Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-08-02
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One of the most important c0nsidera-
lions in regard to the care of children
is that of infant feeding. I gave some
ideas In that lecture concerning the con-
Gtion and food OF nursing mothers,
keeping In view not so much the ben
etit to tho mother or wet nurse as the
welfare of the child; although, as rule,
II the health of the. nursing child is
perfect that of the mother of necessity
must be so. Therefore, where the pre-
,vious instructions are religiously fol-
lowed. not only will the health Of the
child be secured, but that of the mother
also. ... ..
One of the first things that must be
learned, especially by the young moth
er, is the size of the stomach of this tiny
specl1 of humanity. Some mothers,
and nearly all fathers, seem to think
that the capacity Of the stomach for
eating is in proportion to the lungs for
making noise; that there is no limit,
and food should be taken continuously.
Such an idea is not justified by ex-
perience, however, as the capacity of
the infant stomach at five days old is
found, by actual measurement, to av-
erage 25 to 80 centimeters, and as cubic
centimeter is only fraction over third
of an inch, the youngsters capacity to
receive and care for milk is limited.
The little ones stomach grows rap.
idly, and at the age of three weeks is
found to be almost three times as large.
At eight weeks, however, it has not de-
veloped in proportion to it's previous
record, for, while at four weeks it is
found to be about Is cubic centimeters,
at eight weeks it has only increased to
be about Is cubic centimeters, at eight
weeks it has only increased to about IS
cubic centimeters; at 16 months, to 107,
and at 20 months to 10S centimeters.
Most authorities, therefore, claim that
more infants are killed by overlooking
than are starved to death, and there is
no question but that many Of the all
ments of infancy are due to this one
cause. Yet, there are many mothers
who think they must nurse the poor
baby every time it cries, no matter what
the cause may be.
The best way to guard against over
feeding is to get a correct idea of the
size of the little ones stomach, and, if
that cannot be done from the measure
ments have given. then you should ask
your family physician to show you bot
tie about the size described. Then you
should refer to the tables given in the
Home Health Club Book, volume one,
and learn how long it takes the milk to
digest. Give the child no more than
enough to comfortably fill the stomach,
and then give it no more, until that has
had plenty of time to get out of the way.
During the first few days of infant life
four or five times a day is as often as it
should be fed. little water may be
given, but no other food, such as bottle
food, as it will only upset the child's
stomach, and reduce the inclination and
ability to suck. After the third or
fourth day the intervals of feeding may
be: increased to once every two hours,
and not oftener. 1t is we'll to begin
about five a. M. and allow the last feed
ing at IL p. m. Nursing should not be
permitted ofteher than once during the
night. BY paying careful attention to
the regularity of feeding, the digestive
organs will be kept in much better con-
dition, and the baby's sleep will be al
most perfect. There will then, also, be
little danger of overlooking.
After about the sixth month of such
care and attention the child will not
need to be fed during the night, and not
later than ten p. m. nor earlier than
seven a. m. When year old it will not
require food between the hours of sew
en- p. m. and seven a. m. To some ten
der-hearted mothers this may seem like
starving the baby, but if you will only
try it thoroughly, you will be convinced
that the child is only not well fed and
nourished, but that it grows more rap
idly, is healthier, sleeps better, and re-
sists disease more readily than chill
dren who are fed in the haphazard man
ner commonly followed in most homes,
Now. to return once more to the new
born infant. Some very good and ex-
perienced mothers will not allow the in
FAINT to receive its milk from them for
ten or IL hours, but some of. the best au-
thorities claim that the proper time to
nurse the child is when from six to eight
hours old. This is certainly best for the
mother, and as rule for the child. as
the little ones stomach, is then sure of
a supply of colostrum, the principal Sc
erection of the first few days. Colostru1a
is mildly laxative and cleanses the
child's stomach of waste matter, called
meconium; it also contains an excess of
albumen, and quickly coagulates when
boiled There are also found in this
new milk large corpuscles which may
readily be seen with the microscope.
They should all disappear within the
first t 70 weeks, and if they persist after
that, the child will be found to have in
digestion, and a change of food is de-
manded, if you wish to save the baby.
Some mothers complain that their
babies demand milk at night, and do
not care to nurse during the day time.
This chn all be corrected by little firm
ness at the start, and allowing the lit
tie one to go hungry until willing to par
take Of it's food at the proper hours. 1t
will soon learn what is expected, and
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