The act of nursing is sometimes painful to the mother, especially better the habit is fully established. The discomfort is greatly increased if the skin that covers the nipples is tender and delicate. The suction pulls it off leaving them in a state in which the necessary pressure of the child's lips cause intense agony. This can be prevented in a great measure, if not entirely, by bathing the nipples twice a day for six weeks before the confinement with powdered alum dissolved in alcohol, or salt dissolved in brandy. If there is any symptom of the skin cracking when the child begins to nurse, they should be painted with a mixture of tannin and glycerin. This must be washed off before the baby touches them and renewed when it leaves them. If they are very painful, the doctor will probably order morphia added to the mixture. A rubber nipple shield to be put on at the time of nursing, is a great relief. If the nipples are retracted or drawn inward, they can be drawn out painlessly by filling a pint bottle with boiling water, emptying it and quickly applying the mouth over the nipple. As the air in bottle colds, it condenses, leaving a vacuum and the nipple is pushed out by the air behind it.
When the milk accumulates in the breast in hard patches, they should be rubbed very gently, from the base upwards with warm camphor-rated oil. The rubbing should be the lightest, most delicate stroking, avoiding pressure. If lumps appear at the base of the breast and it is red swollen and painful, cloths wrung out of cold water should be applied and the doctor sent for. While the breast is full and hard all over, not much apprehension need be felt, it is when lumps appear that the physician should be notified that he may, if possible, prevent the formation of abscesses.
While a woman is nursing she should eat plenty of nourishing food-milk, oatmeal, cracked wheat, and good juicy, fresh meat, boiled roasted, or broiled, but not fried. Between each meal, cocoa, gruel made with milk, good beef tea, mutton broth, or any warm nutritive drink can be taken. But tea and coffee are to be avoided. It is important to keep the digestion in order and the bowels should be carefully regulated as a means to this end. If necessary, any of the laxative mineral waters can be used for this purpose, or a teaspoonful of compound licorice powder, taken at night. Powerful cathartic medicines should be avoided because of their effect upon the baby.

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