Feeding The Baby Flashcards
What is bottle feeding
It is an infant formula which comes in powder form and is made from cows milk which has been changed and has certain substances added
How do you prepare a bottle ?
- Fill the kettle with fresh water from the tap
- Boil the kettle and leave to cool for no longer than 30 minutes
- Read the instructions on the tin/packet to find out how much water and milk powder you need
- Before making the feed, wipe down the work surface with a clean cloth
- Wash your hands with soap and hot water
- Take sterilised bottle and do not place teat/cap on the work surface
- Place the bottle on the clean flat surface and pour in the cooled boiled water up to required mark. ( Check water level is correct before adding powder)
- Loosely fill the scoop with milk powder and level it off with a plastic sterilised knife ( use the scoop that comes with it)
- Add the milk powder to the water ( one scoop to 30ml of water) never use more or less
- Cover the bottle with the disc/screw ring. Shake well until the powder is dissolved. Remove the disc and place the teat on the bottle ( holding by the edge). Place the ring over the top of the teat and tighten in place
Why is sterilising important
- Equipment used for bottle feeding must be sterile to prevent germs getting into the milk and baby’s mouth
- You should sterilise your feeding equipment until baby is 6 months old
- The bottle and teat should be washed first ingot soapy water with a bottle brush
- Then both should be rinsed in cold, clean running water before sterilising
Equipment can be sterilised with:
- a sterilising solution ( in cold water)
- a steam steriliser ( steam sterilising)
- a microwave steriliser (steam sterilising)
How does cold water chemical sterilising work
- You make up sterilising solution according to instructions
- make up a new solution every 24 hours
- place the clean bottles and teats in the solution
- make sure that no air bubbles are trapped by lowering the bottles slowly so that they fill up with the sterilising solution.
- leave the equipment in the solution for at least 30 minutes before use
How does steam sterilising work ( electric or microwave)
- make sure feeding equipment is thoroughly clean
- place the bottle and teat into the steriliser with the open ends facing downwards
- add the recommended amount of water
- Follow manufacturers instructions for length of sterilising time eg 4 minutes in the microwave
- Check manufacturers instructions to find out how long feeding equipment remains sterile in an unopened steriliser, as it varies from one make to another it’s best to sterilise equipment just before you use it
What can happen if you make the feed up incorrectly
If more powder is added than necessary, the milk will contain too much protein and salt and the baby will become thirsty and cry.
The baby may then be given another feed and may become fat due to overfeeding
Extra salt may make the baby very ill, possibly causing convulsions, coma and permanent brain damage
How to feed a baby
- make sure the milk is at the right temperature and warm the milk if it has come out of the fridge
- To warm the milk place the bottle in a jug of hot water or in an electric bottle warmer
- Check if the milk is the right temperature by sprinkling a few drops on your wrist
- Check that the hole in the teat is not blocked
- Hold the baby in a comfortable position
- Tilt the bottle so that the teat is full of milk
- From time to time remove the teat from the baby’s mouth to let air get in the bottle
- After the feed help the baby bring up any wind
What is Colostrum
- In the last 2 weeks of pregnancy the breasts start to produce a fluid called colostrum
- The baby’s birth is then a signal for the breast to start producing milk
- The colostrum produced in these early days contains water and a yellowish fluid which is high in protein.
- Colostrum is also the baby’s first immunisation as it contains antibodies which protect against disease
- Colostrum continues to be made in small quantities for the first 2-3 days and is then replaced by milk
What is breast milk
There are 2 kinds of milk
Foremilk - high in lactose (milk sugar) but low in fat, this helps to quench the baby’s thirst
Hindmilk - is higher in fat and is satisfying and helps the baby to grow
How does breast feeding work
- Each breast contains 20 sections in which milk is produced from glands and each section has a duct which opens on the surface of the nipple
- Specialised milk cells known as alveoli make milk and the sucking action of the baby causes the release of the hormone oxytocin from the pituitary gland in the brain.
- Milk is then released from the alveoli cells and moves along the milk-collecting ducts and is released when baby feeds
- While a baby feeds and afterwards another hormone called prolactin is produced and this tells the alveoli cells to produce more milk to be ready for the next feed
- The mammary gland or breast is made up of fatty tissue and glandular tissue.
- In pregnancy the breasts get larger and the nipple and surrounding area, called the areola gets darker. This is so the baby can find the nipple as newborns like contrast in colour.
- The amount of milk a woman can produce had nothing to do with breast size, difference in size is mainly due to the amount of fat tissue present.
What cells make the milk
Alveoli cells
What hormone does the sucking action release
Oxytocin
While and after a baby feeds what hormone is then produced to signal another feed to be made
Prolactin
What is the feeding schedule like in the first few days from birth
Babies should be put to the breast regularly in the first few days, even if they don’t eat they will enjoy the action of sucking
What is the feeding schedule from days 3-6 after birth
- Babies get more hungry and may want to feed up to 12 times a day.
- The more often a baby is breastfed the more milk will be produced, works on supply and demand
What is the feeding schedule like after the 6th day up until about 3 months
- After that the baby settles into a pattern with the most wanting to feed about 6 times a day with intervals ranging from 3-5 hours.
- Gradually the interval between feeds gets longer until a night feed is given up altogether this may have happened by the time baby is 3 months old
What is the feeding schedule like up to 3- 6 months
Mothers are advised to breastfeed for 6 months minimum
What are the advantages of bottle feeding
- anyone can feed the bab
- allows dad to be involved and bond with the baby
- mum can eat and drink what she wants
- babies tend to become more independent in later life
- baby can be fed anywhere
- mum can return to work earlier
Disadvantages of bottle feeding
- doesn’t contain essential antibodies
- takes longer to digest
- everything has to be sterilised
- can be expensive to buy
- takes time to prepare
- need to buy bottles and sterilising equipment
Advantages for breastfeeding
- helps form a strong bond between mother and baby
- baby receives antibodies to help it fight infection
- convenience, always the right temp and readily available
- no containers or bottles needed
- can protect the baby from asthma, allergies and SIDS
- helps mum to lose unwanted pregnancy weight gained
- reduces risk of breast and ovarian cancer
- it’s free of charge
- babies may tend to be smarter
- babies tend to gain less weight and are less likely to become obese
Disadvantages of breastfeeding
- can be uncomfortable for the mum
- only mum can feed baby
- babies can be clingy and dependent later on in life
- you can’t smoke or drink or eat certain foods
- can be time consuming for mum
