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Subject:
From:
Sherwood <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 3 Apr 1996 22:52:42 +0800
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This is my fourth instalment from "The Care and Feeding of Children" by L.
Emmet Holt M.D. (1917 edition)


"What symptoms indicate that the mother's milk disagrees with the child?
This should be carefully distinguished from the more common condition of
hunger due to scanty milk.  If the milk disagrees, the child suffers from
almost constant discomfort; sleeps little and then restlessly, cries a great
deal, belches gas from the stomach, and passes much from the bowels, or if
not passed, the gas accumulates and causes abdominal distention and colicky
pain.  There may be vomiting, but more often the trouble is intestinal.
Sometimes the bowels are constipated, but usually the movements are
frequent, loose, green, contain mucus and are passed with much gas.

What should be done under these circumstances?
If the symptoms have persisted for two or three weeks and the child is not
gaining weight, there is little chance of improvement, and the child should
be taken away from the breast at once.  If there is some gain in weight, one
may try for a little longer, endevoring to improve the mother's milk by
rest, fresh air, careful diet, etc.  However, one should realize that the
trouble is nearly always with the milk, not the child.

What changes should be made if a nursing infant habitualy vomits?
If this occurs soon after nursing, the infant has usually taken too much;
the time of nursing should be sgortened or only one breast given.  Nursing
should be interupted, and the child placed upright to enable him to get rid
of the gas in the stomach.  If the vomiting occurs some time after nursing
and is repeated, it is a sign of indigestion; often the milk is too rich in
fat.  The intervals between nursings should be lengthened to three and a
half or even four hours; the breast milk may be diluted by giving one or two
tablespoonfuls of plain boiled water, or barley-water, five or ten minutes
before nursing; the mother should eat less hearty food, especially less
meat.  If the child is thriving and gaining regularly in weight the vomiting
will in most cases gradually improve with the changes in the regime
mentioned; but if the child is losing weight weaning is usually advisable"
*******************************************

There is a lot more in this book on breastfeeding and feeding infants.  I
could keep on sending in these postings but am not sure if anyone else finds
them as interesting as I do.  So, we may be seeing part #5 tomorow if there
is enough interest.  Otherwise, I will take a break.
Nancy Sherwood LLL, IBCLC- Perth, Australia

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