Evening star., 1923-04-12
Shall the Baby See It Through


The best sign of the times is the
Willingness and the eagerness of
most young mothers to nurse their
babies. A few years ago it was not
at all unusual for mothers to shirk
or evade this duty on such f1imsy
grounds as social distractions, busi-
ness responsibilities and even fear OF
physical detriment. Evolution inn
proves the quality of the race. The
reluctant and 60 per cent mothers
raise inferior children. if any: the 100
per cent mothers perpetuate the race.
4 Numerous impediments, obstacles
or accidents may defeat the young
mothers effort to give her baby
square deal; most of these accidents
occur in the first few days or weeks
OF the nursing period. i wish to give
brief suggestions or instructions here
in the prevention of these accidents.
according to the present medical
practice, not my own ideas.
Crack ed or fissured nipples prevent
successful nursing by making the
nursing act too painful and by afford
ing a portal of entrance for bacteria
which produce inflammation or abb
scess of the breast. To prevent this,
it Is the practice of some good physi-
clans to advise daily applications of
this solution to the nipples for a.
month or two before the arrival Of
the baby: Borac acid. tablespoonful;
boiled water. S tablespoonfuls; grain
alcohol. enough to fill a siA-ounce
bottle.
This should be applied with pied
gets of cotton. Perhaps better
plan is that suggested by DR.. }. NJ.
Slemons:
"The nipples are scrubbed for five
minutes, night and morning. with
soap and warm water. Generally a
soft brush, such as complexion
brush, is satisfactory; but If this is
too harsh, at first wash cloth may
be used. After having been thorough
ly scrubbed the nipples are anointed
with lanolin and covered with
small square of clean old linen to
prevent soiling of the clothing"
In some instances retracted or de-
pressed nipples interfere with nurs-
ing. The older way to overcome this
consisted of covering the nipple with
the mouth of a bottle which had been
previously warmed; the cooling of
the bottle drew out the nipple. Prob
ably better method is for the moth
er to seize the nipple between her
thumb and finger tfrst having
alternately pull il out and allow ii
10 retract. practicing this manipula-
1ion night and morning for a few
minutes for several weeks before the
baby's arrival if there is retraction
or depression of the nipple.
II the nipples are cracked or fis-
sured in spite of these precautions.
no medicament should be applied ex-
cept under the physician's direction,
for il is a serious matter Nor should
such appliances as nipple shields.
breast pumps or protectors of any
description ever be used unless by
specific direction of the physician.
There is probably more risk involved
in the use of a pump to empty the
breast than by expression of the milk
by the nurse Or the mother herself
as instructed by the physician.
UmbiIfcal Hernia.
Please tell me what an umbilical
hernia is. What is the cause and is
there any cure except an operation?
Is the operation serious?-Mrs. p.
l.. NJ.
Answer-Hernia is otherwise
known as breach or rupture. and con-
sists Of a bulging or protusion of
some internal structure through a
weak place in its containing wall
Umbilical hernia is such a protru-
sion at the navel, and in some cases