The infant : a handbook of modern treatment / by Eric Pritchard.

  • Pritchard, Eric, 1864-1943.
Date:
1938
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The infant : a handbook of modern treatment / by Eric Pritchard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    41/774 (page 23)
    (i) Diet. The diet should be ample, but not excessive. It should contain a good representation of all the vitamins and mineral elements. Stout or other alcoholic beverages are not specially indicated, unless the mother has been in the habit of taking them, in which case their omission is felt, and is a mistake. Large quantities of milk or other fluids are not advised. (ii) Mechanical Stimulation of the Breasts. Manual expression by the nurse or mother, combined with the use of the breast pump, if skilfully applied, is by far the most reliable means of increasing the supply. Milk expressed by these means should be given by bottle or spoon to complement deficiencies in the feeds obtained by the infant’s own efforts. (Hi) Drugs. There is no such thing as a reliable galactagogue, but yeast and other preparations containing vitamin B, may be given in addition to the ordinary food. (iv) The Psychological Factor is of Importance. The mother should be encouraged in every way, and made to believe in her capacity to nurse satisfactorily. (a) Emptying of the Breasts. The breasts should be completely emptied at each feed, if not by the infant, then by manual expression. (vi) Hygiene. All the ordinary hygienic details of a normal healthy life, such as moderate exercise and plenty of fresh air, should be provided. 3. Excessive Supply of Milk. Many an infant is overfed to its own destruction by an excessive secretion of milk. The comforting assurance that Nature co¬ ordinates the supply to the requirements is a very fallacious guide for conducting breast feeding, as also is reliance on the safeguards which the infant possesses in its own protective reflexes of appetite, overflow and vomiting. The “ test feed ” will at once show whether an infant is overfed or not, but short of this invaluable proof the following evidences in the mother and child will help to clear up the doubt. Evidences in the Mother. 1. Overflow day or night : ease of manual expression : de¬ creased size of breasts after feed. 2. The presence of the “ draft ” during feeds (see page 22). Evidences in the Infant. 1. Excessive increase in weight. 2. Short duration of feed. 3. Copious overflow or vomiting after feeds. 4. Excessive secretion of urine.