Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-03
Health Talks by DR.. Brady
IT'S Al,.ny. second SUNNI.

'My baby is now almost seven months old
announces an amateur mother. and / would
arrrecia to your advice about weaving her
friend OF mino who has raised three children
tells me 1t Is most important to continue nurs
ing babies through their second summer -
The ubiquitous Mrs. Camp ngain.
Mothers who can nurse babies through n
second summer with advantage to tho babies
rs we'll as themselves arc ,scarccr than hens
teeth. and babies that are started we'll a!ong
the road to ricketts, by vain efforts to accom-
plish this stupendous feat OF ground and
lofty nursing are still too frequently en-
countered In clinics and Infant welfare sta-
tons.
The whole second summer" obsession is
founded. lack OF knowledge and n fertile
Imagination. An infant under any conditions or
circumstances Is of course. less likely to sucer
in health tho second summer than earlier. for
the simple reason that the child's natural
resistance increases with growth and ago.
Attempting to stretch tho nursing period
through the second summer Is much like walt
Ing for the right kind OF weather or the right
season to have your tonsls out Some people
make UP their minds to follow tho Doctors
advice about removal of tho tonsils. but they
walt till tho unsettled spring weather is gone.
Then when nice weather comes they decide
to wait till the heat OF summer Is ovor. When
summer Is over they settle down to walt until
cold weather Is gone and before spring rolls
AROUND again tncS re lald UP WIN the rheuma-
tism or heart trouble or appendicitis or some
thing. contributed with the compliments OF the
streptococci In the tonsils.
About the age of 10 months. the average
baby should be weaned. The season or weather
should mako difference, and tho phase OF
the moon Is as immaterial It was In tho
institution of the nursing function In fact
the nursing weaving OF baby does not
call for session OF the neighborhood man
ayers at all.
Teach tho baby from tho fourth month to
take water from a cup. Then It will be easy
feeding the first day OF weaving. and two
cup feeding for two breast feeding the second
day. and so on until weaving Is complete In
a week or ten days.
Here Is the danger point. Well meaning
but unwise. friends arc likely to intrude with
their dangerous advice. But the wise mother
will neither hear nor heed such advice She
will not rub or apply anything. nor use q
breast pump. nor again put the baby to the
breast. Nature institutes lactation without
any assistance guidance and nature will
stop the process without any trouble an.
noyance II not interfered with. Once the
final nursing has been finished. a comfortable
supporting bandage or brazzier should be APP
piled and worn for few days. and from
this time onward the breasts should be lei
severely alone. Unntelligent handling OF
manipulation of any kind only prolongs iacta
ton. II tho mother feels she must have rom,
Treatment" let her take hottie or two Of
magnesium citrate solution or dose or two
OF plain salts.
5Iost :"crs some nurses, and even a few
doctors r"' yet to learn the wisdom Of no
Interfering with nature.