Are fruits eaten by the mother likely to injure baby? Sour fruits do in some cases, but sweet fruits and most fruits that are cooked do not, and are useful for the bowels.
Should the mother take special care of herself? Yes, she should lead a simple, natural, happy life, with outdoor exercise, as soon as possible after the confinement. She should make her bowels move daily by food and habit; she should not worry, should sleep plenty and should nap for an hour during the middle of the day.
Will the milk of the mother be affected by nervousness? Yes, more so than by her diet; worry, anxiety, fatigue, loss of sleep, household duties, society functions, have an injurious effect upon the child. Mother's grief, excitement, anger, passion, act upon the child through the milk.
How does the return of the menstruation affect the milk? The quantity is lessened, the infant is not satisfied. Sometimes the quality is affected and the child may suffer from restlessness, colic, and acute indigestion.
Should regular menstruation prohibit nursing? Not always; as a rule both functions do not go together. If the child thrives, it can keep on nursing, although it might be well to feed the infant, at least partly, during the period.
[568 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
How can you determine that the baby is well nourished? Good color, sleep for two hours after nursing, is quiet, good-natured and comfortable when awake; has normal bowel movements, three stools daily and gains gradually in weight.
How can you tell when a baby is poorly nourished? It neither gains nor loses weight; it is listless, tired, indifferent, cross, fretful, irritable and sleeps poorly. It looks pale, anemic, and it becomes soft and flabby. If the milk is scanty, it nurses long; at other times it tries the breast and turns away seemingly disgusted.
What should be done? This depends upon the conditions; should the child gain nothing for three or four weeks or lose weight, immediate weaning may be necessary; at least other food must be given in addition to the breast food. Feeding may be alternated with the breast nursing.
How do the symptoms show when the mother's milk disagrees? The child, is in constant discomfort; it sleeps little, is restless, cries much, gulps up gas, passes it by the bowels, or it accumulates in the bowels causing colic. There may be vomiting, but more often bowel trouble. The bowels may be constipated but usually there is diarrhea—frequent, loose, green, with mucus and gas.