Principles of Infant Nutrition

Question 1

What capacity (in mls) does a newborns stomach have?

Answer 1

15-30mls

Question 2

What is the gastric emptying time of a newborn (in hours)

Answer 2

2-3 hours

Question 3

What nutrient increases gastric emptying time and what reduces it?

Answer 3

Carbohydrates increases

Fast decrease

Question 4

What is colonisation of the bowel?

Answer 4

Rise in Ph over first few weeks which allows commensals (friendly bacteria) - essential to production of Vit K & Vit B (also allows pathogens to survive)

Question 5

What is synthesised in a newborn’s liver and is essential for billirubin conjugation?

Answer 5

Glucuronyl Transferase

Question 6

What FOUR nutrients does a newborn require within the first few hours of birth?

Answer 6

Glucose
Protein
Fat
Water

Question 7

What is meconium?

Answer 7

Dark sticky stool passed in the first 24hrs of birth

Question 8

What colour of stool is produced at 4 days old?

Answer 8

Yellow

Question 9

Within how many hours of birth do most babies pass urine?

Answer 9

12 hours

Question 10

What is colostrum?

Answer 10

The initial milk produced by the mother.
Contains high levels of immunoglobulins, antibodies,anti infective proteins.
Higher levels of vitamin K then mature milk.

Question 11

Name FOUR anti-infective proteins found in breastmilk and their purpose

Answer 11

Lactoferrin – binds iron and prevents the growth of bacteria which needs iron

Lysozyme – which kills bacteria

Antibodies – part of the immune system

Bifidus Factor- maintains an acidic environment in the bowel