The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-06-01


Labor.
A mother may shield Her baby from
suffering and illness in many ways.
Her wise and loving care is never SO
invaluable as in the first year OF the
baby's life. In this country thousands
of babies under one year of age die
during the summer because mothers
who love them do not know how to
take care of them.
No other one thing a mother can
do for her baby means more to him
than to feed him at her own breast.
Babies who are fed entirely at the
breast usually do not have diarrhea,
unless overfed, but bottle-fed babies
are very likely to have this trouble,
even if their milk is carefully pre-
pared. This is true at all seasons
of the year, but it is especially i'm
portant in summer when the heat and
flies make bottle feeding so danger
ous.
The mother knows that if she gives
her baby the breast she is giving him
l. Pure milk-never sour.
q Fresh milk, made and used as
needed.
B. Milk of the same temperature
| throughout the feeding.
a. And, most important, milk made
especially for and especially adapted
to the needs of the baby.
If she feeds him from a bottle, she
is not sure of any of these things. for
in no way can cows milk be made
as good as breast milk.
A mother can usually nurse her
baby if she has been properly cared
for before the baby's birth and at the
time of birth, and no mother who
wants to give her baby a good start
will consent to deprive him of breast
milk, at least during the first few
months of life.
After the mothers milk comes, U.S.
ually on the third day, the baby may
be nursed every three hours, at 6 and
8 a. M, at 12 noon, and at 3, 6 and
9 p. m, with one feeding during the
night On the four-hour plan the nurs-
ing will came at and 10 a. m, and q
6 and 10 p m. In the intervals she
should give him little water which
has first been boiled and cooled
When the baby is four months old
he should be no longer be nursed al
night, and at six months the mother
should begin to lengthen the time be-
tween feelings a quarter of an hour
each week until the length of time
between musings is four hours. If
the milk is plentiful, the breasts
should be nursed alternately, but II
may be necessary to give both breasts
at one feeding in order to satisfy the
baby. The baby requires no othel
food, save breast milk and drinking
water, until he is eight or nine months
old
In some cases the mother may moi
have enough breast milk to satisfy
the baby. 1t is then necessary to give
one or more bottle feelings day il
addition. Later articles will give di
rections for this kind of feeding, a!
well as for weaving and artificial feed
ing.
The nursing mother should have
plenty of simple nutritious food Sh,
should eat what she likes, provided
her food causes her no indigestion
for if the mother is well the baby will
usually be we'll. But if the mothe
has headaches or gas on the stomach
or bowels, or has coated tongue
she is not properly digesting her food
and she should try to find out what il
causing the trouble.
Fat, greasy and fried foods, such a
dOughnuts. pancakes, baked beans
pies, heavy puddings, and dumplings
and insufliciently cooked cereals. ar
among the, foods that may cause ind
gestion.
Fresh, wellcooked vegetables, goo
soups, bread and butter milk, eggs
meat, fish, poultry, and fruits shoul
form the principal part of the diet O
a nursing mother. All good food
milkmaking food 1t is better to d
without tea or coffee, unless the motf
er has always been accustomed t
them. If so, she should cut down tn
amount to one cup of each drink pc
day. Cocoa may be used in moderat
quantities, but milk, both sweet an
buttermilk, and plenty of cold pur
| watar ara tho hact drinEs for III