Nutrition and Breastfeeding in Infants - Assignment Example

Name: Professor: Institution: Course: Date: Purpose of the Report There has been much concern on the care of the newly born babies by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other different professional groups, who have been supporting the idea of breastfeeding, which has been considered to be the best form for babies, especially the newly born babies. This has been a major concern throughout the world as it has been reported that most of mothers, in this new generation, are opting for other modes of feeding their babies for different reasons, of which some are quite weird from the beginning. Most of them claim to be involved with career responsibilities that are taking most of their time, thus being away from their own families. After carrying out many researches about cases of breastfeeding, the American Academy of Pediatrics particularly recommends that newly born babies are supposed to be breastfed entirely for not less than six months (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2005), and despite the introduction of specific solid foods, the normal breastfeeding is supposed to continue until the baby is one year old or beyond Therefore, the main purpose of this report is to highlight on main aspects behind nutrition and breastfeeding in infants, and why all women, unless advised not to, should make an effort of ensuring that their babies are breastfed. This is so, as the overall decision of breastfeeding or bottle-feeding is normally based on the overall healthy status of a mother, her comfort, and probably the lifestyle she has. Introduction Diet or the level of nutrition, are terms that sometime not taken seriously or even just connected with the normal balancing within the human body. There are many things that as human beings we have failed to put much in consideration, and this has to do with impact that such balance we look forward to having how it may cause effects on our bodies and probably the third party individuals (Best Start Social Marketing, 2008). In this case of breastfeeding, the overall quality of the mother's diet is of great significance when it comes to the need of energy to carryout daily chores, the health of a mother and to an extent of the baby. When talking about the aspects of the baby’s health, the main focus is towards the effect that the mother’s diet has on the overall milk production and milk composition that a mother is able to give to the baby through breastfeeding. It has been determined that water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin B 12; nicotinic acid; ascorbic acid; pyridoxine; riboflavin; and thiamin (U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, 2007), are dependant or greatly influenced by the dietary aspects of a mother. On the other hand existing levels of minerals and also fat-soluble vitamin in breast milk, such as vitamin A, D, E, K, (U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, 2007). are modestly predisposed by the existing maternal diet from, the current meals. For these minerals and fat-soluble vitamins, they can ideally be drawn from the body reservoirs (Neifert, 2006). Definition of terms Discreet nursing is a case where an infant’s mother tries to breastfeed the baby in a way that other individuals do not recognize what is going on. This happens in a way where a person will try to reduce the exposure of the breast and nipple to be seen while carrying out the act of breastfeeding. Many individuals, because of their lifestyle, do associate the exposure of a bare breast and the overall act of breastfeeding with images and the act of sexual happenings, thus see breastfeeding as quite indecent and dirty (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2005). Exclusive breastfeeding a way feeding the baby on breast milk only and there is neither application of the infant formula nor water. The only components that can be applied within this kind of feeding are the use of vitamins and medicine drops. At times exclusive breastfeeding is often misinterpreted with a situation where breast milk is used and solid foods also given out. In this case there is a mixture of food and breast milk, hence cannot be called an exclusive breastfeeding exercise. Extended breastfeeding normally goes beyond one year of age, especially in the United States, and it significantly vary with the foundation of culture in a given society. The current recommended breastfeeding period, by the World Health Organization, is supposed to be two first years after birth. Positioning, breastfeeding, is a way by which the baby is supposed to comfortably be held when breastfeeding, they are varied. When breastfeeding the young ones, a mother is advised use side-lying, cradle hold, cross-cradle hold, and football hold. When dealing with children who are considered to be older children, one is allowed to try on any given position as long as it is effective. Background There has been a huge discussion on what significance is behind the issue of breastfeeding, of which it is being encouraged everywhere as most of women are finding it hard to adjust between the aspect of their careers and taking care of children, and more so breastfeeding them. This brings me to the positive factors or significance of breastfeeding that normally make people to treasure breastfeeding: Reduced incidence of infection in the infant In most of the developed countries, it has been found out that breastfeeding in children plays a big role in protecting them against most of the gastrointestinal and related respiratory contagion (Washington Business Group on Health, 2005). It has also been proved that the risk of otitis media is greatly reduced in infants when breastfed accordingly. Research has proved that newborn infants who are breastfed for more that 13 weeks have showed significantly low traces of gastrointestinal and also respiratory complications within the first year after birth, and this is done in comparison with infants that have been feeding on formula-based products. Prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome A relationship between the protection of sudden infant death syndrome and breastfeeding has been suggested by many research studies that have been