=Diet.= Throughout the entire nursing period the mother’s diet must be such that it will nourish her and also aid in producing milk which will meet the baby’s needs. His needs are that the daily demands of his growing body shall be supplied and that he shall be given those materials which will build a sound body, with resistance against disease and infection. So important is this matter of nutrition, and the principles upon which it rests, that it is discussed at considerable length in the succeeding chapter. At this point, however, it may be stated briefly that the most valuable article in the nursing mother’s dietary is milk, and that to this should be added eggs and the vegetables which are designated as “leafy,” and fresh fruits, particularly oranges. These foods are rich in the materials which are essential to the baby’s nutrition, good health, and resistance. She should have a generous, simple, nourishing mixed diet, then, consisting largely of milk, eggs, and leafy vegetables. She must steadily guard against indigestion for if her digestion is deranged the baby is almost sure to suffer. Rich and highly seasoned foods must be avoided, as well as alcohol, strong tea and coffee or any articles of food or drink that might upset her. It becomes apparent that although the expectant mother does not have to “eat for two,” the nursing mother does, in certain respects. She should augment the nourishment provided by her three regular meals, by taking a glass of milk, cocoa or some beverage made of milk, during the morning, afternoon and before retiring. The morning and afternoon lunches had better be taken about an hour and a half after breakfast and luncheon, respectively, in order not to impair the appetite for the meals which follow. It is very important that the nursing mother shall take her meals with clock-like regularity and enjoy them, but at the same time she must guard against overeating, for fear of deranging her digestion. She must drink water freely, partly for the sake of promoting intestinal activity. =Bowels.= The nursing mother’s bowels must move freely and regularly every day, but she should not take cathartics nor even enemata without a doctor’s order. She will usually be able to establish the habit of a daily movement by taking exercise, eating bulky fruit and vegetables, drinking an abundance of water and regularly attempting to empty her bowels, every day, preferably immediately after breakfast. =Rest and Exercise.= The nursing mother will not thrive, nor will the baby, unless she has adequate rest and sleep and takes at least a moderate amount of daily exercise in the open air. She should have eight hours sleep, out of the twenty-four, in a room with open windows, and as fatigue has an injurious effect upon the character of the milk, the average mother should lie down for a while every afternoon.