Nutrition

Question 1

Breastfeeding

Answer 1

• Only food/drink an infant needs until 6 months of age
• Provides all macronutrients required
• Biologically active elements meaning it protects child against infection while their own immune system matures
• Promotes development of the gut
• Produced on demand to meet need - regulated by prolactin, negative feedback loop when breast is full, if stopped cannot be restarted

Question 2

Benefits of breastfeeding for baby and mother

Answer 2

• Baby
  
  • Reduced gut infection
  • Reduced respiratory infection
  • Reduced ear infection
  • Reduced CV disease
  • Reduced autoimmune conditions
  • Reduced sudden infant death syndrome
  • Improved cognitive ability
• Mother
  
  • Reduced breast cancer
  • Reduced ovarian cancer
  • Reduced diabetes
  • Possibly reduced postnatal depression

Question 3

Types of breast milk substitutes (formula)

Answer 3

• Whey dominant - closer to breast milk
• Caesein dominant - closer to cows milk
• Followon milk - used from 6 months, higher iron and some vitamins/minerals than formula milk
• Specialised formulae - for non-breast fed infants with specific medical conditions

Question 4

Introducing complementary foods

Answer 4

• At 6 months iron and zinc stores have diminished and nutritional requirements are not met by milk alone
• First foods are semi-solids (i.e. puree fruit and vegetables)
• Introduce in small quantities
• Increase texturesand quantities gradually
• Avoid wheat-based goods, eggs, fish, liver, shellfish, nuts and cow’s milk for 6 months
• Avoid honey (risk of botulism) for 1 year
• Children should be given start healthy vitramins from 6 months