Value Of Breastfeeding And Human Milk Flashcards
What is exclusive breastfeeding?
The mother is only giving breast milk to the baby
Why does breastfeeding matter for the baby?
-It’s a natural form of protection against a range of illnesses, including infections, diseases, obesity, heart disease and SIDs, this is done by passing antibodies from the mother to the baby via breastmilk but this is passive immunity
- It changes genes and can turn them on and off, this includes turning the genes for diabetes and obesity down or off
-Helps the hungry/full hormone to kick in
Why does breastfeeding matter for the mother?
- A natural form of
protection against breast and ovarian
cancer, heart disease and osteoporosi S.
-Exclusive breastfeedi ng
temporarily reduces fertility to enable birth spacing, this allows time for the mother’s body to repair and heal and is also a form of natural contracepti on ( not the best method)
Why does breastfeeding matter for society?
-Provides the best start in life, which mitigates the effects of poverty that the baby may be born into.
- promotes health equity
- prevents child and
maternal death
What makes human milk special?
-It’s matches to the needs of the baby, this means the constituents of the milk depends upon the baby’s birth, age and environment it lives in.
-It has live constituents, it hasn’t been pasteurised which means it has live microbes, essential in colonising the baby with healthy bacteria
- Protects the baby’s gut, newborn babies have a ‘leaky’ gut which prevents bacteria can latch onto, the milk coats the gut wall to prevent harmful bacteria from colonising it
-treatment for things like eczema, umbilical cord care, to prevent conjunctivitis and create a complex that kills cancer
What is transferred in human milk?
Immunoglobulins to support baby’s immune system such as IgM, IgA, IgD, IgG,
IgE
How long for is exclusive breastfeeding recommended?
Recommended by WHO to exclusive breastfeed for 6 months and continued for two years and beyond
How is education a barrier to breastfeeding?
Lack of exposure to breastfeeding. Lack of knowledge about breastfeeding
How is health a barrier to breastfeeding?
Pain and associated conditions:
Lack of knowledge and breastfeedi ng support makes it difficult to prevent and/or manage complications such as mastitis and sore nipples
How do economical and political decisions impact breastfeeding?
The infant formula industry earns lots from money and uses to
commercial sto advertise how good infant formula is and it’s convince thus convincing parents to stop breastfeeding
How do societal expectations impact breastfeeding?
Bodily ‘modesty’. Need for privacy
Not feeding outside of the house
Returning to employment
Breasts as sexualised organs
Family and social expectations
Why do we have formula?
Easy for people who can’t breastfeed.
Convenience
What’s the problem with formula?
It’s expensive
It’s a big business
Is one formula better than another?
-All first infant formulas have set of ingredients that have to be included, this is protected by law so babies get all of the nutrition they need
- Not good for marketing if they all have the same as each other
- To have a ‘unique’ selling point, extra ingredients added to promote
- if proved to be beneficial then all formulas would have it
-These added extras may increase the babies metabolism load
What does infant formula mean for healthcare professionals?
-Check our own knowledge:
based on evidence or advertising?
- Find reputable sources of information for formula:
first step nutrition
-Avoid organisations and events sponsored by formula companies
-Do not advertise formula-related products
-Support families to make decisions that work for them, recognising previous and current decision making
