considerably part of every night, or of offering it to the child whenever it cries of manifests any uneasiness.
75. DEPRESSED AND SORE NIPPLES
Depressed Nipples. During the first pregnancy an examination should be made either by the medical attendant or a skilful nurse to ascertain whether the nipples are of the proper size and shape, for in many instances they are deficient, or have been so thoroughly compressed by tight clothes, that, after confinement, nipples can hardly be said to exist.
TREATMENT. A very simple and efficient measure to elongate the nipple is to tie a piece of woollen thread or yarn tow or three times around its base, after having pulled it gently out with the fingers. It should be tied sufficiently tight to keep the nipple prominent, but not enough to interrupt s the circulation. The woollen threads may be worn several weeks without inconvenience. The daily application of the pump to the breast, taking the nipple within its chamber, and exhausting the air by withdrawing the piston, elongates the nipple. The nipple should be retained within the chamber for about fifteen minutes each time. After the use of the pump an application of arnicated water, or of diluted glycerine, should be made to the nipple and surrounding part, to prevent excoriations. The same result may be secured by suction, twice a day, by the husband or nurse. An imperfectly developed nipple may be much improved by this method, if intelligently carried out. The measures adopted to elongated the nipple should be commenced two or three months before labour, and if necessary continued, in a modified form, during the commencement of lactation.
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."