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Lactation.Milk fever is especially apt to occur if there have been some neglect in putting the child to the breast during the first two days after delivery, or if the child have refused to nurse. In some cases, too, milk fever may occur even though the babe has nursed properly, simply because of the profuse secretion of the milk - more than the child has been able to absorb. In such cases relief may be obtained by the gentle application of the breast pump two or three times a day, and by gentle friction of the breasts with sweet oil; the motion of the hand should be from the base of the organ toward the nipple. Friction may be especially directed to any knots or lumps which may be felt in the breast, and which are at first merely accumulations of milk in the tubes, but which subsequently may give rise to inflammation and abscess. Another important measure is the application of cooling lotions to the breast, either simple cold water, or perhaps a thin layer of pounded ice enclosed in a cloth. At times the weight of the breast occasions considerable pain, which can be relieved by simply suspending the organ in a handkerchief tied around the neck. Nurses are in the habit of attempting to relieve this swollen condition of the breast by frequent applications of the child. This measure is open to certain objections on the part of both mother and infant; since the effect of the child's nursing is not simply to empty the breasts, but also to stimulate them to an increased secretion of milk, it is obvious that such a course may defeat its own object by increasing rather than diminishing the quantity of milk constantly present in the distended breast; furthermore, such frequency of nursing pro motes the formation of fissures and abrasions of the nipple. The fluid secreted by the breast during the first two days, technically called colustrum, acts as a laxative upon the child's bowels and prepares the way for the digestion of the milk. While it is desirable that the child should imbibe this fluid, yet the two frequent presence of colustrum in the child's intestines may easily induce a state of irritation unfavorable for the digestion of the milk. The result is often vomiting and diarrhea in the infant, when it will be apparent that it is nursing too frequently. It occasionally happens that a woman will accustom herself from the very first to give but one breast to the child, because perhaps the other nipple is somewhat tender. It is evident that this tends directly to promote the accumulation of milk and subsequent trouble in this breast. It is desirable, therefore, that the child should be applied on every occasion to both breasts. It is much better to partially empty both than to leave one untouched. It sometimes occurs also, in cases where the secretion of milk is quite abundant, or the demands of the child are less than usual, that there is a more or less constant escape of milk during the intervals between nursing. Thus a certain amount of loss is of frequent occurrence especially during the early period of nursing, yet it is a thing to be avoided if possible, not only because of the discomfort which results from the constant moisture of the breasts and clothing, but also because soreness and fissures of the nipple are thus promoted. This condition of things would occur less frequently if the child's nursing were regulated from the very beginning-if it were permitted to suckle only at intervals of two hours, and were applied on each occasion to both breasts. When this condition has been once established, this same regulation as to nursing is perhaps the most important feature in the treatment. In addition, one may use the cooling lotion if the overflow of the breasts evidently results from excessive secretion. There are cases, however, which resist all efforts at control. In such instances, the application of the child to the breast often causes a severe neuralgic pain which is often fol lowed by a contraction of the breast, causing the milk to spurt in jets from the nipple. Indeed, at times, the sympathy between the breasts is so intimate, that the application of the infant to one nipple is followed by a spurting of milk from the other. This condition sometimes yields to treatment, but, in exceptional instances, causes such trouble that the woman is compelled to wean her child. Attention should be called to one point in connection with the excessive secretion of milk, namely : that this fluid may be abundant in quantity and yet deficient in quality. Hence it does not follow because the mother has abundance of milk, that the child is necessarily well nourished ; there may be either an absence of the nutritious elements of the milk - which is watery, therefore - or there may be present certain constituents which are injurious to the child. The infant may, therefore, starve or be poisoned, even though supplied with an abundance of mother's milk. The existence of such conditions must, of course, be detected by the condition of the child ; derangements of its digestion sometimes demand weaning, even though the mother have an abundance of milk. In such cases medical advice should be sought ; it will sometimes be found possible to restore a healthful condition of the milk by regulating the diet and habits of the mother. Sometimes the fault will be found to be an undue richness of the milk - a condition which often occurs when the breasts are over stimulated by too frequent application of the child. The result of such condition is marked derangement of the child's stomach and bowels. In such cases suspicion is rarely directed to the milk, because the general appearance and health of the mother, as well as the quantity of milk furnished, seem entirely satisfactory. In this condition medicines are of no avail; the remedy is usually to be found in carefully regulating the diet of the mother, by causing her to avoid stimulants and overfeeding, to which she often becomes addicted by the advice of the nurse; for while admitting the value of malt liquors and wines under given conditions of the nursing woman, yet there seems to be a general impression that such beverages should constitute an essential part of the mother's diet. It would be better, of course, in every instance, to take liquors only by the advice of the medical attendant; yet in every case in which the child exhibits disturbances of digestion without apparent cause, it is advisable for the mother to restrict very materially her indulgence in ales or wines. Another complication of lactation, more frequent and more evident than the former, is the failure of the mother to secrete a proper amount of milk. The greatest diversities are encountered in this particular ; while it is true as a rule that the healthiest and most robust women furnish the most satisfactory nourishment for their offspring, yet no prediction can be made upon this basis alone. It may be stated in general, that the failure to nurse properly is found more common among those accustomed to indolent and luxurious lives-is, therefore, most frequently observed in cities ; nor is it certain that the ability to nurse the child will persist throughout the usual time. Among the causes which may arrest the secretion are the various acute diseases, especially those which supervene immediately upon delivery. In such cases the secretion of milk is often resumed after recovery from the disease, though sometimes the quality is so changed as to make the milk unfit for the child. In other cases again the secretion is not established at the usual time, and when it does appear, is present in insufficient quantity. In such cases artificial feeding must, of course, be employed. Though even then it is desirable, for the sake of both mother and infant, that the child should have whatever the mother can furnish, provided, of course, the quality be unobjectionable. But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy! Also, please consider sharing our helpful website with your online friends.
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