Module 19

Question 1

What are the benefits of breastfeeding for the mother?

Answer 1

Decreased risk of:
1. Breast Cancer
2. Ovarian Cancer
3. Post natal Depression
4. Type 2 Diabetes
5. Postpartum bleeding

Other benefits:
Lactation amenorrhea and delayed ovulation
Postpartum weight loss

Question 2

What are the nutritional components of breast milk?

Answer 2

1. Colostrum (first milk, produced at 1-3 days)
   - It is higher in protein/ minerals and lower in CHO and fats
   -Rich in Antibodies
   -contains secretary IgA, lactoferrin and mononuclear cells
2. Growth Factors and Hormones:
   -Prolactin, progesterone, etc etc
3. Enzymes- Helps carries iron, and selenium
4. The why/ casein ratio (human milk is 72:28) cows milk (18:82)
5. Lactose:
   -Enhances calcium and iron absorption and promotes growth of lactobacilli - which helps prevent the growth of pathogenic flora in the gut.

Question 3

Cognitive and neural benefits

Are there any?

Answer 3

Longer breastfeeding duration was associated with better cognitive and motor development in 2-3 year old children and a dose- response relationship was suggested.

BF> 6 mo helps boys academic scores
Prolonged and exclusive BF improves cognitive ability at age 6.5 years.

Question 4

Hormonal Control
Which are the major hormones that play a role in BF

Answer 4

Prolactin
-stimulates milk production
-prolactin doubles with sucking
-sleep and sexual intercourse also stimulates
-Stress inhibits

Oxytocin
-important for let -down
-Stimulated by sucking or nipple stimulation

The more the mother empties her breast, the more milk is produced.

Question 5

Breastfeeding Technique

Answer 5

-Babies with their mother in reclined position has more primitive reflexes helping them to feed.
Ie between reclined that upright.

(Better to be reclined)

Question 6

How much milk is required?
Volume
Frequency

Answer 6

Healthy infants have 750-800ml milk daily for first 4-5 months.

Newbonrs will feed 2-3 hourly for 1st week (approximately 6-9 feeds per day)

The neonate is expected to lose 12 % in first week- will gain weight back by day 12.

By 4 weeks the infant settles into a routine of 3-4 hourly feeds.
By 4-8 months the infant will not require an overnight feed.