=Breast Feeding.= From all standpoints, maternal nursing, under normal conditions, is the most satisfactory method of nourishing a baby. If the breast milk is suitable it meets all of the baby’s requirements and the proportion and character of its constituents are exactly suited to his digestive powers. In order for maternal nursing to be entirely satisfactory, the condition of both mother and baby must be favorable. The preparation and care of the mother have been described: her general condition and state of nutrition; the care and condition of her nipples, flat or retracted nipples being· brought out if possible, and if not, the nursing facilitated by the use of a shield. As to the baby, if his diaper is wet or soiled, it should be changed before he is put to the breast, partly to make him comfortable and partly to avoid disturbing him for this after his feeding; and his mouth is gently swabbed with boric-soaked cotton, if your doctor so orders.[2] Footnote 2: Boracic acid solution is made by adding one teaspoonful of the crystals to one cup (half-pint) of boiling water. Although nursing is an instinct, the baby may have to learn how to nurse or to acquire the habit, this being one reason for putting him to the breast during those first two or three days when he obtains little or no actual food, as was explained in Chapter IX. As he expresses the milk by squeezing and suction made possible only when the nipple is well back in his mouth, he must take into his mouth practically the entire colored area which surrounds the nipple. To do this he lies in the curve of his mother’s arm as she turns slightly to one side, and holds her breast away from his nostrils in order that he may breathe freely. Sometimes, even when other conditions are favorable, the baby is unable to nurse because of some physical disability. He may be too feeble, may have a cleft palate or find suckling painful because of an injury to the mucous membrane which occurred when his mouth was wiped out just after birth. The manner in which the baby nurses, therefore, may be significant and should be described to the doctor if there is any difficulty. When the baby has finished nursing he should be taken up very gently, held upright against the shoulder for a moment or two, to help him bring up gas if he has any, and then placed in his crib and left to sleep. If he is nursing satisfactorily, he will be sleepy and contented afterwards and will sleep for two or three hours; he will seem generally good-humored and comfortable while awake; he will have good color; gain weight steadily and have two or three normal bowel movements daily. The normal stool in breast-fed babies is bright yellow, smooth and has no evidences of undigested food.