Must Be Guided By Experience.—The only precaution the mother need take is that if she finds some article of diet disagrees with her, or if she knows a certain article always causes pain or discomfort in the child, then these should be avoided.
It is true that certain medicines, especially purgatives, may be taken by the mother which will affect the child very quickly. Here the same rule should be the guide as should always govern one, namely, no article of diet should be used which is known to disturb the digestion.
Insufficient Supply of Milk.—When a mother knows that the chances of her child's life are greatly increased if it has its natural food, she will certainly make unusual efforts to supply all the food necessary.
Mothers are too likely to think that an increase in the quantity of the milk answers every purpose; but this is of no use unless the quality is increased as well. The free use of soups and some malt extracts may increase the quantity, but this does the child no good. It too much resembles the example of the milk-man who uses the well-pump to increase his supply of milk.
How Increased.—However, the supply of milk can easily be increased in quantity and correspondingly improved in quality if the mother will drink freely of cow's milk, and use other substantial foods at the same time. If the milk is constipating, or rests heavy on the stomach, then a little lime water may be added to it in the proportion of one or two tablespoonfuls to a glass of milk. Regular exercise in the open air is also necessary in order that the general health may be kept in the best possible condition.
Anger May Poison Milk.—It is a fact that if the child nurses after the mother has had a severe fright, or has become violently angry, the milk will sometimes act as an intense poison. In such cases the mother had better empty the breasts with a breast-pump, and not nurse the child for ten or twelve hours afterward, substituting some artificially prepared food.
Extra Supply of Milk.—Sometimes the secretion of milk is so great that even a strong child cannot take it all. This produces a distention of the breasts, causing what is known as "caked breasts," or "milk cake." This should be promptly attended to, as there is great danger of an abscess forming.
To Prevent Caked Breasts.—The way to relieve this condition is to gently but firmly rub the breasts with warm sweet-oil, continuing this for fifteen or twenty minutes at a time. An occasional use of the breast-pump is necessary also.
How to Diminish Supply.—When weaning-time comes, the question arises how the secretion of milk may be diminished. This is best done by having the mother take as little liquid as possible, whether of water, tea, milk, soup, or anything of this kind. She should also take a gentle laxative each day, as a little Hunyadi Water, or laxative mineral water of any kind.
Then support the breasts by passing a broad band beneath them, and carrying it over the shoulders, compressing the breasts slightly, but not too greatly.