THE FEEDING OF MOTHERS IN CONFINEMENT

Abstract

HAVING done obstetrical nursing for the greater part of ten years, I wish to give helpful suggestions out of my own experience to those who are interested in this line of work. Each nurse must be guided by the wishes of the physician in charge as to the general diet of her patient. NVhen left to her own judgment, she should reject many artieles which are best avoided by the nursing mother, as they may give her indigestion and consequently cause colic in the baby. A woman in bed and inactive cannot digest the same food that one can who is up and esercising; therefore I advise abstainillg from hot breads, fresh bread less than two days old, fried foods, pastry, and cake. All these are gas-producing foods, and while some patients may crave them, they will not produce strength. It has also been my experiellce that charged drinks, such as Vichy, Seltzer, apollinaris, and ginger ale, produee gas and are bad alike for mother and baby. I would urge nurses to persuade nursing mothers to avoid tea and Many a mother will say, I cannot live without mv cup o£ tea or coffee. CoSee never increases the supply of milk, its tendency being to dry the secretions. A7Thile tea may increase the quantity, it has a tendencyn as well as coffee, to lllake the baby very nervous. Hot milk and weak cocoa are good substitutes, and you will find that the patient can soon be satisfied with these. AIothers are usually both willing and ansious to do whatever will help them to be stronger and more capable of caring for their babies. If you convince them that this self-denial will tend to make the baby well and strong and give him a good start in life, few mothers are so selfish and headstrong as to disregard your advice. The first two days push the liquids, so as to encourage the secretion of the breasts. Wirst Day. Give milk, beef-tea, or chicken-broth, clam-broth, crackers, or toast at intervals of from three to four hours. Second Day. Breakfast of cereal with plenty of cream, toast and hot milk; ten-thirty A.3f., CUP of beef-tea or broth; one P.AI., luncheon of poached egg on toast and soft custard; four P.M., glass of milk; six-thirty P.AI., supper, creamed oyster soup aIld crackers; ten P.M., glass of milk. Third Day.Cut down a little on fluids, else the breasts will become over-distended. Breakfast? cereal with cream, soft-boiled egg, toast, and