(NITS) Feeding a Newborn Lesson

Feeding a Newborn Lesson 

Grow Image Reads: Babies grow about 3 inches every 3 months. Long before he is born, a baby is receiving nutrients from his mother. The mother must prepare her body with proper nutrients and supplements.

The first type of nutrition a newborn receives is milk. This milk can be from the mother or from formula.

 

Breast Milk

The preferred source of milk is breast milk. Breast milk (milk that is produced by a mother of a newborn ad delivered through the breast) is always accessible, maintains a suitable temperature, adapts to the baby's nutritional needs, is inexpensive, and it lowers the risks for certain illnesses and ear infections. One of the main advantages of breast milk is that it contains a certain factor called immunoglobulin A (IgA). This helps to protect against invaders to the baby's delicate immune system. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics (a medical organization that desires optimal physical, mental, and social well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months.

Breast milk is made up of 60% whey protein and 40% casein protein. This is important because whey protein is a more easily digested protein, whereas casein protein takes a little longer. Having this mix of whey and casein helps to balance hunger for the baby. Carbohydrates in milk help to balance the good bacteria in the stomach. There is a high amount of fat in breast milk, which is the main reason doctors encourage mothers to breastfeed. Since an infant's stomach is very small, it needs the most nutrient dense products available. About 50% of the calories in breast milk come from fat.

 

Specifics About Breast Milk

  1. Produced by the mother
  2. Follows colostrum (form of nutrient rich breast milk produced late in pregnancy  that is expelled after the baby is born) which is the first initial fluid
  3. High fat content
  4. Has a higher content of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron, Niacin, and Potassium than formula
  5. Contains protective antibodies from the mother

Breast Milk Preparation and Storage: Breast milk may be refrigerated for 5 days and frozen for up to 6 months. Breast milk must be stored in a sterilized to make free from bacteria or other living organisms) container such as a sterilized breast milk freezer bag or a BPA free bottle.

 

Formula Facts

Advantages

  • Formula fed babies need to eat less often than breastfed babies
  • Other family members can help feed the baby
  • The bottle of formula helps to measure how much they are drinking
  • Mixes easily with water
  • More comfortable for some people in public situations

Not all formulas are the same. There are many different types on the market. Listed below are the 3 different categories of formula available for purchase.

Ready to feed: Premade, no refrigeration required (more expensive).

Concentrate: Liquid that must be mixed with purified water.

Powdered: Mix with purified or filtered water and shake (most popular and least expensive). May be premade and stored for 24 hours in the refrigerator.

Formula requires a bottle as the delivery system. Since parents have to reuse the bottles, it is important to understand how to clean them. Always clean the bottles in warm soapy water and use a bottle brush or something similar to clean hard-to-reach areas and the nipples. Separate all components of the bottle including the nipple and ring. Use a sterilizing method such as a solution, steam, or boiling method. Then, let dry on a clean surface and do not touch until it is needed for a feeding.

 

Types of Formula

  • Whey: Based on the protein found in cow's milk. Most easily digested and most popular.
  • Soy: Vegan choice, good for a baby who does not tolerate cow's milk.
  • Lactose-free: For babies who are lactose intolerant.
  • Extensively Hydrolyzed Formula: Formula for babies with very sensitive digestive systems. Protein is broken down into small pieces so it is more easily digested.
  • Formulas for Premature and Low Birthweight Babies: These formulas contain more calories and fat to help the baby gain weight more quickly.
  • Metabolic Formulas: For babies with special needs or birth defects.

Most formulas have the same basic vitamin, mineral, carbohydrate, fat, and protein profile. However, some companies add designer products like Nucleotides (DNA and RNA), rice starch (easier on the stomach), and amino acids. The FDA regulates the basic requirements of each product and requires testing of each as well.

 

When is a Baby Hungry?

When a baby starts to wake up from a nap, moves his head and face around, and starts to suck on his fingers or hand, the baby is hungry. If the baby starts to cry, this is a later sign of hunger and will indicate the baby's desire to be fed immediately. A good sign that a newborn is getting enough milk is that he or she will have at least six wet diapers a day and at least one bowel movement a day.

Since a newborn's digestive system is not fully developed, he cannot digest any food items. The only food recommended at this stage in a child's life is milk from the mother or from a formula.

 

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