Assignment Title : Infant Feeding.

P1

1. (i) In the case of a breast feeding mother, describe :

         (a) the preparations needed :

Though breastfeeding is natural, technique is a learned skill. It is important to get started correctly, even before the baby is born. The mother needs to know well in advance how to identify and avoid possible problems, and where to turn if difficulties do arise. Many breastfeeding problems may occur when mothers establish their nursing patterns. With proper and prompt attention, the majority of these problems disappear as quickly as they develop.

Education about the benefits and practice of breastfeeding are keys to optimal preparation. The local hospital may offer breastfeeding classes as part of the childbirth class, or mothers can join other breastfeeding support groups. These classes can put mothers in touch with a lactation specialist who may later be their personal breastfeeding consultant. These classes can also help mums to learn proper positioning and latch-on techniques. Mothers have to plan to learn as much as they can about breastfeeding. Mothers will be making an important investment in their baby's continued good health. An abundance of valuable reference material is available to help mums to get started.

No specific physical preparation is necessary for optimal breastfeeding. General good health measures and adequate hydration are helpful measures. Most doctors recommend continuing basic prenatal vitamins while breastfeeding.

As with any skill, the keys to successful breastfeeding are practice and patience. Mothers have to learn all they can and then surround themselves with people who will offer them the encouragement they need, be easy on themselves, relax and enjoy this special and wondrous experience.

         

       (b) the process :

With your free hand, you have to put your thumb on top of your breast and your other fingers below. Don't touch your areola (the dark skin around your nipple). This is where your baby's lips will be.

Then touch the baby's lips with your nipple until your baby opens his or her mouth very wide. Put your nipple all the way in your baby's mouth and pull your baby's body close to you. This lets your baby's jaw squeeze the milk ducts under your areola.

When your baby is "latched on" the right way, both lips should pout out (not be pulled in over his or her gums) and cover nearly all of the areola. Instead of smacking noises, your baby will make low-pitched swallowing noises. Your baby's jaw may move back and forth. If you feel pain while your baby is nursing, he or she is probably not latched on correctly.

Your baby's nose may be touching your breast during nursing. Babies' noses are designed to allow air to get in and out in just such a case. But if you're concerned that your baby can't breathe easily, you can gently press down on your breast near your baby's nose to give him or her more room to breathe.

You can hold your baby in a number of ways. Your baby shouldn't have to turn his or her head or strain his or her neck to nurse.

In the cradle position, you put your baby's head in the crook of your arm. Support your baby's back and bottom with your arm and hand. Your baby will be lying sideways facing you. Your breast should be right in front of your baby's face.

The football position consists of tucking your baby under your arm like a football with his or her head resting on your hand. Support your baby's body with your forearm. This may be a good position if you're recovering from a cesarean section or if your baby is very small.

You can also lie on your side with your baby facing you. You can use pillows to prop up your head and shoulders. This is also a good position if you're recovering from a cesarean section or an episiotomy.

         (c) the timing :

Mothers have to feed their baby as often as he or she wants to be fed. This may be 8 to 12 times a day or more. How often the baby wants to feed may change over time as he or she goes through growth spurts. Growth spurts occur at about 2 and 6 weeks of age and again at about 3 and 6 months of age.

The baby should be let to nurse until he or she is satisfied. This may be for about 15 to 20 minutes at each breast. Mothers have to try to have their baby nurse from both breasts at each feeding.

       

 (d) the constituents of breast milk :

Breast milk is the ideal food for infants. Each mammalian species provides unique milk for its offspring, and milk from the human breast is no exception. It is a living fluid, rich in vitamins, minerals, fat, proteins (including immunoglobulins/antibodies), carbohydrates (especially lactose), enzymes, cellular components including macrophages and lymphocytes, as well as many other constituents that offer ideal support for the growth and maturation of the human infant.

The uniqueness of human milk to support the growth and development of infants should not be underestimated. Scientists continue to identify new components and to clarify the purposes of known components. More than 200 constituents of milk have been identified.

Even as complementary foods are added after five to six months, breast milk continues to make an important nutritional contribution. Amazingly, as the infant grows and develops, the properties of the breast milk change. The sequence of colostrum, transitional milk and mature milk meet the changing nutritional needs of the newborn and infant. In addition, some of the constituent properties in the milk are different from one time of the day to another, and change over the months of the infant breastfeeding experience. Thus, the milk of a mother of a 9 month old has differences in concentrations of fat, protein and carbohydrate as well as physical properties such as pH compared with the milk of the mother of a 1 month old.

         (e) the importance of maternal diet :

The best diet for a breastfeeding woman is well-balanced and has plenty of calcium. This means mothers should eat fruits and vegetables, whole-grain cereals and breads, meats or beans, and milk and dairy foods like cheese. Mothers will need to get enough calories--about 500 more per day than usual, and will need to drink more fluids.

A balanced diet that includes 5 servings of milk or dairy products each day will give mums enough calcium. If mothers do not eat meat or dairy products, they can get the calcium they need from broccoli, sesame seeds, tofu and kale. Mothers should also talk to their doctor about taking extra calcium if they do not think they are getting enough from their diet.

If mothers think a food they are eating bothers their baby, they should quit eating it. Caffeine and alcohol can also get into mum’s milk, so mothers should limit how much they drink. Even drugs mothers can buy without a prescription can also get into their milk. So breast feeding mothers should not take anything without talking to their doctor first. Also, if mothers smoke, nursing is another good reason to try to quit. Smoking can cause mothers to make less milk and the chemicals in cigarettes and smoke can get into the milk.

         (f) the advantages of breast feeding :

Breastfeeding has many advantages. Perhaps most important, breast milk is the perfect food for a human baby's digestive system. It contains the vitamins and minerals that a newborn requires, and all of its components — lactose, protein (whey and casein), and fat — are easily digested by a newborn's immature system. Commercial formulas try to imitate breast milk, and come close, but the exact composition cannot be duplicated.

Also, breast milk contains antibodies that help protect infants from a wide variety of infectious diseases, including diarrhea. Studies suggest that breastfed babies are less likely to develop certain medical problems, including diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma, and allergies. Breastfeeding may also decrease the chances that the child will become overweight or obese.

Breastfeeding is great for moms, too. It burns calories and helps shrink the uterus, so nursing moms get back into shape quicker. Breastfeeding may also protect mom from breast and ovarian cancer.

Some moms find breastfeeding easier and quicker than formula-feeding; it needs no preparation, and you don't run out of breast milk in the middle of the night. Also, breastfeeding costs little. Nursing mothers do need to eat more and may want to buy nursing bras and pads, a breast pump, or other equipment. But these expenses are generally less than the cost of formula.

Breastfeeding meets a variety of emotional needs for both moms and babies — the skin-to-skin contact can enhance the emotional connection, and providing complete nourishment can help a new mother feel confident in her ability to care for her newborn.

       

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(g) the disadvantages of breast feeding :

The only disadvantages for the baby in breastfeeding occur when things are not going well, for example, if there's an inadequate supply of breast milk or an inefficient suck reflex in the baby. However, it is unusual for a mother not to produce enough milk for her baby unless she is not breastfeeding correctly or frequently enough. The disadvantages that most commonly arise involve the rest of the family. Siblings and dad often feel "left out" of baby care since mom is the only one who can do the nursing. However, other family ...

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