Pregnancy lactation and infant feeding Flashcards
Why is breast milk so beneficial?
All the nutrients that an infant needs in the first 6 months,
Fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water .
It is easily digested and efficiently used.
Contains bioactive factors that augment the infant’s immature immune system.
Protection against infection, and help digestion and absorption of nutrients.
How much fat does breast milk contain per 100ml
3.5 g of fat
Provides about one half of the energy content of the milk.
When do you see the hindmilk secreted?
Towards the end of a feed
What is the difference between the fat in the foremilk and hindmilk?
HINDMILK - rich in fat and looks creamy white,
FOREMILK - less fat and looks somewhat bluish-grey in colour.
What long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids does breast milk contain?
- Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
- Arachidonic acid (ARA)
The main carbohydrate is the special milk sugar lactose called _________
Disaccharide
How much lactose per 100ml does breast milk contain?
7g
Which is more than in most other milks, and is another important source of energy.
Another kind of carbohydrate present in breast milk is oligosaccharides….why is this beneficial?
Important protection against infection
Is breast milk protein the same quality and quantity as animal milk?
True or False?
False
It contains a balance of amino acids which makes it much more suitable for a baby.
What is the concentration of protein in breast milk ?
0.9 g per 100 ml
This is lower than in animal milks. The much higher protein in animal milks can overload the infant’s immature kidneys with waste nitrogen products.
What is the difference in the protein casein in breastmilk to formula?
Casein in breast milk has a different molecular structure. It forms much softer, more easily-digested curds than that in other milks.
Human milk contains more alpha-lactalbumin; cow milk contains betalactoglobulin
True or False
True
Human milk contains more alpha-lactalbumin; cow milk contains betalactoglobulin, which is absent from human milk and to which infants can become intolerant
What has been shown to improve iron status for babies during the first 6 months?
Delaying clamping of the cord until pulsations have stopped (approximately 3 minutes)
What supplement do babies need?
Vitamin D. The infant needs exposure to sunlight to generate endogenous vitamin D – or, if this is not possible, a supplement.
What does K immunoglobulin do?
Secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), which coats the intestinal mucosa and prevents bacteria from entering the cells
What do K white blood cells do?
Kill micro-organisms
What bacteria can K whey proteins (lysozyme and lactoferrin) kill?
Viruses and fungi
K oligosacccharides prevent bacteria from attaching to mucosal surfaces.
True or False
True
Bile-salt stimulated lipase facilitates the complete digestion of fat once the milk has reached the small intestine. Fat in artificial milks is also completely digested
True or False?
False
Fat in artificial milks is less completely digested
When do you see colostrum?
2-3 days after delivery
How much colostrum is produced on the first day?
40-50ml
What is colostrum rich in?
white cells, antibodies, especially sIgA
It contains a larger percentage of protein, minerals and fat-soluble vitamins (A, E and K) than later milk.
What makes the colostrum yellow?
Vitamin A
Important for protection of the eye and for the integrity of epithelial surfaces.
When is milk produced in larger amounts?
Between 2 and 4 days after delivery, making the breasts feel full
