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Weaning.Another inducement for prolonged nursing is the protection thereby afforded to a greater or less extent against conception.. This hope has induced many a mother to prolong lactation beyond the usual limit. While it is impossible to continue nursing for an indefinite time, yet a variety of considerations indicate that the best period for weaning is usually between the tenth and thirteenth months ; though, as will be presently explained, circumstances may require a certain departure from this rule. The first consideration must be the health of the child and of the mother. Now, as a rule, the infant begins to take other food than the breast as early as the seventh or eighth month, and usually becomes largely independent of the mother by the tenth or twelfth month. By this time, too, the quality of the milk has usually deteriorated, so that even though nursing be continued the mother's milk furnishes but a part - usually a small part - of the infant's nourishment; at the same time the mother's health is often unequal to the task of furnishing so much nutriment in addition to that required for her own body. By the end of the first year, therefore, the child is usually abundantly able to digest its own food, while the mother should be relieved from the additional and no longer essential burden ; and since there occurs during the last two months of this time, an interval of complete freedom from the annoyance of teething, it will be, as a rule, found advisable to wean the child during the eleventh or twelfth month of its life. Yet this is a by no means inviolable rule ; indeed, there are circumstances under which a prolongation of nursing is advisable in the interest of the child. It may be stated, as a general principle, that the child should not be weaned while some of its teeth are cutting through, nor just before the hot weather of summer. If, therefore, an infant be an exception,, in that these months of the first year are employed in teething ; or if the child have been born in the early summer it will be advisable, as a rule, to postpone weaning until the objectionable circumstances be removed. So, too, it is necessary to postpone weaning until any ailment which may happen to affect the child - even if only an ordinary catarrh-shall subside. If, in consequence of inability on the part of the mother, it become necessary to wean the child during any such circumstances, it may be desirable to procure a wet-nurse. As to the process of weaning, but little need be said, except that it should be gradual; that an interference with the child's health is far less probable by this plan than if nursing be suddenly discontinued. By withholding the breast altogether at night, and by substituting artificial food on certain occasions during the day, the infant may be accustomed to the new regime without appreciable inconvenience or bodily disturbance. If weaning be postponed until the end of the first year the mother will rarely have any difficulty with the breasts. The gradual decrease in the demand upon them will usually be accompanied by a corresponding decrease in their activity. The breast-pump should not be used ; it will rarely be necessary to adopt any other measures than simple friction with camphorated or sweet oil. 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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