Describe the key principles of breast and bottle feeding

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Unit 11 Task 1 (P1)

P1 – Describe the key principles of breast and bottle feeding

Some mothers decide to breastfeed because it is known that breast milk is known to be the best type of milk for babies to receive as it changes to meet their nutritional needs. In the first 2-3 days of breastfeeding colostrum is produced which contains antibodies to protect the baby from infection and high levels of protein to promote growth then on the following days the amount of colostrum reduces and the milk starts to come in. Most babies take the milk directly from the mother’s breasts, although it can be expressed and put into bottles. Expressed milk is often used for premature babies who aren’t strong enough to suckle, and also used for other members of family to feed the baby.

The main advantages of breast feeding are:

  • The milk doesn’t have to be warmed or prepared. The milk is always at the right temperature.
  • Breast-feeding is free.
  • The milk changes to meet the baby’s needs.
  • Breast milk is easier digested with colostrum which provides antibodies and high level of protein.
  • Since there is close physical contact between the baby and mother during breastfeeding an emotional bond develops between them.
  • Breastfeeding helps the mother’s uterus contract and get her back into her usual shape.
  • Breastfeeding is less likely to result in an overweight baby.
  • Breastfeeding also helps delay or avoid eczema.
  • Breastfeeding also delays the return of the mother’s period.

The benefits of breast feeding for a mother are:

  • Breast feeding reduces the risk of breast cancer. Women who breastfeed reduce their risk of developing breast cancer by as much as 25 per cent. The reduction in cancer risk comes in proportion to the increasing lifetime duration of breastfeeding. That is, the more months or years a mother breastfeeds, the lower her risk of breast cancer.
  • Breast feeding reduces the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer. One of the reasons for the cancer-fighting effects of breastfeeding is that oestrogen levels are lower during lactation. It is thought that the less oestrogen available to stimulate the lining of the uterus and perhaps breast tissue also, the less the risk of these tissues becoming cancerous.
  • Breastfeeding lessens osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a medical condition in which the bones become brittle and fragile from loss of tissue, typically as a result of hormonal changes, or deficiency of calcium or vitamin D. Non-breastfeeding women have a four times greater chance of developing osteoporosis than breastfeeding women and are more likely to suffer from hip fractures in the post-menopausal years.
  • Breast feeding also benefits child spacing. Since breastfeeding delays ovulation, the longer a mother breastfeeds the more she is able to practice natural child spacing, if she desires. How long a woman remains infertile depends on her baby's nursing pattern and her own individual baby.
  • Breastfeeding promotes emotional health. Not only is breastfeeding good for the mother's body, it's good for her mind. Studies show that breastfeeding mothers show less postpartum anxiety and depression than do formula-feeding mothers.
  • Breast feeding helps with weight loss. Breastfeeding mothers tend to have an earlier return to their pre-pregnant weight.
  • It cost less for a mother to breast feed.
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While there are a lot of good and healthy advantages towards breastfeeding, there are also some disadvantages that might put some mothers off breastfeeding such as:

  • It is difficult to measure the volume of milk the baby has consumed.
  • No one else can feed the baby, unless it’s expressed milk which then means the father can also have a bond too.
  • Breastfeeding can be known to be painful, messy and tiring.
  • Breastfeeding can be difficult to establish without the right support and information.
  • Breast-fed babies wake more often during the night to feed.
  • It is harder for breastfeeding mothers ...

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Star rating 3 This essay is for unit 11 ? Diet and Nutrition for Children of the BTEC Level 3 Children's Care, Learning and Development course. A description is required of the principles of breast feeding and bottle feeding. One of the core textbooks for the course alongside use of the internet have been used to complete this essay without any referencing or a bibliography being present; this means that some sections of the work are not acceptable for assessment. Advantages and disadvantages of both breast feeding and bottle feeding have been considered and these appear to be a focus of the work. Nevertheless, the majority of the content provided meets the requirements of the unit content but to ensure these are met I would suggest that students tick off the specification requirements as and when they are included in the content, as not all areas are covered sufficiently within this work. For example, the use of bottles and teats are not covered as a principle for bottle feeding.