Subscribe:

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Feeding your baby


Breastfeeding is recommended for all infants with very few exceptions, because breastfeed babies are generally healthier, with fewer ear, chest, gastrointestinal, and urine infections. They also suffer fewer allergies, and suffer less from asthma, eczema, diabetes, and obesity. Breastfeeding also has benefits for you. Nursing your baby immediately after delivery reduces the risk of excessive uterine bleeding, and continuing to breastfeed helps you return to your pre- pregnancy weight more quickly. 

The first feed will be prepared up of colostrum - this special milk is low in fat, and high in proteins and carbohydrates. It is also your baby's first immunization as it contains antibodies your body has produced to help keep your baby healthy. It is particularly easy to digest, and is therefore the perfect first food for your baby. It is low in volume but high in concentrated nutrition for the newborn. Colostrum has a emetic effect on the baby, helping him pass his early stools, which aids in the excretion of excess bilirubin and helps prevent jaundice.

Breast milk contains substances that help protect your baby from disease until his /her immune system has matured. These also protect against allergies, which is important if there is an allergy in your family.  Breast milk has the right amount and quality of nutrients to suit your baby’s first food needs. It is easiest on her digestive system, so there’s less chance of constipation or diarrhea. Breast milk also contains antibodies and other immune factors that help your baby avoid and combat off illness better.


Breastfed contains the vitamins and minerals that a newborn involves, and all of its components lactose, protein, and fat are easily digested by a newborn's unformed system. Breastfeeding is great for moms, too. It injuries calories and helps contract the uterus, so nursing moms get back in shape quicker. Breastfeeding may also protect mom from breast and ovarian cancer. 


Babies have small stomachs and need to feed frequently to satisfy both their hunger and dryness. Most young babies need to eat about every three hours, although some will become famished sooner. Night time feeds are also important because it is in the early hours of the morning that the hormones that motivate milk production are at their highest. Your breasts are not a storage facility, they function on a supply and demand basis, the more your baby suckles, the more hormones are released that signal your body to produce more milk, so the night time feeds stimulate even more hormones which set your body up for the day ahead. 
Related Topics


You might also like


More Baby Care Topics

Baby Care: Useful Tips
Ideal weight gain in a New Born Baby
How much sleep does your baby need?
How do I store my Breast Milk? 
Which day care center is more comfort?


0 comments:

Post a Comment