Nutrition (NOT FINSIHED)

Question 1

How is human breast milk classified?

Answer 1

• colostrum = the milk produced in the first week of a babies life
• mature milk

Question 2

What is the difference between colostrum and mature milk? What consequence does this have?

Answer 2

colostrum is much higher in protein and lower in fat that mature milk
thus it is normal for babies to lose up to 10% of their birth weight in the first 2 weeks of life

Question 3

What weight loss is normal after birth and over what time period?

Answer 3

up to 10% over two weeks

Question 4

Describe the neurohormonal mechanisms, during pregnancy, that facilitate breastfeeding

Answer 4

• Human Placental Lactogen, oestrogens and progesterone prepare the breasts for lactation

Question 5

Describe the neurohormona mechanism that facilitate milk production

Answer 5

• suckling stimulates the release of prolactin from the anterior pituitary gland
• prolactin is important in initially milk secretion and in maintaining milk production after birth
• prolactin levels are high at night, so night feeding is important for maintaining milk supply

Question 6

Describe the neurohormonal mechanism that facilitates milk ejection

Answer 6

• suckling stimulates the release of oxytocin from the posterior pituitary gland
• oxytocin is responsible for the ejection (let down) of milk by acting on myoepithelial cells that surround the alveoli and ductules

Question 7

How long does NICE recmmned exclusive breastfeeding for?

Answer 7

• 6 months, with supplemental breast feeding continuing for 2 years and beyond

Question 8

Define exclusive breastfeeding

Answer 8

no other food or drink, not even water, except breast milk (including milk expressed or from a wet nurse) for 6 months of life, but allows the infant to receive ORS, drops and syryups (vitamins, minerals and mediciens)

Question 9

When is weening recommended

Answer 9

• the introduction of complementary foods in recommened at the age of 6 months to fill the energy and nutrient gap caused by the increasing nutritional requirement of infants
• the WHO advocate continuing breastfeeding even after the introduction of foods since breastmilk continues to supply hher quality nutrients that complementary foods and also protective factors