carried out over the past years. The issue that has been left unresolved is the fact that sudden infant death syndrome could be caused by other many physical factors, such as the sleeping position of the infant and also smoke exposure within the house (Slavit et al, 2009). These two risk factors seem to be the main issues behind the death of the young ones. Therefore, this causative protective connection between breastfeeding and sudden infant death syndrome remains untested, but still breastfeeding is believed to offer some protection against sudden infant death syndrome. Prevention of allergies There are a number of diseases in infants that are reported more often, one of them being the atopic disease. Incidences reported have been on the increase and this case has been attributed to the use of variable diagnostic norms and different stated techniques, and also the significant incidence of self-diagnosis in individuals. A controversy concerning the existing protective effects that may be caused by the act of breastfeeding on atopic diseases has been contributed by the involvement of study designs that do not meet the required standards so that the information found could be effective and efficient. The development of allergic responses are as a result of passive transfer of the food antigens through the milk from the diet that the mother is feeding on, and the most detected food antigens in mother’s milk that are protein in nature are bovine IgG and ß-lactoglobulin (U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, 2007). A case where the traces of atopy are present, by the clinical signs and symptoms showing, in infants that had exclusively been breastfed, then another process of a trial elimination-challenge specifically on the foods of the mother's diet is supposed to be carried out to determine the overall reaction of the infant is because of the food that had been consumed by the infant mother. The foods that normally have food antigens that in one way or another may create negative impacts or reactions are protein-rich products. This consists of foods like fish, eggs, cow’s milk, peanuts and soy, and to be surprising it can be found out that the mother has been feeding on such foods for quite some time (U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, 2007). In such case, it can be determined and found necessary by the mother to have a maternal diet adjustment, of which further consultation should be made from the physician, who could be a dietitian or a nutritionist for better directions over the issue. Enhanced cognitive development Documentation from cohort studies suggests that the coherent values of the cognitive development amongst children who had been breastfed well normally have a higher rate when comparing to those that had been bottle-fed within the same environments, and it has been found out that the interpretation of such findings is packed with a lot of complicating scenarios, especially towards the relationship that is between the socio-environmental aspects. Discussion A well nourished and health mother will also have positive self esteem, which will cause a positive reception to the baby, hence breastfeeding with a clear mind. Such a mother does not require the use of supplementation, which is supposed to be given to the person who is having problems with the normal eating or restricted in any way to eat various types of food (U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, 2007). Supplemental nutrients are recommended to a person with eating complications or the one under restricted diet. It mainly helps in providing adequate nutrient that one has been deprived of and also provide enough vitamins that can be used in breastfeeding the infant. All minerals and vitamins, except vitamin D, are not recommended to be used as supplementation of breastfed when the infants are within the first 6 months of their lifecycle. All infants, with few exceptions, are highly recommended to be breastfed until one and a half years, and this has to be a continuous process, unless advised to stop. The proposed exceptions consists of cases where the baby’s mother has been tested to be positive with HIV antibodies, have untreated and active traces of tuberculosis, and cases where the problem is with the infant, like having galactosemia (Kimbro, 2005). Recommendations Since breastfeeding is the best method that can be applied on infants, the following recommendation is made in relation to this fact; exclusive breastfeeding should be encouraged to be more active within the first six months after birth. The reason to this is that breast milk is chemically proved to be quite okay for optimal growth to be realized. Initiation rates and the possible duration that is supposed to spend on breastfeeding is believed to change by increasing, and this will be as per the active role that the public health, workplace, community, and hospital, plays in the support of breastfeeding. The following recommendations are in relevance with the stated claim: The provision of antenatal and postnatal sessions should be made available and give a highlight on the kind of principles and related practice that are to be incorporated with breastfeeding. During the early postnatal period, individuals should be encouraged to always have frequent feeds. Community-based programs are supposed to be provided and funded for the purpose of giving support to breastfeeding families. Conclusion Therefore, on conclusion, I can say that the overall quality of the mother's diet is of great significance when it comes to the need of energy to carryout daily chores, the health of a mother and to an extent of the baby. When talking about the aspects of the baby’s health, the main focus is towards the effect that the mother’s diet has on the overall milk production and milk composition that a mother is able to give to the baby through breastfeeding (Best Start Social Marketing, 2005). The reason as to why solid foods cannot be offered to an infant is that because the digestive system is still underdeveloped and the system cannot work over such foods. The other reason is that, at this point in life, there are specific nutrients that the infant body does not require, and probably they can be traced in the foods. Read More