Nutrition Flashcards
What is the ideal baby weight?
3.1-3.3 kg- independent of mother’s size
What is the greatest determinant of baby weight? What is the greatest cause of that determinant’s detriment?
Placenta (and smoking is the greatest cause of placenta VC)
What is the relationship between birth weight and risk of metabolic syndrome
U-shaped curve of birth weight v. risk of metabolic syndrome (underweight and overweight increases risk)
Explain “catch down growth”.
Deceleration of growth that can occur normally in first 6-12months, till infant equlibrates to ‘true’ growth rate.
Growth rates height/length:
- pre-puberty
- boys in puberty
- pre-puberty: ~6cm/year
- boys during puberty: ~12cm/year
What is the best non-milk drink for children?
Water
Why can we not give goats milk to infants?
- Goat’s milk will lead to megaloblastic anaemia from folate or B12 deficiency
- Must be boiled prior to ingestion due to brucellosis susceptibility
When can we give low-fat milk to children?
- Low fat (2%) > 2yo only, full fat is 4%
What are some benefits of breastfeeding?
- Improved neurodevelopment
- Lower incidence of infection, diabetes, NEC, GOR
- Increased immune protection (breast milk contains high concentrations of IgA)
What are some problems with breastfeeding?
- Pain and discomfort (sore nipples, mastitis, thrush)
- Anxiety of adequate milk supply
- Return to work
- Demand feeding (how often, how long)
- Potential vertical transmission of HIV and other viruses
Solids:
- When to introduce?
- When does the chewing reflex develop?
- after 4-6 months
- chewing reflex: 7-9 months
Solids: what food should you introduce, and when?
- Introduce a new food every 3rd day
- Fortified cereals gradually
- Meats by about 7 months
- By 12 months most infants eating modified family meals
When should you stop bottle feeding, and why?
Avoid bottle feeding beyond 18 months:
- Otitis media
- Eustachian tube dysfunction
- Buck teeth
