About Breastfeeding
Saturday, December 20th, 2008From the first moment the infant is applied to the breast, it must be
nursed upon a certain plan. This is necessary to the well-doing of the
child, and will contribute essentially to preserve the health of the
parent, who will thus be rendered a good nurse, and her duty at the
same time will become a pleasure.
This implies, however, a
careful attention on the part of the mother to her own health; for that
of her child is essentially dependent upon it. Healthy, nourishing, and
digestible milk can be procured only from a healthy parent; and it is
against common sense to expect that, if a mother impairs her health and
digestion by improper diet, neglect of exercise, and impure air, she
can, nevertheless, provide as wholesome and uncontaminated a fluid for
her child, as if she were diligently attentive to these important
points. Every instance of indisposition in the nurse is liable to
affect the infant.