The young wife's advice book : a guide for mothers on health and self-management / by George Black.

  • Black, George, of Edinburgh.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The young wife's advice book : a guide for mothers on health and self-management / by George Black. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    87/168 (page 75)
    NURSING A MOTHER'S DUTY. 76 IV,—NURSING. As this part of maternal management is one of very great importance, and yet one that is but little understood, we would direct our readers to a careful perusal of the few practical hints that may be thrown out in connection with it here, believing that if acted upon they will be the means of conferring lasting benefit upon their offspring, and will tend to maintain their own health strong and vigorous. There are those in our country, however sad the thought may be, who, for the sake of self-gratification, or in order that their own pleasure may not be broken in upon, forego one of the greatest privileges which any right-thinking mother can enjoy, viz., that of suckling her own offspring. Surely no motive of this sort ought for a moment to weigh with the true mother in the dis- charge of what is plainly a part of the sacred duty that devolves upon her. In the performance of the tender office of nurse, the mother engenders those strong feelings of affection and love in her child which are apt to be conspicuous by their absence in the case of those in whom this sacred duty has been foregone. Let it then be understood that we regard it as plainly a part of every mother’s duty to bring up her child at the breast, unless, of course, there are obstacles in the way which prevent her doing so. That the breast was intended by nature to be the fountain of nourishment, for a certain period, of every animal’s existence, cannot be doubted after the most superficial study of the habits of the lower animals ; and while creatures, by nature fierce and cruel, do not forego what instinct tells them to be a part of their duty to their young, shall woman, with her infinitely superior capacities of knowing, act differently? If, however, a woman undertake the duties of nurse, she must not do so to suit her own convenience. The only consideration that ought to weigh with her should be the welfare of her child, and if she enter upon her duties with the notion that she may continue them or give them up just as it may prove convenient to her, or with the intention of only giving her