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The Care of Babies: Exercise

Exercise. Exercise in the open air in the form of walks should be taken throughout the entire course of pregnancy. Violent exercise in any form should be prohibited. Unnecessary stair climbing must be avoided in the latter months. The sewing machine must not be used towards the end. Should labor be threatened before the proper time, go to bed at once and remain perfectly quiet until the danger is well passed.

Care of the Breasts. - Small, flattened or depressed nipples should be drawn out with the forefinger and thumb and held for five minutes night and morning during the two months before the baby is born. The nipples should also be carefully anointed each night with white vaseline. This will soften and remove the milky substance which is secreted at this time, and which may otherwise form hard crusts, and ulcerate the soft tissues beneath. Wash the nipples every day with castile soap and water and put boracic acid solution on them, a heaping tablespoonful to the pint of water. Or better, use warm water, two-thirds, and alcohol, one-third. Proper attention to the care of the nipples will make nursing a pleasure and satisfaction, instead of a pain and discomfort.

After the baby comes, always wash the nipples carefully both before and after nursing, in pure, cold water containing a teaspoonful of baking soda to each pint of water. This will prevent them from becoming tender.

Food for the Baby. -No food is as good for a baby as its mother's milk.

This is why so many more bottle babies are sick and die than breast babies. One or two feedings a day from the breast are a great deal better than none at all. Hence keep the body well nourished before the birth of the baby in order to secure THE CARE OF BABIES a good supply of milk. Exercise, freedom from excessive worry and massage of the breast and nipples before the child is born will, in nearly every instance, insure the child being nursed. Every mother should expect and plan to nurse her child.

Diet. The diet should be carefully regulated, but abundant. A full, wholesome and liberal diet is essential. What to eat, however, will depend largely on individual tastes and habits, as food which agrees with one will not agree with another.

Highly seasoned or very rich food should be avoided as well as fatty foods and coarse vegetables.

The following dietary is recommended during pregnancy and nursing: Soup-Any kind.

Fish-Fresh fish, of any kind, boiled or broiled. Raw oysters and raw clams.

Meats-Chicken, beef, ham or bacon, veal, lamb, tender lean mutton. Red meat in moderation but only once a day.

Cereals-Hominy, oatmeal, farina, cream of wheat, rice mush, shredded wheat biscuits, etc.

Breads-Stale bread, corn bread, Graham bread, rye bread, brown bread, toast, crackers.

Vegetables-Potatoes, onions, spinach, cauliflower, asparagus, green corn, green peas, beans, lettuce or other salads, with oil.

Desserts-Plain puddings, custard, junket, ripe raw fruits, stewed fruits, ice cream. No pastry.

Drinks-Tea and coffee very sparingly, never more than one cup a day. No alcoholic beverages, beer, or liquors. At least two quarts of water a day. Milk, buttermilk, cocoa, malted milk.

At least one satisfactory movement of the bowels should take place daily; if there is any difficulty about this, consult the doctor. But observe that strong medicines must not be used to open the bowels. Costiveness can be avoided by sufficient exercise and suitable food as brown bread, stewed vegetables, fruit and abundance of water.