Breastfeeding and formula feeding module Flashcards
What are the treatment benefits for breast fed infants?
Reduced risk of resp, GI and ear infections
Higher IQ scores
Reduced malabsorption and reduced risk of infant death
Effects on obesity
What are the treatment benefits for women who breast feed?
Reduced risk of breast cancer and better birth spacing
Reduced risk of ovarian cancer
Reduced risk of T2DM
Are vitamin D supplements recommended for breast feeding women?
Yes;
All pregnant and breastfeeding women should take 10 micrograms a day
All babies under 1 year should have a daily supplement from 8.5 to 10 micrograms a day from birth
Are women with HIV recommended to breast feed?
Currently no to reduce any potential risk of transmission of HIV to the baby
How can vertical HIV transmission be reduced?
HAART for mother and baby
Birth by c/s
Avoidance of breastfeeding
What advice should be given if a women with HIV chooses to breastfeed?
Advised to breastfeed exclusively and stay on medication to keep viral load undetectable
When will babies tend to feed most?
Evening
Is feeding regular in the first 48 hours?
No; feeding is infrequent, but around the 3rd day as milk supply increases and changes from colostrum to more mature milk, frequency increases
What is the range of feeding in infants?
From 6 to 15 feeds in 24 hours
Does breast size determine the quantity of breast milk produced?
No; during pregnancy the glandular tissue will proliferate and produce colostrum from mid pregnancy
What is present in breast milk?
Protein Carbohydrates Water Fat First milk; protein rich End of milk; fat rich
When is colostrum produced?
Mid-pregnancy and through first few days of birth
What is present in colostrum?
High levels of immune proteins
Laxative effect to help infants pass meconium and prevent jaundice
Do babies require lots of colostrum in the first 48-72 hours of life?
No; as their immature kidneys adjust from excreting large amounts of fluid as blood volume reduces by 25% and colostrum is a concentrated form of milk
Does mature milk have the same overall daily intake of immune proteins as colostrum?
Yes
Why is breast milk bluish with a thin cream layer on standing?
Contains little casein which are the milk solids that reflect light
Describe how breast milk changes from the start to end of a feed
The milk at the beginning of a feed can be high in water, sugars and protein but low in calories and fat
As oxytocin triggers milk release, it has a higher fat content
What change of hormones post birth give rise to the mlik?
Decreasing progesterone and oestrogen
Increasing prolactin
Describe the suckling reflex?
Production of breast milk is stimulated by prolactin which is released in response to baby suckling
In the early days, when lactation is being established, frequent feeding or expression is important for stimulation and continuation of milk production
Describe the “let down/ ejection reflex”?
Milk is ejected from the breast in response to a combination of suckling-stimulated oxytocin release and the baby’s feeding action
Oxytocin levels are highest when mother and baby are in contact
Describe the action of feedback inhibitor of lactation (FIL)
In any area of the breast not being drained, the level FIL rises and signals to the breast tissue to slow production
Milk is produced all the time, but is fasted when there is least milk in the breast
THUS milk removal is key to milk production
What is attachment?
Refers to how the infant takes the breast into his mouth for breastfeeding
What is good attachment vital for?
Essential for effective, pain free breastfeeding
What can poor attachment lead to?
Painful nipples
Engorgement
Low milk supply
Infant; unsettles, very frequent feeding and failure to gain weight
Where should the baby’s face be positioned for adequate attachment?
Nose opposite to nipple
Head tipped back to allow top lip to brush nipple
When mouth is wide open; quickly move them towards the breast with head tilted back and chin leading
What can a tongue tie lead to?
Issues attaching to breast
Issues drawing enough breast tissue into mouth
Issues achieving coordinated sucking
What is a tongue tie?
Congenital condition whereby there is tightness in the infant’s lingual frenulum restricting tongue motility
What is positioning?
Refers to how the mother holds the infant to enable breastfeeding